Vendors rubbish criticism of Mae Klong fresh market

By KACHORN PHONIMTHAI 
THE NATION

 

 

VENDORS AT Mae Klong, also known as Rom Hup – one of Thailand’s landmark markets – have defended its character and surroundings after coming under criticism in online posts.

 

They have spoken up in defence of this world-famous place after several foreigners made critical comments on a BBC News video clip titled “The train that drives through a market”. 

 

 

Uploaded on YouTube on Thursday the clip features Thailand’s most famous fresh market, in Samut Songkhram province. This market is usually referred to as “Rom Hup” (folding parasols) because vendors fold parasols over their railway-side stalls whenever a train moves past. 

 

The market sells various kinds of food and agricultural produce. But as part of the unique character and location of the market, some trays remain partly under a moving train when it slowly moves past. 

 

One online comment said, “And that dust under the train must shower over the food”. 

 

Another foreigner complained about the risk of accidents given customers’ and tourists’ proximity to moving trains. 

 

Chokchai Kijrak, a dried-seafood vendor at Rom Hup Market, said foreigners should first visit the market before criticising it. 

 

“They should come here to take a look. Vendors have kept the market very clean. You won’t see any litter,” he said. 

 

He urged foreigners to understand local culture and ways of life. 

 

Boonkerd Pasee, who sells limes at the market, described Rom Hup as unique. 

 

“That’s why it attracts a huge number of tourists,” she said.

 

She also lamented that in fact it was tourists who hurt trade at the market because their presence has made the market too crowded. 

 

 

“And I must say most tourists don’t buy fresh produce,” Boonkerd added.

 

Mae Klong Train Station chief Pattana Wongmujarin said the Rom Hup market had developed naturally after opening more than 30 decades ago. 

 

“It’s not the State Railway of Thailand that has opened this market,” he said.

 

He said the market was in fact cleaner and safer than ever before. 

 

“We have also revamped our railways,” he said. 

 

Decha Singsakul, a tour guide, said he had brought numerous tourists to Room Hup.

 

“No one has complained about the market. They only say this place is amazing, something they have never seen elsewhere,” he said. 

 

Decha said the number of tourists to Rom Hup had been rising every year.

 

“If you think the market smells, you probably don’t understand that every fresh market carries the mixed odour of fresh vegetables, fruits and meat. It’s not a dirty smell,” he said. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30342660

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-04-07

 

7 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

He urged foreigners to understand local culture and ways of life. 

a thai urging foreigners to be understanding ?; more thin skinnedness

Yep, come sample our fresh food and veggies with a unique aroma and flavors of a train's grease and diesel fuel, yep, can't get anywhere folks, only in Thailand... 

1 minute ago, ezzra said:

Yep, come sample our fresh food and veggies with a unique aroma and flavors

of a train's grease and diesel fuel, yep, can't get anywhere, only in Thailand... 

BTW, do these trains have lavatories? 

“And I must say most tourists don’t buy fresh produce,” Boonkerd added.

 

and i wonder where these coach loads of tourists mainly come from

If  people in Thailand want to have a market they can have it and it is none of the rest of the worlds business. God all mighty why do people judge and try to force their opinions on others not even in their country total idiots and bigots.

48 minutes ago, lovelomsak said:

If  people in Thailand want to have a market they can have it and it is none of the rest of the worlds business. God all mighty why do people judge and try to force their opinions on others not even in their country total idiots and bigots.

 

Perhaps it has something to do with the likely lack of cleanliness and hygiene for food products left out in the open all day and night that have diesel engine trains running over and past them X number of times per day.

 

When challenged about cleanliness in the article, the one guy responds that they don't have litter at the market. Well, when it comes to fresh food products being sold out in the open, that really isn't the issue, is it.

 

25 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Perhaps it has something to do with the likely lack of cleanliness and hygiene for food products left out in the open all day and night that have diesel engine trains running over and past them X number of times per day.

 

When challenged about cleanliness in the article, the one guy responds that they don't have litter at the market. Well, when it comes to fresh food products being sold out in the open, that really isn't the issue, is it.

 

None of what you use as an arquement for others to stick their nose in  justifies nothing  People should learn to mind their own business simple as that. The guy in the article does not need to justify sh:t to anyone not their business.

