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| Jackfruit vendors |
One of the great advantages of living in Thailand is the opportunity to walk through markets, large and small, in nearly every village, town, and neighborhoods in the larger cities. No matter which market one chooses or happens to come across, the colors, sounds, sights, and mix of fragrances and smells of a variety of fresh produce and meats, flowers, and spicy garlic dishes cooking on charcoal or gas stoves is a pleasant assault on the senses. Adding to the enjoyment of the experience are the ready smiles from nearly every vendor as well as from the customers who are often caught by surprise by a foreigner in their midst. Thailand's motto is "Land of Smiles."
Recently, I visited three markets in Surin Province in Thailand's northeast region (Isaan, pronounced Ee-sahn) and came away with portraits of friendly Thais, most of whom have very little in terms of riches, but who are nonetheless happy, content with their simple life. There is a Thai saying,
tam jai, which means "acceptance." Another common term is
sanuk, or "fun." Rural Thai people exemplify the fusion of these two traditional sayings in what they do and how they live day-to-day.
All photos are copyrighted © by the author. It is illegal to use any image for any reason without permission. For information about the use of an image, please contact me at stilesphoto@yahoo.com.
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Brothers playing on the steps of a market while their mother works at her
nearby vegetable stall. |
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| A folding chair is just fine for playing "house" at a town's central market. |
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| Teen girls flash smiles for the farang (foreigner). |
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| This "pad thai" stall was quite busy. I bought two servings. Delicious! |
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| A friendly seafood vendor |
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| A young boy is transported by his big brother through a market. |
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| A woman collects tamboon (offerings) for the local temple. |
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| Ok, so not everyone is happy to see me (yet)! |
Whenever you have the chance, visit a market in Thailand (anywhere). If you live in Thailand, seek a market that caters to Thai people, and go as often as possible. They can even be found in the otherwise cosmopolitan city of Bangkok. It's one of the most authentic cultural experiences you can have in Thailand!
