Market Friday: shopping for old fashion pyjamas.

I have been lost in a maze of confusing emotional hurdles and blocks the whole week. I also lost my almost finished post which had unsettled me, the app seemed to be clashing every few minutes. So, I’d better switch to another more stable platform. Besides, I have been busy following political developments here as there seemed to be several deadlocks on forming a new government after the general election. This whole chess board of political struggles could lead to violent confrontations among different factions and chaos in our country. It’s quite distressing following this political situation daily as I had a bad feeling about things which would take place in the near future. Alas, I have to let go and just keep myself well informed so that I could make the right move in time of crisis. Life has its own dynamic ecology of karmic consequences.

I have been searching for some old style pyjamas at shopping malls. But the vendors would smile at me and tell me that these old fashion clothes couldn’t be found in big shopping malls for years. All my old pyjamas are falling to pieces so I ought to have some new backups. But the last time I shopped for pyjamas was over ten years ago! Things must have changed quite a lot during these years. These old fashion pyjamas are no longer in fashion so I had to go shopping in the oldest market near Chinatown.

Sampheng was the oldest market only five minutes walk from Chinatown. Our first family home was located behind Sampheng so going back to this area always brings me nostalgic feelings and longing for the good old days of my childhood. I used to follow my mother to Sampheng during her shopping sessions. My duty was to carry all the paper bags full of merchandise. In those days, all bags were made in thick brown paper with sturdy handles. My mother walked very fast and I had to do my best to keep up with her. I was afraid of getting lost among the crowds. Sampheng was always jam packed with customers while vendors hawked their goods trying to attract buyers.

The old market was always very noisy, colourful and lively. Every shop would compete on making attractive displays of merchandise and vendors would be shouting about special prices of the day. My mother walked so fast that I never had the chance to touch or inspect some of the colourful plastic toys on display. I had to make such a protest so that my mother would stop to buy me some snacks. Lots of snacks on wheels, fresh fruits and Thai sweets on bamboo baskets used to be common features in Sampheng. Only once was I successful in persuading my mother to stop at a small shop selling ‘Khao Shay’ (rice in perfume iced water with condiments) which was traditional snack used to be popular during the reign of King Rama VI.

My mother was curious to see my eagerness to have this old fashioned snack popular among the upper class. I couldn’t remember much about the incident as I was only about five years old. I could follow the right steps in mixing the perfumed water and crushed ice in the rice bowl. There were at least five condiments to be taken with the rice. My mother told me that she was so surprised that I could do the ritual’ naturally. She didn’t like this kind of high society snack. I forgot about the whole story until one day I was offered a big set of ‘Khao Shay’ by the old cook who used to be an a young cook in the Royal kitchen. I was so pleased to taste such exquisite food after a long, long time. My friend thought I could be a royal entourage in my past life. The cook was my friend’s relative so I had this treat in the hot season for several years. This snack was designed for hot weather as the sweet perfume and cold ice would lighten the mood in hot and humid weather.

I did try to locate that snack shop years ago but it had transformed into a shop fulled of imported fabrics. The majority of shops in Sampeng used to be selling all kinds of imported fabrics. The most expensive Swiss laces and Japanese silk could be found in Sampheng. Then, the rise of textile industry during the eighties had transformed Sampheng into a well known source of all kinds of fabrics at various grades and prices. Most extravagant shops would belong to Indian merchants. This market distributed fabrics and clothes to all cities in the country including our neighbouring markets. But cheap Chinese and Korean imports started killing off the textile industry and Sampheng during the early 90s.

Nowadays, many old fabric shops have turned into selling gift and imported accessories. These shops would respond quickly to changing fashions such as new designs of bags, hats and costume jewelry. Very few Indian fabric shops could be seen in Sampheng while some big fabric companies have to sell their fabric on line. These companies still have their own machines which could woven special custom designed fabric for some organisations with specific uniform requirements. The old small shops selling old fashion cotton clothes for grandparent generation could scarcely be found nowadays.

I was looking for the small shop where I used to buy some cotton pants and old fashioned Chinese silk pants which were very comfortable as pyjamas. The cotton pants was called ‘fisherman pants’ as they were one size loose pants with string to tie around the waist. The fabric was soft cotton in several bright colours. The Chinese silk pants came in different grades: pure silk for formal wear and mixed silk with synthetic at cheaper prices. My Chinese grandmother used to wear the heavy black silk pants with her thick silver belt. This was the typical old style Chinese costume for outing. The shirt or blouse would be simple white cotton fabric with two big pockets and front buttons. I could see these old fashion black silk pants in old Chinese paintings and some black and white photos. So, I realised that my grandmother was very fashionable during her time!

I didn’t want the real thick silk fabric as they were too expensive. So, I would be happy to get the mixed fabric pants at a good price. I walked up and down the narrow alley lined with shops trying to find the old shop with wooden cabinet full of hanging colourful clothes. It took me almost ten minutes to find this old shop. But the old Chinese lady who used to serve customers couldn’t be found. A young Thai lady was asking me if I needed any help. I just walked past her towards the cashier desk asking for the old lady. The cashier or new manager told me that her grandmother passed away a few years ago. So, I found the right shop but my favourite old lady was gone. Things never stay the same, life is dynamic. I was reminded once again of reality and natural course of life.

I was glad I found the old shop and had a good chat with the granddaughter. She told me that these old fashion pants wouldn’t be made one day as there was no demand for old stuff. The Chinese silk pants would become quite hard to find and there were only a few left in the shop. I settled for two cotton ‘fisherman pants’ and one pair of Chinese silk pants. My limited budget told me not to splash out for five or six pairs as usual. I still hid two silk pants in my cabinets but they couldn’t be located yet. So, I should have pyjamas pants to last me another decade!

The new manager told me about changes in Sampheng and how old shops have given up their old business and moved elsewhere. Most shops now have to sell cheap imported goods from China. Locally made cotton blouses and pants would be relevant as long as the old generations of customers still want them. Younger generations would go for fashionable imported synthetic fabrics at much cheaper prices. I still prefer cotton, linen, silk with mixed fabrics. Luckily, I had stocked up on pure cotton shirts and trousers a few years ago at much reduced prices. I had the feeling that I would never be able to afford these high quality clothes in the future. I was glad that my sixth sense worked out to my benefit.

Waking around Sampheng and taking some photos for my record of good old days, I had to resigned to the fact that things would never stay the same. Sampheng in three years’ time would look quite different from what I was experiencing at the moment. So, I tried to take in all the sensory impressions and recorded them in my memory. I still have the memories of my childhood about this market place; I would get old together with all my childhood’s places for growing up. Luckily destiny has led me to new places which afford me my learning process and spiritual journey in this lifetime.

Wishing you peace, good health and prosperity.

Stay strong and cheerful.

#marketfriday hosted by @dswigle