A Trip to the Market with Nong Ja, Isaan Thailand.

As I wrote in my previous blog about Nong Ja and that our morning walk wasn’t complete. We look at the chickens and cows, return home for a cool drink and then we are off again on another walk.

At the end of our street, which is very short is this vacant land that is overgrown and stops through traffic. We hardly get any cars down our road. The odd car that is lost often comes around the small bend, sees the grass of the block and reverses back up the road. There used to be a sign telling people the road was a dead end but disappeared awhile ago.

I carry Nong Ja across the paddock and we set off on the shortcut to the market. The pathway is concrete and even has a small bridge across a disgusting drain that is so polluted.

I have seen people catching fish out of it. It disgusts me as the water is pitch black, full of rubbish and god knows what kind of contaminants.

We then head up the overgrown track toward the market.

The normal 7 day a week market opposite Big C, which sells all sorts of things, has undergone a big renovation. The owners are spending some big money, upgrading the entire market and it is such a good thing to see.

We have made this trip so many times now, Nong Ja knows when she has to hold my hand when we cross the road, and where she has to be carried. When we approach the road to cross, I ask for her hand and she simply offers it to me and then we look up and down the road, and cross.

Across the road from the market is a myriad of foods on offer. We come to this market to buy breakfast nearly every day, even days where I have breakfast at home for us; Ja still makes me trek across to the market. Then are fresh fish, they are really fresh. This shop keeps them alive in a large cooler and kills them just before placing them onto the hot coals for grilling. They have some lemongrass and other herbs stuffed into the stomach as well to enhance the flavour.

The selection of grilled meats is always a good sight; the smell of the meat grilling only enhances the hunger pains.

The market was quiet, it was Saturday morning, not too early but many had not risen yet, to start their weekend.

This is what Nong Ja was staring at in the previous picture, the water delivery man. There are many of these people whizzing about with trucks full of water for businesses and homes. It is 10 Baht for 12 litres from them or 8 Baht directly from the water producer; I go straight to the producer as it is two doors down from the chicken man near our house.

This shop doesn’t look like much, but he is doing very well. He stocks everything the food shops around him might need and is the only shop like this on the block. He is also cheap so many buy from him than trekking way across to the large market or a shopping centre.

Some chicken grilling and in the bamboo holder that usually steams the Thai staple being sticky rice are actually eggs.

After selecting our breakfast for the day we trudge home. Hands are washed and breakfast is consumed. Next is the morning bath and then it comes time for a sleep.

Ja will usually crash out for another hour or two, I at times jump back into bed as well or just get on with my day. When Ja awakes, the other two girls in my house will do so as well, Miss Noot and Benjawan. Looking bleary eyed and as if they had not slept a wink of sleep, stumble about the house.

There are many mornings where I have only had two hours sleep because of football. Some nights going to bed at around midnight, rising at 2am to watch football midweek and on Saturdays and Sundays, the football goes right through the night. last Sunday I didn’t fall into bed until just before 5am,then rising at 6am to go back to school for my first day after holidays.

There are mornings, where I would love to just roll over and make Miss Noot get up and take care of Ja, but I treasure this time with her, it is our time, it is so peaceful and calm in the mornings. I see Nong Ja at her best, when she is so full of energy, scooting here and there, chatting to me in her still made up language, these hours I value too much to ever be too tired to not drag myself out of bed.

Life is too short to not experience this joy and pleasure of such an amazing niece.

Brunty