Dispatches From The Field

18 June 2003 -- Po-Hon Liu (Boris)

Let’s go into town! Today is the “market day” in Andranofasika, the closest town from our research site, Ambodimanga. The fossa team had been counting the days until this big event. For me this is a fantastic cultural excursion and I thought that I should get some key facts from Martel. He told me that market day does not only present a simple business aggregation, but also a social opportunity for Malagasy in this region. People come from near towns or villages to bring their selling items, meet with friends or relatives, and chat about the local news. Market Day really means something to Malagasy.

It is about ten o’clock in the morning. We are heading to the market. With two bulky cameras on my both shoulders, I feel like an intruder, rather than a vazaha (means “foreigner” in Malagasy). People are staring at my cameras; it makes me sweat and I feel embarrassed to raise my long lens to take pictures of people. Fortunately, I use the international symbol, smile, to overcome the problem. I don't push my shutter release until my I see a smile back.

I find that a lot of traders are selling “lamba wany” (like sarong in Malaysia). There are many different patterns; they are colorful and have only one size (130cm x 170 cm). It is very popular for Malagasy. Both men and women wear lamba wany. Interestingly, I see two vazahas are hanging around lamba wany vendors one after another; that’s Kimberley and Chris. They buy many lamba wany. That reminds me “when you are in Madagascar, do as Malagasy do”.

There are various food vendors selling rice, fishes, salt, fruits, meat, French bread…etc. There are also some venders provide repair services for radio, utensil and bicycle. Plus, I see some people grab five or six living cocks on their hands and wait for buyer; sometimes, chicks are jumping around and out of control. We didn’t leave the market until noon. Beside Lamba Wany, we also get some banana and laundry soap (a dark brown color and scentless square). Of course, there are whole bunch of pictures in the memory card of my digital camera and in my memory, too.