New Normal?
Due to COVID-19 many people around the World are sick or out of work, tough times for all. In Thailand we have, so far, been fairly lucky, but with no tourists the economy is falling apart and many businesses mentioned here in my blog may have disappeared for ever, under new ownership or are temporarily closed. Hopefully we will all get back to normal soon.
With so many businesses closed a lot of street markets have been organised to help locals get an income. Some were open before the virus arrived some are new and temporary until things restart. The Sunday Walking Street or Lard Yai has re-opened along with a new Friday evening market on the outskirts of the Old Town in the small community of Choom Chon 40 Hong called "Lahd Gor Jahn". The market takes its name from the community of fishermen that used traditional fishing boats and large nets to fish in the mouth of Bang Yai Canal. These boats are not so common now as most fishermen now use longtail boats, however if your lucky you may see one like this one at Rawai Beach.
เรื่องเล่าจากพิพิธภัณฑ์ภูเก็ตไทยหัว-"ประมงกอจ๊าน"... “จับแบบจีน”...อ่าวภูเก็ตเป็นแหล่งการประมงพื้นบ้าน ชาวจีนฮกเกี้ยนได้ใช้เรือกอจ๊านหรือเรือท้ายเป็ดจอดทอดสมอผูกเรือไว้บริเวณปากคลองบางใหญ่ ออกทะเลเพื่อดักจับสัตว์น้ำด้วยอวนความยาวกว่า ๓๐ เมตร...ทรัพยากรทะเลที่ชาวประมงกอจ๊านได้มาเพื่อใช้เป็นอาหารในครอบครัวโดยตรงหรือมากพอที่จะจำหน่ายให้พ่อค้าแม่ขายในบันซ้าน(ตลาดสด) ชาวกอจ๊านได้นำอวนขนาดใหญ่ผึ่งลมผึ่งแดดไว้ที่บริเวณปากคลองบางใหญ่ เป็นเหตุให้เรียกลักษณะการอย่างนี้ว่า“เรือกอจ๊าน” และกลายเป็นชื่อชุมชนนี้จนถึงปัจจุบัน
Lahd Gor Jahn is next to Bang Yai Canal and has a very relaxed local atmosphere with food stalls as well as the normal restaurants of the community. There are also some street entertainments.
The market can be reached from Kra Road or from the Saphan Hin side so it is a good place to visit after a walk along the illuminated mangrove trail at Saphan Hin Park. There are also some street entertainments.
Here are a few photos from my visit last Friday
Located next to the canal makes it a peaceful airy market with the canal wall as an ideal place to sit with a drink or a snack and watch life go by.
Don't forget to look along the side of the market too, there are small restaurants and shops and even this quirky collection of junk which I presume was for sale.
This is what I chose for my dinner, sticky rice and north eastern style sausage, served with raw ginger and some salad. The ginger is a must to give an extra flavour to the sausage, try it!
My visit was a bit too early for most of the entertainment so I need to go back again this week, any excuse for another trip to the market.
Lard Gor Jahn starts around 16.30pm but things really start to get lively after sunset. I would recommend getting there before sunset at about 18.00pm. During Covid most places are closing earlier than usual at around 21.00pm again this may change when things get busy again.
**All markets now require temperature checks, wearing a mask, social distancing and registering your phone number on entrance, either by app or by writing it down in a book.
