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.
hereIf you would like to join a fantastic community where we strive to help new steemians grow and develop, why not join me at #promo-mentors discord group which you can find . I am one of the poetry/fiction mentors over at #promo-mentors, if you have any questions or need any guidance with either of these tags please don't hesitate to ask for me, @raj808.
I was in Thailand three times already but never made it to Chang Mai even though I really love Bangkok already! Can you recommend any special activity there?
Check out my last A Picture Says...here other than that the night market is so nice and massive. It stretches all over the city, you can just wander around and stop at bars, eat street food etc :-) Hope you make it to Chiang Mai. I wasn't there for long but I also went trekking in the jungle in that area which was awesome. Got lost in the jungle then found the main river and just jumped in it cause I knew it would take me back to the camp site... but I wouldn't recommend that unless you're a strong swimmer lol post for the best temple trip in Chiang Mai @bejaunt. Really lovely trip to a temple at the top of the mountain.Find it
(^_^) ... I love observing people ... and then I drift and imagine being in their shoes, and write down mini backstories. So fun after a couple of beers lol. I'm enjoying this mini-series. Thank you for sharing.
Hi @blanca237. Yes, people watching can be really fun and is a staple at the table of all good writers ;-) I love doing what you describe also, imagining the characters I can see in the crowd, their hopes and dreams etc. Glad you're enjoying the travel/photography mini-series. It gives me drive to continue them into the future :-)
Way cool! cause you inspire me to keep writing ;) ... if you'd like ... here is a short story, an older one. My partner shared it on his steemit profile, I didn't have one back then. I created the short story, simply by sitting down and observing people around me. It is one of my favorite past times. https://steemit.com/ocd-resteem/@leap8/ninlil-of-the-house-of-anu-short-story
As a follower of @followforupvotes this post has been randomly selected and upvoted! Enjoy your upvote and have a great day!
your writing makes me feel like I'm there @raj808 - I’ve started a crowd-sourced story about AgentX and his secret life with cat-women, you're warmly invited to write the next line of the story here! https://steemit.com/story/@suezaacat/chapter-1 @suezaacat