I waited until the sun dipped behind the tall buildings before entering Kim Yong Market. I was glad.
The approach was like many other markets that sprawled along the streets. Outside, vendors sold mostly fruit and the ubiquitous street food.
Inside the main complex, the market was claustrophobic. In the cool, it was fascinating, confusing, an impressive. I cannot imagine pushing through the throng in the heat of the day!
Imagine a narrow sidewalk between sheer buildings 3 storeys high packed full of stalls no more than 5 feet wide, rising straight up. Then add shopkeepers, customers and curious tourists who just get in the way (that's me).
It took effort to remember where I was by constantly referencing where my exit is as I wandered through this shopping catacomb. The prices confirmed the advice given by my van mates that the product here is about the same price as Malaysia.
As I exited the market, I chanced on a few cages of song birds hung over parked scooters.
I was also drawn by the lovely sight and smells of this flower stall.
I continued walking and exploring, and chanced upon the temple complex next.
This massive construction looked like it was being funded by rows of food stalls set up to raise money for the completion of the building.
On the way back to my hotel, I took a picture of this bored, flamboyant man who was searing a suckling pig.
You don't see it in the final shot, but he was posing with the pig charging at the camera in previous blurry takes since the flash was not cycling properly.
My appetite had not returned, and it was getting late, so I decided to try dessert. It worked. Mango with Sticky Rice and Coconut Milk definitely did the trick.
I returned to the Nam Prik seller and somehow managed to point, and order Nam Prik Kabae with Plat Tu for the rest of dinner.
It's not pretty, but healthy with lots of jungle greens, boiled flowers and raw herbs.
~ Shien
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