09/01/2011 The market.

Not to put a too finer point to it, I loath shopping at the best of times. Shlepping through a fully air-conditioned shopping centre is not my idea of fun. So imagine how much overcome with joy I was when we ended up in a market in Chiang Yun. The latter being about 25km back to Khon Kaen.

Hot and noisy is all you can basically say. All the different vendors appear to have sourced their wares from the same suppliers. T shirts, jeans shoes and thongs, torches calculators etc. Once you’ve seen a quarter of the market it all starts looking the same. So my anti shopping logic kicks in and asks, “why continue punishing yourself like this?” I’m answered with a, “only five minutes more”.

Five minutes in Thailand can be very flexible and can be interchanged with the word soon. The latter being used for anything from five minutes to twelve hours. Cleverly designed not to disappoint. “When is the bus coming?” “Soon” don’t be surprised if it doesn’t turn up for at least an hour. By using the word soon no one can be held responsible. Very clever.

Anyway, we emerged from the market forty five minutes after I asked if we were finished. There was one very compelling stall however and if nothing else, demonstrated by how much we get ripped off by the two dollar shops. Everything from bottle openers to dish racks and plastic bowls and plates. All for only 10bt each.

No more shopping for me on this trip…..

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