Carved Soap in decorated wooden boxes: Mae Nam's Walking Street
“Eating, sleeping and shopping.”
If you ask a Thai to name the country’s three favourite pastimes, this is what they will tell you. “Chatting” (คุยกันเล่น) comes a close fourth. As a general rule, Thai people value relaxing and having a good time.
I was reminded of this on our recent visit to Koh Samui. When we are on the island, we get so busy coping with the vagaries of dealing with tradespeople and agents that we don’t explore the “everyday” as often as we might. Every week nearby towns close a stretch of narrow roadway to traffic and let the already-crouded-markets flow into the roadway. Here, Thais (and visitors) can indulge in eating, shopping and chatting to their hearts’ content.
The Wednesday evening Mae Nam Walking Street is still relatively quiet.
A friend of mine who lives on the island reminded us about the Wednesday evening “Walking Street” in the little town of Mae Nam. While I find evening markets a photographic challenge because of the light (or lack thereof) and the crowded spaces, they are also a great opportunity to meet and chat with local people.
Soap Carver ~ Mae Nam
The soap is pressed into a mould before carving.
Soap-carving tools.
The carved soaps are so intricate, I wouldn't want to use them.
"But they smell nice, and last a long time," she told me in Thai.
My next stop was to admire the butterfly jewellery ~
The young woman selling the jewellery told me she usually sells these pieces in Phuket, but the tsunami warnings had made the markets there very quiet.
She told us her family in Chiang Mai made the jewellery, sourcing the best orchids and butterflies (who had died of natural causes, she assured us) from around the area.
Colourful cordials or presses over ice are still popular market drinks in Thailand.
This cold-drink stand is ready to roll.
Food is ALWAYS close at hand in Thailand: here a man is ready to make fresh banana pancakes on demand.
Amazing what you can buy on the Walking Street!
At the bottom of the Walking Street in Mae Nam there is a Chinese temple where you can pop in to make an offering.
We weren’t available Friday, when the “Fisherman’s Village” of neighbouring Bo Phut holds its weekly “Walking Street”, so we had to duck cars, busses and bikes as we explored the restaurants, coffee shops and boutiques of Thanon Haad Bo Phut.
In Fisherman's Village, old buildings mix ~
~ with stylish, up-market villas.
Shops are crowded with wooden products...
... inside and out.
Colour and patterns abound.
Take a break from the street and wander out onto the old wooden pier; still very much in use.
From the pier, you can pick out your dining options.
Dining in style on the beach at Bo Phut.
Afternoon flowers.
We settled for a rather more modest dining location, but it doesn’t matter: on Samui, even in the “cheap seats”, you usually get a beautiful view with your dinner.
Koh Samui offers up another beautiful sunset.
Eating, sleeping, shopping – and chatting.
Not a bad way to live, really.
Happy travels!
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Great shots Ursula….I am off there tonight, may even be tempted now to take the camera! I love the shot of the Chinese Temple and the one of the wooden pier…lovely.
Hope you are well x
Thanks, Lesley, for reminding us to walk… 😉
Guava, if I had a brother on Samui I would surely visit more often! Thanks for stopping by the site. 🙂
Welcome, Susan! Nice of you to join us here. 😀
Great shots Ursula. It’s been a couple of years since I was on Samui, I really should go to see my brother in Chaweng!
Enjoyed the photographs of your adventures!
Great shot 🙂 I like Samui so much! We never miss friday market in Bophut! Maenam market is same. Really great shot. I miss Samui and i miss this walking streets. I can’t wait to go back as soon as possible 🙂
You should have to visit a buffalo fight in Samui. Very interesting for a photographer 🙂
Welcome, Virconc!
Yes, a buffalo fight is something I want to try to photograph… though maybe only once! 😉
great photo’s as always Ursula – thanks for sharing them
A nice and various series Ursula. Dining on the beach very romantic. Beautiful carving soaps and nice the image of fishermen village. I wish yiou a nice weekend, Dietmut
Greetings Signe and Dietmut! I am always so pleased for you to join me. 🙂