Fish and Spices–the Wet Market in Phuket

 

Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com

This woman was everything, everything

Dear hearts. I can’t believe how long it’s been since I killed some pixels in the service of this blog.

I have no truly compelling excuse, but have been busy with a new freelance job researching and writing a weekly travel post for Seattle Refined  (all enticing ideas for travel which will appeal to a Pacific Northwest audience gratefully  received).

Then most of October seemed to be swallowed up by a two week trip to Thailand, and the resultant packing, unpacking and crippling jetlag. Brace yourselves now for total Thai overload. I am totally, ridiculously obsessed with the country, its people and dear god, the food.  

Just to whet your appetite, I attended the magnificent Blue Elephant cooking school in Phuket Town on the last day of my trip and part of the class involved a brisk walk round the most fabulous wet market. We only had half an hour or so here as part of our workshop, which was tragic really, as I could easily have photographed here all day, every day for the rest of my life and not got bored.

All human, and, so it seems, aquatic, life is here, chaps, and I learned much about Thailand and its people.

Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com

I learned that smiling is Thailand’s national sport and the Thai people are Olympic-level practitioners.

Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com

Possibly because their babies are Olympic-levels of cute.

Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com

Though I wasn’t quite sure about this comedy tee-shirt ( and neither, it seems, were they).

Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com

I learned that Thais are also quite amazingly beautiful.

Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com

Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com

Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com

Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com

As is their seafood.

Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com

Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com

Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com
Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com

They enjoy hacking at things with big cleavers.

Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com

Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com

Yes, that is a frog.

They will eat all parts of an animal (as is only right and proper).

Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com

Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com

Yes, that is blood. 

And they are somewhat fond of chillies in all their forms.

Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com

Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com

And there is no such thing as too many coconuts.

Phuket - Photography by www.paolathomas.com

I would give my eye teeth (if I knew what they were) to be able to shop in a market like that every day. Wouldn’t you?

Come and visit the markets of Campo de’ Fiori, Rome and the Cote d’Azur with me. Markets make me happy.

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Comments

  1. says

    It sounds like things are coming together so well for you and your photography…and no wonder. Looking forward to more from Phuket and Thailand…

  2. Lilian says

    I’m glad you didn’t freak out. 😛 But seriously, wet markets can be confronting for those who didn’t grow up with them. Did you ask what obscene graffiti was scrawled in dust on the back of the coconut truck?

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