Sweaty business. And heady workout.
Book Fair, why you no introduce shopping carts?
The Book Fair for me, is an all-you-can-carry affair. I can feel biceps and triceps coming up on my arms to rival those of a lifelong bodybuilder pumped with steroids and protein shakes (not really). But still!
And so it ends. Two visits, 33 books, aching feet, almost-dislocated shoulders, bag handles burned into palms, a yawning hole in the wallet and a huge silly grin that I just cannot seem to wipe off my face later, I am done with the Book Fair 2014.
Last year I covered the sights and sounds of Book Fair including the type of people you find there. This year I think I will stick to a largely general post.
One must be clad appropriately for this epic voyage. Clothes should be airy and light enough to allow maximum ventilation but one must be covered enough to avoid unwanted attention from all the Romeos and Don Juans roaming the premises as well. It's always advisable to wear shoes with a tiny, but very sharp heels. The purpose of these I shall explain later.
The Book Fair survival kit comprises of a bottle of water to keep yourself hydrated, a packet of snacks/a tea banis/gal banis/kimbula banis etc in case you are hit with a sudden attack of the munchies (or if you happen to get stuck in one of those never ending queues), 1-2 big shoulder bags in which you can store and comfortably carry all the books you buy, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, and tissues. Plenty of tissues. The humidity levels are skyhigh that unless you want to emerge from among the books and the crowds like you've just had a shower, it's always advised to carry plenty of tissues.
And then set out, wallet armed and pointed at the booky wilderness where shifty-paged game darts in and out of eyeshot and where maggi-eating, coke-sipping wild animals roam free, jostling, pushing, cutting into queues in front of you.
This is where the small heels come in.
They must be low enough for you to be comfortable walking around but sharp enough to cause some serious pain, if not damage. People are often rude in this country. They push, jostle, step on you and bump into you often without so much as a glance let alone an apology. Those who cut into queues at the cashier, they are the worst. Such people are often offered a well-aimed stamping on the foot and a sweet-smiled apology. One must either be disciplined or be stamped on, well and good
Heels also make you appear taller (duhh). And as the law of the jungle goes, the bigger animals are often assumed stronger and they are usually left alone. If my years in the corporate jungle has taught me anything, it is that appearances matter and that height, most of the time, helps. Especially when you are a woman. Coming from a family of long limbs and headstrong attitudes, I haven't really felt the need for heels but I do realize their importance. We all know that Sri Lankan public places are not the most conducive for a girl travelling/shopping or simply wandering alone, so heels come in handy when taking public transport, running errands and etc. Ever seen how certain animals puff themselves up whenever they feel threatened? Same theory applies here. Puff out your chest, shoulders straight and chin in the air, venture out into the world and you are most unlikely to get bothered. You will be attracting attention, you will be starred at quite a lot while some others will break into song as you pass by, but I am of the opinion that as long as they do not share their thoughts and opinions about you with you, you are just fine. And if worst come to worst, you can always remove the shoes and whack the annoying buggers with the heel. And it WILL hurt. With a mark to remember.
I am forever grateful to Godage Publishers. They seem to be the only ones who give a damn about the literary genius G.B Senanayake. Found a poetry collection of his I was looking for since a long time at Godage. Also one of Siri Gunasinghe. That on top of the heaps of Sinhala poetry books I purchased at the poetry stall (I forget what it's called.)
Sarasavi has been very forthcoming with their discounts this year. Vijitha Yapa had very polite and very helpful assistants while not a large collection of fiction. Jeya Bookshop while having an extensive collection was very expensive. Not much on the discount side either. Makeen did not have anything that I was looking for, yet their prices were reasonable. Couldn't bother with Gunasena cz I couldn't get a finger in sideways. Deen the Bookman had quite a few treats for me including a leather bound volume of Ivanhoe. I placed the order for a leather bound edition of Edgar Allan Poe's complete works and it's very likely I will get my hands on it very soon. I had just happened to notice that the volume I had is no longer there. I had probably lent it to somebody and as far as lent books go, it is gone. Erased from the face of the earth.
All in all, I am a very happy girl.
Although, I would once again suggest a higher priced entrance ticket for the Book Fair, just to filter out the people who just come sightseeing and have no interest at all in books., a ticket that can be redeemed when you buy books from the exhibition. It is a common sight to see people just wandering about, gossiping, poking fun at girls and harassing them (there are people who come to the Book Fair solely for this purpose), eating and just wandering around with absolutely zero interest in books. Unless a woman is holding it. By their boobs. A higher priced entrance ticket would keep the unnecessary crowds at bay, leaving those who are really interested in books to choose and purchase with ease. This would make the experience more enjoyable as well. And in turn, increase the book sales!
I look at my book pile and wonder, where the hell am I going to put them. But it doesn't matter. My room is in a state of perpetual mess, so it doesn't really matter where anything is anymore. Mother Dearest has given up on me it seems and just sighs at the sight of the room. Very audibly. I pretend not to notice.
Been a crazy week, eventful yet hectic. Personal and work obligations abound but I am not stressed at all. This is the ideal situation. I think I must try my hand at making gnocchi tomorrow. From scratch. Content days :)
Book Fair, why you no introduce shopping carts?
