Saturday Market Food ~ Chiang Mai

On Saturdays and Sundays (or even every other day), one of our main activities here in Chiang Mai is to find new food to taste!
Although less than the Sunday Market, the Saturday Market is also home to many varieties of food from traditional Thai food like Pad Thai, the delicious Khao Soi to dim-sums and French fries.
Food is often served in smaller portions than in western countries, but usually Thai people eat more often during the day.
I saw this street food lady selling dim-sums with a nice light I just had to take the shot.

Child at play ~ Chiang Mai

Another shot I got from the PhotoWalk a few weeks ago in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is the same kid playing with a top seen on this portrait in the market.

It was too bad it rained for hours later so we couldn't get more shots. I felt a bit more comfortable taking street portraits when I was with the group, I am not very used to street photography and I feel a bit shy approaching people to take photos when I don't even speak their language.

I am improving day by day though as I am forcing myself to get out there and approach strangers. I might even have a project coming up soon so stay tuned!

The wet rickshaw ride

As I previously mentioned, I joined a few days ago the Chiang Mai Photo Walk with a few other photographers. Unfortunately the sky poured down on us for too long and we had to cancel the walk.

We found a shelter in a narrow street while waiting for the rain to end. It was fun to see people pass by, running, driving or just trying to get on with their normal routine, unaffected by the rain.

This year, Northern Thailand is subject to one of the worst droughts since years. It is currently monsoon season but the rain just doesn't seem to reach Chiang Mai, although the weather is overcast for weeks now.

And of course, it just HAD to rain for 4 hours non stop the ONLY day we decided to gather up and go out shooting! Oh Irony... Well, at least I hope it helped the surrounding fields a bit.

I nevertheless got a few nice shots of wet people, like this rickshaw driver, in his raincoat, going on with his job while the passenger just hides behind an umbrella.

Child in a market - Photo Walk 2010

Today 24th of July was held the 3rd annual "Worldwide Photo Walk", a social photography event created by Scott Kelby where photographers get together in town, walk, shoot, socialize and have fun.
Although some parts of the world the walk hasn't started yet, more than 33000 photographers, amateurs and pros are expected in 1111 walks around the world (cool number!).

I participated in the Photo Walk in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Unfortunately, heavy rain spoiled our gathering and the event was canceled an hour after we met. We did have the opportunity to visit a local market though before the sky poured on us. We got separated in two groups to prevent people from panicking..
I mean.. Imagine yourself sitting in a corner peeling onions when suddenly 40 people point a huge camera and start clicking while the multiple flashes turn you to dust... Horrible!

I saw this little kid playing in a corner with his little top. He was very shy! Every time I pointed my camera, he looked down and tried to focus on his toy. Cute.

Overall it was a fun but short time. I am not really used to taking photos of people in the streets but being in a group made me feel a bit less shy and I saw how some photographers approached the merchants to have their shot.
Hope everyone else in the world has more luck than we did!

Saturday Market food stalls (stools?)

In Chiang Mai, every Sunday takes place the famous "Walking Night Market" on Th Ratchadamnoen, offering a taste of provincial culture, cheap bargains and reminding the itinerant merchants stopping in town to sell their goods.
Usually the street is packed with both locals and tourists making it hard to move around.

Less known however is the "Saturday Walking Market" on.. as you guessed.. Saturdays on Th Wualai. It attracts less tourists and is more enjoyable to walk around. It is located in an older street outside the "Old city" walls.
Of course, I have to admit, what I like most in these markets is the variety of local food you can find almost every 10 steps! My taste buds are grateful every weekend and my stomach curses me all night long.
Some people would avoid eating street food from fear of poor hygiene. I think it's an excellent way to discover local culture and I've never fallen sick from any kind of food during my 10-month travel.

What do you think? Would you be afraid to taste food from a merchant like in the photo above?

The broom lady

In Thailand, you can find and buy almost anything on the streets. I saw this lady selling brooms in Chiang Mai while walking back home from lunch with my girlfriend. I wanted to get a nice shot of her but she kept walking too fast even with all those brooms!
I just had to use my telephoto lens to capture her from far as she was heading towards a bar.
I liked the balance between the lady with her merchandise and the bar bottles out of focus in the background. I wish that sitting girl was not in the shot as it creates distraction but hey... It was a spontaneous candid shot.

Do you think she might be a witch?

Alkmaar Streets

As I'm watching the quarter finals of the World Cup 2010 between Brazil and the Netherlands, I thought it would be a good opportunity to post this picture. I'm not particularly a fan of both teams but hey... I've never been to Brazil yet!
This shot was taken in Alkmaar, a small town of 95000 inhabitants, famous for its cheese market. I had the opportunity to visit a few towns with 2 friends including of course Amsterdam, but I was not really impressed by them. I preferred the relaxing atmosphere and simplicity of Alkmaar with its clichéd windmills and canals.

[Edit]: Well, congratulations to Holland for kicking Brazil out of the World Cup 2010. Good job.

Sidewalk Kitchen

This restaurant (The Green House) is one of my favorite on Rambuttri Rd, parallel to Khao San Rd. in Bangkok, Thailand.
As most restaurants in the area, it is open on the street and half the tables are actually on the sidewalk. In Thailand, sidewalks aren't used for walking. They are overtaken by street vendors and restaurants while pedestrians share the street with tuk-tuks, bikes and cars.
This mini kitchen is where the "Thai food" is prepared as it is less complicated to prepare than western food. I suppose they also have another one back inside where all the pasta/pizza/burgers/sandwiches and juices are prepared.
I was sitting not far from the cook and I couldn't resist taking a photo with the beautiful light from the setting sun.

And I ate well!

Street Food

I have to admit, one of my biggest pleasures while traveling is: Tasting new food!
Especially street food.

Street food is obtained from a streetside vendor, a portable stall or small stand (like a hot dog stand in the US, or "kitchen carts" in Asia). It is often "fast food" to take away, although some vendors also put up stools and small tables on the sidewalk for clients to sit and eat.
It is mostly regional or local food. Prepared on the go, in 2 minutes, it's the best way to taste local flavors and mix in with the crowd.

Unfortunately, in "civilized" countries, it's becoming less frequent to find street food vendors, mostly because of safety and health concern. Many people still doubt the cleanliness of these stalls.

In my case, I'd rather focus on the benefits of street food:

• It gives you a taste of local flavors, makes you discover new dishes. Why would you want to travel across the world to a foreign country and eat the same food you ate at home?
• It's quick and cheap. 
• It gets people out! Adds life to the streets and boosts local economy.
• Concerning Health safety, It actually makes you healthier than all the germ-less bland food served in restaurants. No I am not crazy: We fall sick in foreign countries because of germ exposure. We are not used to the same germs and bacterias in different countries. Our body just needs to adapt and a fast way to do so is to eat street food! What's the worse that can happen? An extended stay in your bathroom?

Anyway, I'm just going to get myself a pad thai with some spring rolls.. Cheers!