Thursday, June 11, 2009

 

Friday 15th May - village life and smart restaurant

I am squeezing 3 little subjects together today - all from the first full Friday - May 15th.
Bill and I drove north to the Thalang district and then away from the main north - south road.
We wanted to explore villages not frequented by tourists.

Let me say that people of Phuket, whether from the coast, town or country have embraced modern living and each time we return we see more of this.
But we were looking for old ways of living.
Gradually they may disappear.
The world of Tesco and the shopping mall is never far away from anybody on Phuket; they all have TVs and therefore are lured by the same adverts; they all place McDonalds close to their hearts - the world of materialism is taking over.
It is natural for people to yearn for more when they see all that is available - but the dangers of too much wanting and greed are touching the hearts of the people just as in the west.

But this year there are still people living a more rural life style in the villages.
I haven't mentioned the agriculture - many are supported by the rubber trade - many rubber plantations. There are coconuts and bananas; some buffalo roam.

I don't know the names of the villages - all our explorations were with the most basic of little maps.






Many Thai people buy plastic bags of food - the bags of sauce and ingredients to add to rice are clutched by motor bike riders or passengers as they speed along the road.
We visited a garden centre in this village - flowers are always a pleasure.




We bought 2 orchid plants as gifts.




We were fortunate to be in the street when the fishmonger called.
We watched as he lay the fish on his slab and proceeded to chop and bone the fish.


He is working by the drain gulley along the side of the street.
See his sharp knife and mallet.


The drain was a convenient place to wash the few unwanted bits into - with help from the woman doing the washing up for the family.
So the fresh fish is delivered and prepared for cooking.
In the second village we parked by a pick up truck with durian fruit for sale.
I have never eaten durian fruit - they are a bit big to risk if you find you don't like it. I do know the taste is supposed to be better than the smell.




We passed the village barber at work. There will be more hair cutting pictures next time.


Street scene in village 2.


Stray dog.
Don't enlarge this picture if you are squeamish or would be upset.
There are many stray dogs in various states of health.
This poor animal had probably been hit by a car or motor bike. His back paws were badly damaged.
Nobody can do anything. There is no owner.
In Phuket there are charitable organisations aiming to house and help the stray dogs - but they are not government funded and are pushed to help every poor dog.
Have a look at the Soi Dog Foundation (Soi is a Thai word for Street)

It should be possible to name this village.
The temple had a statue showing the 2 heroines.
This is smaller than the landmark in the middle of a roundabout in the centre of the busy north south dual carriageway road.
The women lived in this Thalang District - perhaps this village had been important in their lives.
The women took over the Phuket forces and deceived the Burmese invaders into thinking the Thai army was bigger and stronger than it was and the Burmese fled. This was over 200 years ago.




Small Buddha statue and chickens.
In the evening we went out for dinner to meet up with old friends of Jamie and Mam.
Ian, a New Zealander, had set up a bungee jump over a lake close to Jamie and Mam's first house.
The bungee jump is still popular.
But Ian and his wife Long have moved far to the north, Chiang Mai where they have another bungee jump business.
We ate in a restaurant belonging to Wai ( I am getting all these Thai spellings wrong of course!)
Wai is married to Allard and we have met on previous visits too.
The restaurant is quite close to the smart golf club and she hopes to attract the golfers with money!

Mam and Wai


Jamie and Ian


Jessica does some drawing whilst waiting for dinner.
Normally Wai closes at 7 o'clock in the evening - but our party carried on for an hour or so longer.
We did drift to the chairs outdoors so that they could clear up inside.




Friday 15th May - village life and smart restaurant
posted by Grandma P on Thursday, June 11, 2009