It all started the day I mentioned to Khun Tai (our cleaner) that “I need more plants for inside!”.
“Well,” she said, “Khun Paul, if you want more plants for cheap you go to Chatuchak, my husband knows many many people, very cheap! Chatuchak open Wednesday Thursday good day to go! If you want to go, I will go with you!”
So, after a weekend of thought, I told her on Monday that I’d love to go with her on Wednesday, after my Thai lesson in the morning.
Wednesday’s Thai lesson concentrated on learning how to say “tree”, “pots”, “plant” and so on (although not much good because I forgot, anyway), and after school I took the MRT (underground subway) to meet Khun Tai near the market.
Khun Tai had her husband with her when we met, Khun Aut, and we started our expedition. Well, you’ve never seen anything like it. Nothing compares to it in Australia - it was like having the MCG filled with plants. Absolutely huge. (So huge in fact we had to take a tuk-tuk from the plant section to the pots section.) Khun Aut’s presence was invaluable because, besides being able to bargain in Thai, the sheer volume of people he knew meant that we were well looked after whereever we went. I must have been introduced to twenty people, only half of whom were relatives.
After completing our (very sociable) first circuit of the market and seeing what’s available, we went off for cool drinks and met more family members. One particular shop was Khun Tai’s sister’s, full to roof with vases, where of course I had to make a small purchase. In Thailand, the first sale of the day is special to any shopkeeper, as it brings good fortune for the rest of the day. So when I handed over my money, she took the notes and flapped them about all over the shop, touching all the stock and saying blessings. Well it must have worked because Khun Tai told me days later that her sister had a very good day that day and I was credited with bring her good fortune!
By this time I had got into my head which plants I was interested in. So, off we go and start our second lap. The purchasing lap! In one shop I bought a huge “Indian Rubber” tree (not sure about the name, it was roughly translated) with dark maroon leaves for the total price of B1400 (which was considered very expensive but only works out to about AUD$40). Actually, Khun Tai’s promise of cheap prices wasn’t wrong either; I bought another tree that was taller that me and about 4 feet wide for only B400 (about AU$14). A cute bonsai from Khun Aut’s brother (B200 and it’s 6 years old) and a 5-foot high climbing ivy type thing were the other investments.
From here we caught the tuk-tuk over to the pots section were I picked up some big pots for all these to live in - of course all the while with Khun Tai and Khun Aut guiding me around, introducing me to everyone and looking after me in every way. Really, they were so nice and wouldn’t even let me even carry anything. I felt pretty special.
Once we’d got the pots organised, a truck was telephoned to help get all this stuff home. My ride home (with the truck driver) involved some excitement when we had to bribe a police officer to let us drive on the highway (why exactly, I’m not sure).
When I got home I took all the wrapping off the plants and then when Pete got home we spent the night rearranging the plants and the furniture. We’re almost living in a small indoor jungle now, but it looks great!
(Incidentally, after the day’s adventures and lots of practice speaking Thai, I know also know the words for “plant”, “tree”, “indoors”, “outdoors” and so on quite fluently!)
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