Sometimes I have just stopped to watch local people at work. For me their daily routine is an exhibit. What might be considered low work in India is a living history for a European. Maybe our parents saw a real (not craft) potter or a blacksmith in their youth? Some of these people in smaller towns are appreciative, as not many will show an interest in their craft. Others like a poor knife sharpener are beyond caring and resigned to be looked down upon. I sat for perhaps twenty minutes watching the blacksmiths forging blades, for a short curved knife used by farm labourers. Their hammers fall in turn in a well practiced routine, before a short pause to let the blades heat. I watch the various strokes which are used as the blade cools to form the shape. I barely noticed the fire at first, its an air fed pile of charcoal less than 10cm high, behind the fat one. I haven't fully considered the economics but unless they use recycled metal the value added in the blade must be tiny. The wood for the fire is probably sourced locally, but the air is electrically driven (subsidised in India).
In Nepal I caught sight of a family chasing a chicken and decided to watch. I'd correctly guessed that this was dinner, one of their stock of 4 chickens, a dozen chicks and a goat. After a few trips around the hut it made a twist and ducked inside, where the daughter caught it. The chicken is brought to the chopping block and is ended. The man holds onto the body which manages to give a good 20 seconds of struggle without instruction from the head. I must have seen a bird prepared before but I watch anyway as it is boiled, plucked, seared and gutted. Oh how eager the remaining chickens are to eat the scraps of their departed friend. I make my excuses when invited to stick around for dinner
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