So close, yet so far away :)

These "recycling" cans seemed a bit out of place next to kids pooping and piles of trash on the streets. As far as I can tell, "recycle" means "put all your trash in the can so the old ladies whose sons drive Lexuses can pick through it for whatever they think might be useful." No kidding, sometimes when I take out the trash from our apartment (primarily produce scraps and toilet paper!) the ladies don't even wait for me to finish dumping it, let alone close the lid or leave, before they start foraging. Now, I'm resourceful and I believe in taking care of our environment... but it still shocks me that a plastic bottle or ripped bag would be so useful that it warrants digging through someone else's toilet paper.

Out of all the Western goodies I would wish for, soda is definitely not one of them. But I used to say that about the McDonald's in our provincial capitol, too! (We've excitedly rushed there both times we've visited!!) It hasn't caught on for me yet, but it's still comforting to see Coke or the local fave, "Future," which looks just like it. There are also dead ringer imitation Oreos (not at ALL the same flavor, though!) and teddy grahams (also nothing close in actual taste or content...)

The girl in the Nashville jacket next to the lady in native dress (which, if you're a grandma, almost always includes a baby strapped on your back!) Kinda sorta made me feel at home :)

Potato chips on the street!

(Haven't tried them yet; they smell like rancid pork fat, but they look normal!)

I've seen Nikf, Mike, Nikke,

As well as abibas, ailadas... it goes on and on!