Market Friday: cycling to get come ice cream and to enjoy the river.

After a hard day working in the garden, I had to reward myself with an ice cream. I cycled to the local store to get the usual vanilla coated with chocolate ice cream. Then, I cycled to the riverbank near the local resort to enjoy the ice cream while watching the sunset. But this small ice cream seemed to disappear too fast, I felt as if the ice cream has shrunk. So, I had to visit the restaurant at this local resort to see if they had any ice cream.

This resort has been opening for almost ten years. It used ti he very busy with wedding parties, cyclists’ meetings and many visitors from faraway provinces. They used to have organic farm and earthworms farm in which visitors could come to observe their projects. But things had changed drastically during the long lockdown. The management had to let go almost all of the staff for the business to survive. After the lockdown had ended, business was very slow to lick up. Lots of people in the countryside were putting up ‘for sale’ signs on their lands.

I had a look around the resort and took some photos. The whole place was very quiet as it was too early for visitors to drop by for dinner. The atmosphere was very nice and quiet. There used to be lots of orchids in this place but they seemed to be out of season. Orchids usually blossomed in winter months. The trees have grown into big tall trees and inside the resort looked very green and pleasant.

The small restaurant had seatings inside and outdoor on the riverbank. There used to be live band in the evening, but the band of musicians had moved all their musical instruments away. I used to drop by to listen to their country songs which were quite soothing. It was sad to see the restaurant being almost empty most evenings. People were attracted by the new and modern looking restaurants and bars by the main road. These new eateries had live bands, hostesses and various alcoholic drinks.

This local resort was designed to attract people who preferred peace and quiet atmosphere by the river. The restaurant looked very simple with lots of plants while the food tended to be typical northern food without trendy fusion menus. I haven’t eaten at this restaurant before as it wouldn’t be very practical for a vegetarian. The cook would have a headache trying to follow my instructions.

I was glad that the restaurant had quality ice cream with many flavours. These were a bit above the average ice cream sold at local groceries. I had my favourite chocolate ice cream; I had never tasted this brand of Thai ice cream before. The first Thai made and high end ice cream was started by a student who went to study in Italy. When she returned home, she missed good quality ice cream so much that she started to make ice cream at home.

Her father saw her effort and determination to make ice cream. So he bought an ice cream maker from Italy for her. A few years later, she opened an ice cream shop and became famous for her hobby. This small company had many branches and became very successful. However, the plandemic and long lockdown cost the business dearly and the owner had to shut down the company. So, I was eager to try this other Thai company selling high quality ice cream made with premium ingredients.

I settled down on a wooden table on the riverbank. There was only one table with customers in the whole area. It was nice to have the whole place to myself but it was bad for the local business. I had a perfect view of the sunset and I could hear river flowing by the edge of the riverbank. This sensation was very different from walking along the promenade where the water was twenty to thirty meters away.

The small tub of ice cream was surprisingly very good and creamy. The chocolate was very strong and thick; it didn’t feel like fake ice cream. I was very happy with this chocolate ice cream and it was worth the extra cost. Luckily the restaurant didn’t charge me for all the good vibes and energy I could refill myself by sitting there for half an hour.

I had just realised the difference between being really close to the river and being fifty meters away. Though I could see the river from my house, I could get the same vibes as I got at the restaurant. But I was surrounded by trees and the earth, so the vibes around the house was from old trees and the earth. The ‘sounds’ I could hear in my inner ears were quite different. The sounds were stronger and more persistent around the house while the vibes at the restaurant was very calming and soothing.

This new experience amazed me a lot as I never thought the ‘sounds’ and vibes from the river could be so gentle. Now I knew why some people just kept coming back to have dinner by the river. I would love to have a small shed built by the river if that was permissible by law. I had to find a way to build a small shed or tree house in the banana groves so that I could sit there quietly watching the river sometimes. Perhaps I had to plant six or seven trees closely together so that I could build a tree house by connecting these trees in the future. I would have to work hard again in pruning trees so that I could have another ice cream at the restaurant by the river.

Wishing you peace, good health and prosperity.

Stay strong and cheerful.

#marketfriday hosted by @dswigle