January 22, 2009

Shopping in traffic

This was a lucky shot. I was actually trying to take a picture of Trinoma mall through the car windshield when this street vendor walked towards us. Anyone need a car seat back support? How about a hat? A bobblehead horse? I think the guy behind him is selling hand towels. Many vendors brave the cars of Metro Manila's streets to earn a living, and they sell all sorts of stuff. I get quilted rag rugs for the kitchen from them and my husband is a regular buyer of flannel cleaning cloths.

street vendor

25 comments:

  1. LoisJanuary 22, 2009 at 9:54 PM

    Wow this is a great shot Hilda! I think I would have had a hard time resisting the horses, especially if I had my grandson in the car!

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  2. UnknownJanuary 22, 2009 at 10:35 PM

    This is a great capture indeed!

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  3. OlivierJanuary 22, 2009 at 10:47 PM

    ils sont mignons les chevaux. Une belle photo de ce vendeur, mais je ne comprends pas ce qu'il porte à la main droite.

    they are cute horses. A beautiful photo of the seller, but I do not understand what he brings to his right hand.

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  4. HalcyonJanuary 22, 2009 at 10:52 PM

    Wonderful shot Hilda! You really have captured this man perfectly.

    I wonder how successful they are with the bobblehead horsies though. I can't imagine those would be big sellers.

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  5. Debbie Courson SmithJanuary 22, 2009 at 11:23 PM

    He must be a talented salesperson to smoke while juggling all that stuff. How interesting. I think we used to see people around here wash windshields when cars stopped at stoplights to try to get some money. I haven't seen it anymore, so I'm guessing it's illegal for safety reasons. Now, people just write signs on pieces of cardboard and stand at street corners asking for money.

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  6. abcJanuary 22, 2009 at 11:32 PM

    Great to hear you support these guys by buying from them. Always a bit of a shame to see people smoke up what little money they have, but it may be one of the few things they can "enjoy".

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  7. RosieJanuary 23, 2009 at 12:10 AM

    Hilda
    This is such a great picture...
    It says so much about Manila and its people...
    WOnderful wonderful post!

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  8. GeorgeJanuary 23, 2009 at 12:41 AM

    What a wonderful candid picture. I imagine that would be a difficult way to make a living.

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  9. lunarossaJanuary 23, 2009 at 1:30 AM

    What a nice chap and he can juggle all his stuff and a cigarette in his mouth at the same time!!! I could do with a back support....Ciao. Antonella

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  10. pennyJanuary 23, 2009 at 2:10 AM

    I love this shot! You captured the true spirit of the people who live and work in Manila. Thanks for your insight...with a twist of humor ;)

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  11. Knoxville GirlJanuary 23, 2009 at 5:06 AM

    Hilda, this is a great candid shot. sign me up for one of those back supports.

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  12. AnonymousJanuary 23, 2009 at 5:25 AM

    Most interesting. I never seen things like this happening here in the states. I don't know why other than it might be illegal or against the law. They do something like this in Mexico.

    Abraham Lincoln's Blog

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  13. Steve BuserJanuary 23, 2009 at 12:05 PM

    So the mall comes to you, then?

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  14. escapeJanuary 23, 2009 at 1:04 PM

    amazing filipinos! you see they get to sell anything... simply anything and anywhere.

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  15. Priyanka KhotJanuary 23, 2009 at 3:04 PM

    that scene is so common in Delhi too... i buy car cleaning rags, tissue boxes, magazines, books, flowers... hhehhee u name it and they have it.

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  16.  gmirageJanuary 23, 2009 at 5:54 PM

    I buy the flanel cleaning cloths from them too...and the feather duster! Great portrait of him, all with those in hand and a cigar too! :D

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  17. angelaJanuary 23, 2009 at 8:11 PM

    What a great capture! Look at him smoking and carrying all that stuff. How is he managing?

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  18. HZDPJanuary 23, 2009 at 8:24 PM

    Ih hangzhou, we always see some vendors selling mognolia to car drivers.
    That's a dangerous job, right?

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  19. AntjasJanuary 23, 2009 at 8:53 PM

    Hilda, Thanks for visiting my Sudbury Daily Photo Blog! It's fun getting started with this blogging business just to see who in the world is dropping by.
    In a large city, it seems as though you have a photo opportunity every time you stop the car. Great shot. The yellow shirt really makes it pop. I think the fellow with the towels wanted his picture taken as well.

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  20. HildaJanuary 23, 2009 at 10:02 PM

    Olivier:
    It's a back support for car seats. Not all vehicles in Manila have bucket seats.

    Halcyon:
    You'd be surprised just how popular bobbleheads are here! Personally though, they irritate the heck out of me!

    Marc:
    Very true. Many smoke and drink what little they earn and it's sad. Though alcohol and tobacco are not as expensive here as in developed countries — one can actually buy cigarettes by the stick in the Philippines — they really don't earn enough to support those vices and feed their families well at the same time.

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  21. MurciaDailyPhotoJanuary 23, 2009 at 10:09 PM

    I think that is a funny shot.

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  22. tr3ntaJanuary 24, 2009 at 12:55 AM

    this guy sells everything!!!.... :-)

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  23. Gerald (SK14)January 24, 2009 at 1:42 AM

    can't say I'd buy anything off anyone dropping fag-ash over his goods.

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  24. Joe NarvaezJanuary 27, 2009 at 9:54 AM

    Nice! Onli in da pilipins! :)

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  25. Ice Pony GirlFebruary 2, 2009 at 9:18 AM

    HA! I'd love a bobblehead horse.

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