Brother Jinn Lamp Seller

Saw this huge sign on a corner of Jew Street (I know of at least 3 in this region) (Jew Streets, not Signs) (or Corners) (Haha). As part of my lifelong search for Aladdin’s lamp and being a general sucker, of course I have to check it out!

Saw this lovely place around the corner and started snapping photos. The owner saw this, smiled broadly and through hand gestures, invited me to take a photo of him in his shop. I’ve been getting a lot of these, so I obliged. [although I have no idea why they would want their photos taken in the camera of a stranger that they'll (probably) never see again]. After taking the photos, he invited me in for chai and we started to talk…

Or rather we attempted to. I am a complete idiot when it comes to the local language and he is not that conversant in English as well…

After a long time of trying to understand each other (mostly through hand signalling, and my favorite… talking REALLY loudly until the other concedes and nod their head in agreement) , I found out that his name is Jinn… (Also, he passed me his name card) Hence the name of the shop. I do not know the reason for Brother though. So it is Brother Jinn… Lamp Seller, instead of Brother… Jinn Lamp… Seller… Damn….

I spent the next half hour sitting there sipping my tea. He went around supervising his workers while they make the lamps. Halfway through, he invited me to try making a lamp. I have very low confidence when it comes to art and crafts. I enjoy doing it, but I’m always afraid that the recipients will take one look at the creation, shriek in horror (or worse, laugh out loud) and throw it away. I mean I know they won’t. NORMALLY, they’re too nice. They leave the laughing and throwing till when I’m gone.

But today, I felt really good. Today, as I sat there laying the wires and gluing the paper, I am finally convinced that my hands are made of legs. (Super glue has that effect on people sometimes…) The guy beside me finished 5 lanterns (I counted!) in the time it took me to finish my (flimsy) one

No matter, it was fun….

Even though I really couldn’t understand the instructions he was giving me. I had to keep glancing at the guy beside me (thereby slowing him down and he can ONLY finish 5 in 20 minutes)
Disappointment #2? I did not find Aladdin’s lamp