Monday, June 08, 2009

 

Glastnost, jazz and art - and some rain.13th May.

We continue with our busy day in old Phuket City.
We had to shelter from the torrential rain for a while. First we huddled under the awning of a pharmacy - almost next to the On On Hotel (the backpacker's port of call). We would have got soaked to the skin attempting to run and take shelter in the hotel.
Finally when it eased for a moment we ran across the street to what looked like a cafe. It turned out it was some sort of lunch stop for workers with many different food stalls inside.
We just wanted to sit down and have a drink until it stopped raining.


We had iced tea.


And watched the rain tumbling from the sky.


Later we had lunch - in a basic cheap cafe.
We had noodles with chicken, cooked for us close to the entrance.
The decor in these places is non existent really - peeling paint on concrete walls. It is like eating in a lock up garage. But the food is cheap, tasty and authentic.
We looked at some of the shops we passed - it always gives us a chance to smile and greet people.
By the art shop the greeting was offered to us first...... I heard a screechy sort of voice call "Sawadee Ka!" to me and went further into the shop to find a mynah bird.




The art shop had some interesting items for sale. I am sure the artist gained more satisfaction painting his pictures than doing his work shown below - but the bills have to be paid.
Perhaps we should have bought a picture - I look back with some nostalgia for them.






The old fashioned street seller shelters from the rain. She was selling from the baskets hung on the end of a long pole carried over shoulder, boiled eggs and nuts.
I was struck by the traditional ways set against the modern shiny chrome.


This part of Phuket City has a high proportion of Moslems. There is no tension or trouble - though you may have heard that way down south in Thailand there are conflicts.
There are a number of shops selling fabrics and clothes that the Moslem women like to wear - bright colours. There are some veils worn by women here - pinks and reds, but I have yet to see anybody wearing the full burkha.




Anybody exploring old Phuket will walk down Soi Romanee, a narrow street of old buildings and character.


Looking towards the Buddhist temple that was featured yesterday.





We both love the candid photograph, capturing a moment in somebody's life. Bill just pointed into the doorway as somebody rested.

We were nearing the end of our walk in Phuket City. The plan had been to drive to the top of Rang Hill for a drink and the views over the city - but we got waylayed and jumped at the opportunity for a different experience.
We stopped at the door of a cafe, called Glastnost, as a man was making a mosaic door step - bits of pottery pressed into plaster. We chatted a while.
Then he asked us if we would like to come in for a cup of tea.
So, in we went for a most pleasant hour or so, we listened to Ella Fitzgerald and drunk special tea. I told our host that we had been to an Ella concert and this cemented the bond between us.
Our host showed us old items from the Chinese community history.

There were many pictures round the walls and old photographs and posters.

I was asked if I liked the tea - and I did. Our host proudly told me he blended it himself from an old family recipe.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krXiRWKRhv0
You might like to hear a little more about the aims and ideals of our host. He says this is not a bar or cafe it is a community centre and he is a lawyer who can help with disputes etc.
The film on You Tube can be a bit difficult to follow because Puchong, our host, has a strong accent and there is jazz - yes, Ella, playing in the background.



There are regular jazz jamming sessions through the high season. Anybody can play or sing and nobody seems to pay anything for food and drink.
When it was time to go we were honoured to be told that the tea we had drunk was a gift.



Puchong took our photo sitting by his mosaic entrance.



And I posed for a photo with Puchong.
We left thrilled by a happy accident sort of treat that had come our way.
Jamie - get in there and talk to him and get Glastnost on your blog!

Glastnost, jazz and art - and some rain.13th May.
posted by Grandma P on Monday, June 08, 2009