Welcome to part 5 of my photography mini-series, currently taking you on a journey of discovery through Thailand - The Land of Smiles. Most of the pictures in this series will be taken from my various travels around the world. So, without further ado, I bring you part 5 of my photography mini-series
entitled: A Picture Says...
Firstly, I must apologize for the quality of these pictures. When I travelled Thailand in 2010, I travelled light, including my camera which was a small Sony compact. To make up for the focus, or lack thereof in these pictures 😉, I shall have to paint you a picture with my words.
Chiang Mai is Thailand's second city, considered the capital of the Northern provinces. I much preferred it to Bangkok if I'm honest. The city is resplendent with hundreds of temples, overlooked by the sacred mountain of Doi Suthep described in the previous post in this series.
These pictures are of Chiang Mai's famous walking market. After the heat of the day simmers to a low buzz of night's mellow swelter, the shoppers emerge. Believe me, this is the best way to keep from getting sunstroke in the formidable heat and humidity of Thailand. I discovered quickly after my first few days in the city that the evening time is the best time to explore.
As twilight descended the temples faded into the deepening dusk, ephemeral ghosts retreating into the nights’ chittering hum. Feral cats emerged to hunt dropped titbits from food stalls and the heady aroma of soy and fish sauce peppered the wind...
then… boom the lights go on.
The temples are all lit up at once, from a certain time in the evening. I received a few bemused stares as I stood in the middle of the street, slack-jawed snapping pics with my camera. Wandering the main street of the night market is like entering a surrealists dream. Light reflects from the arches of golden temples casting gilt across a sea of varied wares layed out for perusal.
Now, I'm not a shopper or a market guy if I'm honest but this market was like walking through a psychedelic mural. I bought a bowl of Pad Thai from one of the street vendors and wandered the market drinking it all in and making mental notes for images to use in poems. I must have been the worst customer the poor market stall holders had encountered, as proclaiming the quality of their wares, they received only a wave of a sauce laden plastic fork and a perfunctory mai ow krup (I’m not interested). This dreamy poet was not playing ball ;-)
Like the massive Farang (tourist) that I was, I finished the night sat in front of a fan with a beer at a bar on the main street, people-watching and writing in my notepad.
Thanks for checking out the fifth of my photographic mini-series.
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