the bus rank

...smells rank. the back corner serves as a barber shop and strangely enough reeks of urine. you can buy pretty much anything at the rank including tonight's dinner, clothes, shoes, sunglasses, dogs. you can play a little pool, get your hair done, have some ice cream, get your shoes resoled, recharge your phone, and make new friends if you take the time to do so. 

i'll include a few photos from my most recent photo excursion with my friend, Carolynn. Batswana love to have their photo taken. Many ask you to print it for them as though you’ll magically produce a photo printer on site.

She asked to have her photo taken. She is cooking "russians" on a grill of sorts powered by a propane tank. These "russians" a.k.a. hot dogs are a staple bus rank cuisine.

As you will see, there is little variation in the products sold at the rank and there is a tendency to park themselves next to each other, selling the very same things. We'll call it friendly competition.

You can get your shoes repaired as well as buy a used pair, just after you've snacked on a hotdog.

The plethora of trash in the background contributes to the "rank smell." BUT you can get some delicious veggies. In just a few months mangoes will be in season and you can buy them by the truckload at this very location!

She asked that I take her photo. She is selling "airtime" (phone minutes), "disweets" (candies) all the while enjoying her lunch of beetroot, rice, and fried chicken (and probably a spoonful of butternut in there as well).

Again, the grouping of stalls, selling almost identical products...give or take...a roll of toilet paper :)

These guys. The RASSSSTA MON! much to say, much to withhold.

Probably one of my favorite aspects of the bus rank, the scattered pool tables. Sometimes you can wait for over an hour for a bus to depart, hence the need for all these activities and dining facilities. Why not play a game of pool while you wait. I never see women playing so I'm not sure if it's because of disinterest, but I've wanted to play once or twice. Also, they often occupy the width of the sidewalk and you really have to watch out for their poolsticks. 

Just a few of the many food stalls at rank. In the mornings they sell "dipapatha" (baked bread) or "magwinya" (fried bread- a donut from hell...all the fat and no sugar). In the afternoons they sell little trays of fried chicken and french fries. Coca Cola abounds. 

He asked for his photo, taking a break from his lunch. 

Sweet lady cutting up some rape (spinach-like). The bags of mixed veggies with potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers sells for about 10 pula (about $1.25 USD). A bag of chopped rape is P5. 

SHOES.

I'm also including a few other photos from life otherwise...

In Kopong, "dikoko diteng" literally translates to the chickens are around...buy your chicken here!

photos from a farmers' market of sorts a few months back in Moshupa. 

these women are selling dried beans and mophane worms and other goodies

selling beans and...monster pops (succors). they don't look too happy. the smile in photographs hasn't caught on much yet.

This lovely woman sold me some black eyed peas and then asked that I buy her some too?

Dinner party in Gabs. good times.

These next few photos are from an artist living in Kopong, Botswana, discovered by my friend, Celia. She is trying to get him a show in Gaborone. He paints from his bedroom and you can see his palette just next to his wardrobe. I recently bought one of his paintings, a portrait of a women. He didn't mind that I took the next photos, and I was so interested to see all the works that he's done all from his own bedroom. What a dedicated and talented fellow.

He took out a few of his paintings to show us. He paints from photos of traditional baskets and pottery. Many wildlife scenes and images of village life.

This is one of his newer pieces of waterlilies in the delta in northern Botswana.

He stores the canvases above his wardrobe. He buys some prefabricated frames and gessoed canvas, but he also makes many of his own.

I hope you enjoyed a little photographic update of things here. The GLOW Camp is happening (!) next week! I feel like most everything is prepared and organized so hopefully I can participate in the fun without stressing on the details. You know there will be pictures to come. 

Until then, take care.