Vacationing in the 'Hood

When consulting a calendar as a holiday approaches, many expats cast a wide net, traveling to exotic destinations that cost a fraction of what they would if commencing from one's home country. We are no exception: we have had the good fortune of experiencing various cultures and geographic locales of Southeast Asia, booking flights to rather short hops that take us to interesting places. Lately, as the slow flood waters approach and surround Bangkok, we have remained in our home, and as default, have struck out on very different kinds of trips, all within walking distance from our house. What we have discovered is that we have unique and exotic places right in our own neighborhood. Let me take you on a walking tour of communities that are within a few minutes of our house, but which we had not discovered until recently. I have compiled a visual tour of two ramblings near Sammakorn Village. We did not know how little we knew about our own neighborhood.

Cats and "aungs," rain water containers for the dry season,

two mainstays of any Thai country village. Country life can be found tucked away

in one of the world's great bustling cities.

We walked into this extended family's world quite by accident and were invited to celebrate Eid al Adha with them. What a delightful morning we had! This young woman is studying to be a teacher. We had much to talk about.

 

These teens so wanted to have their photo taken, but were too shy to ask. 

So I asked them! Their faces tell you their reply.

There are many instances where time seems to stand still. 

This was one of those moments.

This man was very proud of his fighting rooster, which he was bathing.

Young children who we thought came to see the visitors, 

but in reality wanted the candy we brought!

These cattle were not for milking. Little did we--or they--know that two of 

them would be sacrificed at the mosque as part of the Eid celebration.

The meat was distributed to families in the community.

Few people are as popular as the snow cone man!

Only a few hundred yards away from one of Bangkok's busiest thoroughfares 

are peaceful country scenes.