Banana Fear

The last days of our the trip I made with my sister through Sri Lanka, we spend in the capital Colombo.

We decide to visit Manning Market, the oldest fresh fruit and vegetables market of the country. Curious as we are, we walk around on the site that is full of people walking around and tuktuks everywhere. And before we realize it, we are in hall 16: the banana hall! Wherever we look, we are surrounded by bunches of bananas in all shades of green and yellow. We have no idea if we are allowed to be here, but as nobody sends us away we walk around in banana heaven.

After a while we notice that there are no travellers at all and especially no women...

We are still laughing but a little less enthusiastic no we realize this. Of course we know it is not done to eat a banana in the presence of a man, but how we are feeling right now makes us even more uncomfortable. Right at the moment we decide to leave hall 16 a thin man walks towards us. Does he look angry?

He stops, looks at us and starts to smile. He gestures if we want to try to lift a bunch of bananas. So funny! We feel at ease immediately. We breathe as we feel relieved and with enthusiasm we accept the challenge. We brace ourselves in order to lifte the banana bunch. not a single movement. Impossible assignment. The man now laughs harder and without any problem, he swings the bunch of bananas on his back and passes us on his way out.