new-peony-cake-shopSince I have been living in Sydney I have been loving the shopping experience in my local area. Due to being pretty damn poor after having to pay such high medical costs and not being able to work following my Search and Rescue Training Accident, I have shopped at markets for my vegetable needs and the Many Mixed Business locally for the remainder.

Traditionally the area I have moved to was Greek so there are fantastic bakeries, butchers and cafes however more recently the area has had a massive influx of Vietnamese and Islamic migrants with most shops in the local strip being owned and operated by either of these mobs. Its is always a wonderful experience to go down to get a haircut from the most lovely Vietnamese lady who chats away to me the entire time she snips away at my crewcut, in amongst it all over the many visits I have deduced she has 3 boys, a shitty husband and hates her visits back to her money hungry Vietnam. We laugh through out the adventure that is the haircut... most of which is over the fact the neither of us actually understands more than a few words the other is saying.

I try each week to get something I have never seen before and sometimes I am really surprised at how good some unpronounceable foods or non-english labeled spices are other times. I rue my stupidity at the purchase which often has a bemused look by the lady shopkeeper at her grandmother who is sitting near by...I'm sure they are thinking...'stupid white man'.

marrickvilleculturalfestival1Well today's purchase included something that grows underground as it has dirt on it and I am told is similar tasting to an apple or a turnip...and looks like a giant garlic. Sounds exciting right? ha ha well now you understand my excitement at each shopping adventure.