Paro, Bhutan (December 18, 2011) — Today I went to the Paro vegetable market and spent $4.20. The rate is about 10 nu = $.20. Potatoes (@15nu per kg), carrots (@25nu per kg), green beans (@20 per kg), limes (@2 for 5nu), tomatoes (@30nu per kg), pumpkin (@10 nu per piece), apples (@50nu per kg), broccoli (@ 25nu per bunch), eggplant (@30nu per kg), chucked green peas (@60 per kg).
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The peas were a bit of a splurge and I ended up needing a plastic bag for those but they are easy to freeze and I keep running out of food so they’re going to be my back up. Everything is local except the tomatoes and potatoes are probably from India. The eggplant also I’m not sure. Local doesn’t necessarily mean pesticide free but much less than the average 700% more than US allowed pesticide rates that coat most Indian produce. Local red rice has just been harvested in all the fields so I believe its a good time to stock up.
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After shopping I got a little bowl of thukpa at the local shop run by a former monk. This gave me enough fuel to walk the fifteen minute hike, through the fields, up a garbage strewn path, ducking around cows munching on dry weeds, up to the road, past the hospital, back up to my house.
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Cooking for one is really a whole lot less fun. I will make ratatouille and an apple tart.
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I haven’t been posting much because I haven’t been leaving Paro except for trips to Thimphu where I stay in Phuntsho Wangmo’s shrine room. Life has become somewhat routine for a change. I’m not adjusting that well. But lately I’m trying to make the most of it.
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