Sunday 29 November 2009

Zeloni Bazar (Green Market) - Russian name

This posting is way overdue. Here are (yes, finally) some pictures from the Green Market - one of the large outdoor markets/bazars in Dushanbe. It's the best place to get veggies. In the warm months, there was an amazing selection of fresh fruit. At this time of year there's still lots of carrots, potatoes, and onions - and grapes (?). There is some fruit, but mostly from abroad, and quite expensive. You can buy almost anything here, including household items and clothes. But these pics focus on the produce. I didn' t take the pictures - but I will try to get there with my camera when the selection is a bit more colorful!

Welcome to the Shokhmansur Market (Tajik), Zeloni Bazar (Russian) or Green Market (English - translated from the Russian).

Here are some of the veggies: Tomatoes, cucumbers and looks like lemons further back. Everything is sold by kilo. Last weekend I bought 1kg potatoes for 1.40 Somoni and 1kg apples for 4 Somoni. The exchange rate is about 4.40 Somoni per USD. Most of these veggies are local - and quite delicious. I've been careful to scrub them with detergent and then let them soak in boiled or bottled water for several hours before eating - and haven't had any tummy issues.

Needless to say, these people don't speak much English - but will try to overcharge you if they think they can get away with it! So this is where I've been practicing my Tajik! :)
More tomatoes - and it looks like beets or turnips further back and cabbage.


The ever-present cabbage! The vendors seem to be equally men and women.




Big sacks of onions, potatoes and carrots. You can 'rent' these wagons (and a 'driver') to help with transporting your purchases. I've never bought that much to make it worthwhile. But I can tell you that these wagons have the right of way and stop for no one and nothing! :)















This looks like leafy greens - cabbage, parseley (?), green onion, and looks like perhaps some eggplant in front of the counter. The eggplant and cucumbers are about 1/2 to 1/4 the size of what I'm used to seeing in the US.

You can also buy pasta and grains in bulk - as well as carrying sacks (hanging above). And, yes, please do note the prominent display of "Barf"!

These look like nuts, and I think I see some dried fruit (apricots?) in the second row (again, I didn't take these pics, so I'm not sure). This is also how spices are sold in the bazar.

Here's how meat is sold here in the bazar. Despite the fact that it looks like this gentleman might be cold, these are not in cooled or refrigerated areas (many are outside).

From what I've seen - there are animal parts for sale that I've never seen before!

Needless to say - this is not where I buy meat!

Again, I'll try to get to the bazar with my camera and take some more pics when there's more to see in the market.

Please let me know if you've any q's about things in any of the pictures - hopefully I can clarify!!

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