The Book Fair for me, is an all-you-can-carry affair. I can feel biceps and triceps coming up on my arms to rival those of a lifelong bodybuilder pumped with steroids and protein shakes (not really). But still!
And so it ends. Two visits, 33 books, aching feet, almost-dislocated shoulders, bag handles burned into palms, a yawning hole in the wallet and a huge silly grin that I just cannot seem to wipe off my face later, I am done with the Book Fair 2014.
Last year I covered the sights and sounds of Book Fair including the type of people you find there. This year I think I will stick to a largely general post.
One must be clad appropriately for this epic voyage. Clothes should be airy and light enough to allow maximum ventilation but one must be covered enough to avoid unwanted attention from all the Romeos and Don Juans roaming the premises as well. It's always advisable to wear shoes with a tiny, but very sharp heels. The purpose of these I shall explain later.
The Book Fair survival kit comprises of a bottle of water to keep yourself hydrated, a packet of snacks/a tea banis/gal banis/kimbula banis etc in case you are hit with a sudden attack of the munchies (or if you happen to get stuck in one of those never ending queues), 1-2 big shoulder bags in which you can store and comfortably carry all the books you buy, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, and tissues. Plenty of tissues. The humidity levels are skyhigh that unless you want to emerge from among the books and the crowds like you've just had a shower, it's always advised to carry plenty of tissues.
And then set out, wallet armed and pointed at the booky wilderness where shifty-paged game darts in and out of eyeshot and where maggi-eating, coke-sipping wild animals roam free, jostling, pushing, cutting into queues in front of you.
This is where the small heels come in.
They must be low enough for you to be comfortable walking around but sharp enough to cause some serious pain, if not damage. People are often rude in this country. They push, jostle, step on you and bump into you often without so much as a glance let alone an apology. Those who cut into queues at the cashier, they are the worst. Such people are often offered a well-aimed stamping on the foot and a sweet-smiled apology. One must either be disciplined or be stamped on, well and good
Heels also make you appear taller (duhh). And as the law of the jungle goes, the bigger animals are often assumed stronger and they are usually left alone. If my years in the corporate jungle has taught me anything, it is that appearances matter and that height, most of the time, helps. Especially when you are a woman. Coming from a family of long limbs and headstrong attitudes, I haven't really felt the need for heels but I do realize their importance. We all know that Sri Lankan public places are not the most conducive for a girl travelling/shopping or simply wandering alone, so heels come in handy when taking public transport, running errands and etc. Ever seen how certain animals puff themselves up whenever they feel threatened? Same theory applies here. Puff out your chest, shoulders straight and chin in the air, venture out into the world and you are most unlikely to get bothered. You will be attracting attention, you will be starred at quite a lot while some others will break into song as you pass by, but I am of the opinion that as long as they do not share their thoughts and opinions about you with you, you are just fine. And if worst come to worst, you can always remove the shoes and whack the annoying buggers with the heel. And it WILL hurt. With a mark to remember.
I am forever grateful to Godage Publishers. They seem to be the only ones who give a damn about the literary genius G.B Senanayake. Found a poetry collection of his I was looking for since a long time at Godage. Also one of Siri Gunasinghe. That on top of the heaps of Sinhala poetry books I purchased at the poetry stall (I forget what it's called.)
Sarasavi has been very forthcoming with their discounts this year. Vijitha Yapa had very polite and very helpful assistants while not a large collection of fiction. Jeya Bookshop while having an extensive collection was very expensive. Not much on the discount side either. Makeen did not have anything that I was looking for, yet their prices were reasonable. Couldn't bother with Gunasena cz I couldn't get a finger in sideways. Deen the Bookman had quite a few treats for me including a leather bound volume of Ivanhoe. I placed the order for a leather bound edition of Edgar Allan Poe's complete works and it's very likely I will get my hands on it very soon. I had just happened to notice that the volume I had is no longer there. I had probably lent it to somebody and as far as lent books go, it is gone. Erased from the face of the earth.
All in all, I am a very happy girl.
Although, I would once again suggest a higher priced entrance ticket for the Book Fair, just to filter out the people who just come sightseeing and have no interest at all in books., a ticket that can be redeemed when you buy books from the exhibition. It is a common sight to see people just wandering about, gossiping, poking fun at girls and harassing them (there are people who come to the Book Fair solely for this purpose), eating and just wandering around with absolutely zero interest in books. Unless a woman is holding it. By their boobs. A higher priced entrance ticket would keep the unnecessary crowds at bay, leaving those who are really interested in books to choose and purchase with ease. This would make the experience more enjoyable as well. And in turn, increase the book sales!
I look at my book pile and wonder, where the hell am I going to put them. But it doesn't matter. My room is in a state of perpetual mess, so it doesn't really matter where anything is anymore. Mother Dearest has given up on me it seems and just sighs at the sight of the room. Very audibly. I pretend not to notice.
Been a crazy week, eventful yet hectic. Personal and work obligations abound but I am not stressed at all. This is the ideal situation. I think I must try my hand at making gnocchi tomorrow. From scratch. Content days :)
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