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What you will see
Traditional Thai Market (Ta-lad)
Until today, Thai people have been shopping and
socializing in traditional markets. Traditional markets provide
people with their everyday needs not only economically but also
socially. This traditional Thai market calls “Ta-lad” where most
daily routine occur. This relationship has provided Thai people
with the sense of place and connectedness. It is the place where
people spent their time shopping for their daily basis and
talking to each other. This activity is part of their everyday
life. Which is unique characteristic of traditional Thai
shopping environments has become a part of the cultural identity
of the Thai people. In the market we visit it is very common to see
“live bugs” available in the local market setting. Other
“Thai delicacies” such as “frogs,” “eels,” “ant eggs” will
also be seen, along with other seasonal delicacies.
This should be one of your “must-see” items of your visit.
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Local School & Temple
For many centuries, “wat” or Buddhist temples
have served as educational institutions for young citizens of
Thailand. Though the influence of the western educational system
has led to many changes, wat schools still function within the
social context of the temples. Wats are the public gathering
places where religious and social activities take place. There
are about 30,000 temples in Thailand where monks live and
conduct religious study. All the temples receive donation which
is used for the maintenance of temples and its surroundings. In
addition to this, some temples support social welfare activities
for the benefit of the local communities. One of these includes
running a school within the temple complex. During the tour in
the countryside, we may stop by to visit the local school
and participate in the classroom with the schoolchildren
(weekdays only). In turn, you are helping schoolchildren
to practice their English language.
Furthermore, because wat is served as community
center, so in each community area you may find temple fair which
usually occur once a year. Here is one of the places which you
should find the real Thai experience.
Temple fairs are great fun to attend and it is
the illustration of the wat’s community role and social focal
point. Most temples continue the tradition of what are
essentially fund-raising events, commemorate special event, and
also occasions for “sa-nuk”—having fun. At these times the
normally quiet temple compound becomes filled with swings and
roundabouts, sideshows, and all other typical fun-of-the-fair
amusement, while the otherwise serene air is rent by
loudspeakers deafening noise blaring out raucous Thai music. The
fair is very an old fashioned American county fair. Free outdoor
movie theater, family brings their own mat and food, gather
together watching Thai soap-operas during the nighttime till the
night ended. Many stall selling local goods, clothes,
kitchenware and other basic necessities. Best of all, you will
find plenty of booths offering whatever edible item, no matter
how disgusting you think it is, people will round up just to get
taste of it—this is the local specialty.
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