13 minutes ago, lovelomsak said:

None of what you use as an arquement for others to stick their nose in  justifies nothing  People should learn to mind their own business simple as that. The guy in the article does not need to justify sh:t to anyone not their business.

 

So when your local coffee shop serves you a cup of coffee with a cockroach floating in the cup, it's no one else's business?  Because the coffee shop "does not need to justify sh:t to anyone not their business"?

 

Do you work for the local Ministry of Public Health, by any chance? 

 

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

They have spoken up in defence of this world-famous place after several foreigners made critical comments on a BBC News video clip titled “The train that drives through a market”

This is not your local market huh. BBC does a story so what

17 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

So when your local coffee shop serves you a cup of coffee with a cockroach floating in the cup, it's no one else's business?  Because the coffee shop "does not need to justify sh:t to anyone not their business"

This is not the local market in good old England  So BBC readers have no say. Who judges the Soho market?

2 minutes ago, lovelomsak said:

 Who judges the Soho market?

 

Any member of the public who shops there, regardless of their nationality, I'd say.

 

Same as here.

 

For example, I'm not going to buy fresh produce from anyplace that's been sitting out all day and night along a railroad track with trains running over it.  But if other people want to, hey, that's their choice.

 

Everyone's entitled to their own opinions, even when visiting other countries.

 

 

4 hours ago, lovelomsak said:

If  people in Thailand want to have a market they can have it and it is none of the rest of the worlds business. God all mighty why do people judge and try to force their opinions on others not even in their country total idiots and bigots.

People assess and judge other people and situations on a daily basis. It's part of life. Farangs judge Thais constantly about driving and Thais judge  farangs too. Ask a Thai about Cambodians, Lao or those from Myanmar! I remember talking to a Thai lady when in Pattaya. I mentioned that I lived in Isaan. She said Isaan people were "tam" (low) people while lowering her hand to accentuate. This was something that I had also heard previously from Southern Thais.

Rule #1

 

Blame the tourists.

 

8 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Chokchai Kijrak, a dried-seafood vendor at Rom Hup Market, said foreigners should first visit the market before criticising it. 

 

“They should come here to take a look. Vendors have kept the market very clean. You won’t see any litter,” he said. 

 

He urged foreigners to understand local culture and ways of life. 

The problem already starts if someone calls this mess "CULTURE".

Up tomorrow : Tourist Killed by Train

4 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Up tomorrow : Tourist Killed by Train

 

It would be karma... The spirits of the market have been offended!

9 hours ago, lovelomsak said:

If  people in Thailand want to have a market they can have it and it is none of the rest of the worlds business. God all mighty why do people judge and try to force their opinions on others not even in their country total idiots and bigots.

In a free, democratic society, people can criticize most anything, anywhere and anytime. That includes things outside of their country.

 

In a free and democratic society, idiots and bigots enjoy the same democratic protections as do those that would advocate silencing, editing or imposing certain conditions on their comments.

I respect Thai culture but to call this a fresh and clean food market 555

Up to you...... 

But but but 

OK just remember clean your food before you eat 

 

How many posters here have even been there never mind purchased something there?

  No one makes you buy there so why care about those that do. If it works for them it works for them simple.

If you have not been to this market, it is near the end of the tracks and that is why the rain

comes past slowly, then stops just beyond this market.  This has been a tourist attraction for

a long time, and to see some senseless tourist complaint, is ignorant, and as bad as fake news.

  If you do not want to see this scene, Stay Away, you stupid person.. Otherwise , enjoy something

that your nanny country simply will not allow..

Geezer

14 hours ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

 Otherwise , enjoy something that your nanny country simply will not allow..

 

 

Yes, and there's probably some pretty good health/cleanliness reasons why other countries would not allow it.

 

But health and cleanliness have never been big priorities here.

 

 

On ‎07‎/‎04‎/‎2018 at 7:40 AM, ezzra said:

kYep, come sample our fresh food and veggies with a unique aroma and flavors of a train's grease and diesel fuel, yep, can't get anywhere folks, only in Thailand... 

Is that any worse than the sprays and other muck they get plastered with in the fields ?