Dharma bums

We pulled into Samset Sokhan, about 50 miles south of Bangkok, in the late afternoon after a day of visiting ruins, temples and thousands of Buddhas. We were hot, tired, and sweaty.  The guest house was perfect – quiet, much nicer than we were used to, and right on the river. After showering and putting on fresh clothes, we headed out the backside of the guesthouse – riverside. All the buildings opened on to a walk-way along the river. 

It was low-tide and the river was about six feet below the walk-way. As the the sun began to set, the river came to life. People began to congregate and stroll up and down the riverside. Small wooden boats began to appear, filled with prepared food, fruit and vegetables. Soon the walkways were crowded with Thai couples, families and a few tourists. The shops were selling food and gift stuff.

A little later it was a mob scene, on the shore and on the river. The boats crowded together as the vendors sold to the people on shore. Some vendors cooked the food right on the boats, on big metal grills, and passed it to people on shore. They collected payment with long-handled baskets, like the ones in church, reaching up to the people on shore.

As we walked along, we purchased different food items from different stalls. Thai music came from the shops, and karaoke stands seemed to a popular. Eventually we came to the end of the market, where the river joined a larger river, so we headed back the way we’d come, then crossed a bridge and strolled along a street filled with crowds and still more stalls. Street musicians in make-up and costume played traditional Thai folk songs – then froze as if asleep – until somebody put more money in the basket and then “awoke” and resumed playing.

We finally got back to the guest house and had a feast with all the food we’d purchased. Most of the food was a mystery, but the pad tai, served in a banana leaf bowl was the best ever.

The next morning it was quiet and peaceful, and another way of life on the river unfolded. It was high tide and the water nearly reached the walk-way. People washed clothes and bathed in river. Small boats made stops to sell or deliver products at, sort of like the old-time milk trucks making deliveries.

We borrowed bikes and went exploring, stopping at a Thai herbal medicine shop and then headed inland. We found another temple, more monks, and more Buddhas. Another day in Thailand.

Then back on the road, headed back to Bangkok.

Tags: Dharma Bums, Floating Market, Travel, Travel

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 17th, 2007 at 11:19 am and is filed under Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.