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Here, it takes all the running you can do, to stay in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that.


Some people seemed surprised at the photo of my office window that was posted the other day. The office building, you see, is a converted former warehouse that (I believe) was built by convicts (I think) some time ago.

Salamanca Place is essentially a splendid row of Georgian sandstone warehouses dating back to the 1830s. Once a street notorious for drunken mobs, prostitutes and rats; it had now been converted into cafes, craft shops, galleries, offices and restaurants. On Saturday mornings, there is a large open air market where you can find some nice fruit ‘n veg (including the world famous Steenholdt organic pears) in amongst the tea towels, second-hand books and stalls run by rabid environmentalists. On Saturday evenings, it fills with drunken mobs, prostitutes and the occasional rat.
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yamini said…
Hey Kriss! how are you doing? i just love the description that you have put up about the open market space that the Salamanca Place turns into on Saturday mornings. I just love the idea of open markets because the buyers or the general public have much more freedom to choose and much more variety to choose from. In fact, the brief reference of the open market inspired me to go into the detail about similar spaces here in Delhi (India).
12 November 2008 at 17:58
Kris McCracken said…
Yamini, I'm under the pump at work, but coming through! Open markets are good, but it can be a problem when you don't like hordes of people. I think that I'd struggle in Indian crowds! There isn't that many people down here...
13 November 2008 at 13:56
Eric said…
Hey Chris...
I wonder if you could settle a little wager for me?
Do you have any photos of a Holden Commodore?
I swear that it is the same as the Pontiac GTO... My friend says the GTO is American Made and I say it is a Holden.
A photo of a current model Commodore would certainly settle things.

Thanks.
14 November 2008 at 10:08
Kris McCracken said…
Erik, I'm well outside my comfort zone talking cars, but here the specs and photos of the latest model Commodore can be found here.

Wikipedia says, "To combat increasing sales erosion by rivals and the limitations of Australia's small market, Holden broadened the Commodore's export plans. Commodores are sent abroad as the Chevrolet Lumina, Chevrolet Omega and Pontiac G8, while also having been previously sold as the Toyota Lexcen in Australia."

Cheers, Kris
14 November 2008 at 10:34
yamini said…
Hi Kris, I can understand. When one is not used to crowds, it can sometimes become a little overbearing to be among people. But dont worry, the market that I have talked about in Janpath, New Delhi, is safe from that point of view. Hope you can come down soon and get a first hand experience.
14 November 2008 at 16:03
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