Variety Is the Spice of Life

Since a picture portrays ‘a thousand words’, we have posted below pictures of the varieties of imaginable stuff for sale at the ‘walking street’. In my earlier blog - http://hubpages.com/hub/Walking-Street-Shopping, I mentioned that in this kind of street market, you will be spoilt of choices on the thousands of affordable merchandise on display.

It was my daughter’s birthday that falls on a Saturday and it is also a weekly ‘walking street’ market. Since it was her birthday, at her request, we bought her a take-away pizza and drove to the ‘walking street’ market to spend some quality time as a family and to enjoy the pizza with some fruit smoothies.

This stretch of road is dedicated to food vendors selling ready-to-eat cooked food that are mainly Thai cuisines but there are exceptions…

Now, when I say ‘exceptions…’ this is what I meant. Japanese sushi is popular with Thais and foreigners. It tastes just as delicious and is much cheaper than in the restaurants. Isn’t it, variety is the spice of life especially with food? Most Asians will agree with me that we Thais ‘live to eat’. That is why, when you travel to Asia, it is indeed a Food Paradise. More so in Thailand, where 24/7, food is just a step away.

Thai deserts come in different shapes and sizes, colors and tastes. Preparing it is an art by itself because Thais believe food must be pleasing to the eyes as well as the taste buds.

This season in May is exceptionally hot with temperatures touching the 40C or 104F. Stalls selling any beverages that are ice-cold are a sure sell-out. My favorite drink is shown in the first stall. It is rice-flour jelly with coconut milk served with shaved or just crushed ice.

Another of the family’s favorite is the Thai home-made coconut flavored ice-cream served with coconut meat in half-cut coconut shell. It is so yummy. It is the 2^nd stall with the aluminum ice-cream container and the coconuts are stacked at the top.

Ah…This stall sells fresh coconuts, tea, coffee and fruit juices. You name it, they have it. Notice the tall transparent dispensers, the beverages are dispensed with the turn of the mini-tap at the base. Anyone seen this besides Thailand?

Although, Chiangrai is a land-locked province, squids BBQ-ed over charcoal fire is popular among the locals. Price is slightly more expensive than the other type of food because of the trucking cost from the South.

Spice flavored or plain pork meat balls of different sizes in skewers are also the Thais’ favorite food. Nothing is unique about this particular food because in every nooks or corner of the country, you will see it.

We all know that insects are a good source of protein particularly in S.E.Asia. Thailand is no exception. Notice the live crawling crickets in the cage; it is destined for the frying pan. Fried crickets in a small plastic bag sell for 10 baht. It is normally fried with spices until crispy.

Mobile cafeteria set in a pick-up truck serves hot and cold beverages. Prawns are being grilled in the front picture. Such business enables the Thais to earn a simple and stress-free living.

May to July is the lychee fruit season in Chiangrai. It is selling at 25 Baht for a kilo but as the season progress, the price will depreciate to 10 Baht. However for the premium varieties, the price can fetch up to 40 Baht to 60 Baht per kilo.

Good size banana is on sale in this street market. My daughter is helping to buy some for the family.

Do you know bananas can overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions? More information at http://a-thai-village-homestay.weebly.com/gods-pharmacy.html

Beautiful printed cotton skirts priced less than 500 Baht a piece should confused your choice for one.

Toys seen here are made from earth-friendly materials e.g. bamboo and reclaimed wood. Looking at these uncomplicated toys, brought back my childhood-days-gone-by because electronic toys do not exist at that time, maybe mechanical ones.

Bamboo trays and grass-brooms of all sizes and shapes are for sale. The raised round bamboo tray is mostly used by the Northern Thais when taking traditional Lanna Khantoke dinner. This tradition dates back many centuries ago. Family member sat around it to eat sticky rice with fingers, complementing with spicy-food placed on the tray.

Thailand too embraces ‘green-the-earth’. Hanging on the rack are coconut-husk flower pots. Instead of burning the discarded husks, it is made into pots for planting. It is very suitable for plants because the husk retains moisture for the roots.

By flipping the glass picture frames, it creates a variety of images. Colored fine sand is enclosed between two layers of glass, as the sand slides slowly to the bottom, images are gradually formed. I think this is a creative form of art.

Thailand is famous for its traditional massages. Often, herbs are applied to aid in the well being of the body. Herbs are also traditionally consumed to cure various ailments and for beautification.

Colorful hand stitched bags, cushion covers and purse are for sale. Usually, it is done by the hill-tribes in their villages and the items are brought to the city. Helping to buy the items, helps to provide sustenance to the family.

Traditional hand-made wooden musical instruments are on sale in the street market. You can stop-by to see the musician/seller play the Northern cultural music with their instruments.

Hanging on the wire fence, are hand-made key chain dolls. Thais are known for their creative and artistic skills. Price is so affordable that one will appreciate its value for money and considering the time spent to create it.

Most tired street walkers will be glad that there is a stretch of street massagers ready to knead their body and feet. The service is charged 120 Baht per hour. Mind you, the commitment to their profession is without questions. That means you will walk out of the booth with a rejuvenate soul and body.

If you are a Chinese tea connoisseur, on display are various types of tea leaves and paraphernalia. It is reasonably priced and tea sampling is available.   

This is an old prison, right in the middle of the walking street market. It is converted to a traditional dress museum from the many hill tribes and immigrants that now make up the population of Thailand.

A modern band provides music to the shoppers creating a sort of carnival atmosphere.

Northern cultural lanterns and hot-air-paper lanterns are for sale.

Cactus and plants in mini-pots are for sale.

These are Thai characteristic machetes and knives for sale.

Various strange shapes and colored chandeliers are for sale.

To the initiated and uninitiated…Culture, tradition, conventional, contemporary, conservative, classic, sweet and sour, spicy, hot and cold sums up Thailand’s walking street market.

More information and activities at http://a-thai-village-homestay.weebly.com