We thought we would share with you the shopping experience in Tarawa. There are no Wal-Marts, no Costcos, no Sinclair, no Chevron, just ma and pa shops. The big grocery store is located about 45 minutes on a road that has 4,000 potholes per kilometer, so we try and make that trip once a week. That store is so hot, that Sister Bonnemort is not able to look at every item without a least a liter of water to drink. Different items come on each shipload, so if you see it, you buy it, cause it won't be there tomorrow. We have been very creative with our menu choices. Everything is used and nothing wasted. When is the last time you saved 1/4 of a carrot? Tonight for example, we had hamburger (yes, we found that once), and mixed in some Chinese cabbage, and poured it over rice. Picky eaters look elsewhere.
The streets have no sidewalks and there is a constant stream of people walking that you have to avoid. The oncoming cars (oh did I mention you drive on the left like in England with the steering wheel on the right) come so close, that you swear your mirror is gone. Yesterday, our mirror hit a lady walking. Luckily, they are collapsing mirrors, so there was no injury.
Little shop just up the road. Note the fresh bread on the counter
If you want smoked fish, no problem, it is freshly smoked on the roadside
This is our gas station, 1.19 per liter or about 4.80 per gallon. They pump your gas for you!
Another shop for shopping
Another shop
the local police station
This is a market where they sell fresh fish caught today right out of their coolers
Clothing store, haven't seen a men's suit since we left home
Our bank. You must take a number, sit, sit, sit, and hope they call your number. Took us one week and three trips to open an account, but we now have Australian Money! Bye bye American economy
Oh, this looks so familiar! Shopping in those little stores doesn't take long, does it?!
ReplyDeleteKeep up the creativity in meal planning--sounds like you found some healthy stuff. Love it!