Photo Gallery & Impressions 16
PHOTO SAMPLER - Market south of Ban Pong
& other Ban Pong Scenes, 17 Aug 2003 & before.
After visiting the orchid farm described in the previous
album, our friend Jing took us south of town near the river to the local Folk
Museum located on the grounds of the Wat Muang temple. The museum was closed by the time we got there but the helpful folks in charge
opened it up for our visit. It had many items from the early life in the
Ban Pong area, however, no photos were permitted inside. Emerging from the
museum, we were met with a tropical downpour. The Sunday open-air market held in
this wat complex was active with merchants covering their wares or packing up
and leaving. The food market being held closer to the river remained open and we
were able to get a few photos in this area. We have added a rather random
assortment of photos taken previously around Ban Pong in an attempt to portray
the diverse flavor of this city to which we have become attached.
The greater Ban Pong area, including its
rural parts, has a population of about 124,000. Reportedly, downtown Ban
Pong has about 20,000 folks. It is located west of Bangkok in the province of Ratchaburi where the railroad out
of Bangkok splits (see map). Our
Boromomarajoni College of Nursing is located in the countryside, about 9 km
northwest of Ban Pong. On August 28th we moved in to town to stay were friends
Ted & Susan had stayed, our friend Yupadee's home. Many of our nursing
students had advanced on to other assignments and we had only one more week to
teach just one class on campus. It is also time to get ready for traveling
before returning home to California.
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| This requisite photo of
the local temple, Wat Muang,
was taken from Jing's car as we left the Folk Museum. |
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| Near the wat, while Peg waited in the
car, Jing jumped out to by some sticky rice cooked in bamboo - Delicious! |
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| Keith gets a shot of the
wet food market. Plastic bags are a handy & common rain hat. |
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| This bridge across the
river is for 2-way traffic, but cars must wait their turn for obvious
reasons. |
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| Looking down from the
bridge we see this unusual sight. |
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| Local paddlers of this
traditional Thai boat are practicing for an upcoming race. |
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| Another rainy day in Ban
Pong, Peg captures this disserted street scene. |
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| Local dogs &
motorcycles seek protection from the rain. |
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| A lotus plant in a dragon
pot on the curb outside of friend Yupadee's home. |
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| A typical side street
scene with the typical sprouting of antennas above. |
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| The east end of Ban
Pong's main street ends at the train station & this elephant
round-about. |
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| This view of another
downtown main street shows both old & new buildings. |
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| A modern building at the
end of this divided street. |
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| This attractive new place
was for rent or sale at a very low price. |
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| An older neighborhood on
one of the side streets. |
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| A typical home/business
as we venture a little out from town. |
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| The older wooden style of
"shop-house" living quarters above, business below. |
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| Like any progressive
city, construction is always happening. |
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| A view down one of our
favorite busy back streets. |
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| As Peg walks on ahead,
Keith gets this shot of busy street & preferred mode of
transportation for many Thais. |
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| Friend Yupadee conducts
private after-school English classes. This is what her front door looks like
after the kids arrive. |
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| A view of some of the
language students waiting for the English class which will be held in the
adjacent room. |
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| The young hosts of our
favorite food shop which specializes in papaya pok pok & bar-b-qued
chicken - just around the corner from Yupadee's. |
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| Keith finally agrees to a
long overdue hair cut at the neighborhood barber lady's shop (40 baht - less
than $1.) |
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