The floating market tour included the train market, which I had not heard of from reading my guides. The train market turned out to be such a treat. There was a huge indoor market with fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats. I have not had enough photography experience, so I still feel guilty about taking pictures of people's stalls if I'm not buying anything. I would just take quick shots when I didn't feel like I was intruding too much.
I still didn't get this whole 'train market' thing. We had walked down the tracks and there was about two feet wide opening between vendors and their displays. Also, as a tall westerner, I was having to duck throughout our walk along the tracks. How was a train going to fit through here? Was it called train market because a train used to come though? Was this like a small hand crank train used as a novelty tourist attraction?
I still didn't get this whole 'train market' thing. We had walked down the tracks and there was about two feet wide opening between vendors and their displays. Also, as a tall westerner, I was having to duck throughout our walk along the tracks. How was a train going to fit through here? Was it called train market because a train used to come though? Was this like a small hand crank train used as a novelty tourist attraction?
As the tones came over the speakers and vendors started scurrying around, Mod spoke with a vendor she knew and arranged for me to sit inside their shop area with a fan pointed at me. She even bought me a frozen coke pop. Situations like this make me uncomfortable where I'm obviously getting preferential treatment because I'm a visitor, but I obliged to their kindness.
Then, here it came, a full-sized, real-life train. All the vendors cleared the tracks by pulling back their umbrellas and moving their fruit displays. They had learned exactly how high off the ground the train was, so they would leave goods out that would fit just beneath the car. Mod told me they had to do this 12 times a day, as the train goes 6 times round trip. I said that sounds like a lot of work. She agreed, but said the rent prices were much cheaper on the tracks.
Mod was a fast walker, obviously having seen these sights many times on her tours. She had no tolerance for cheesy tourist trap sellers, but pointed out sellers of local fruits that I had never seen and asked if I wanted to try such treats as fried bananas and fried potatoes with coconut...uh yeahhhh, of course. Everything I tried was delicious. I'm glad I had Mod to take me to this place and help me navigate around.
Then, here it came, a full-sized, real-life train. All the vendors cleared the tracks by pulling back their umbrellas and moving their fruit displays. They had learned exactly how high off the ground the train was, so they would leave goods out that would fit just beneath the car. Mod told me they had to do this 12 times a day, as the train goes 6 times round trip. I said that sounds like a lot of work. She agreed, but said the rent prices were much cheaper on the tracks.
Mod was a fast walker, obviously having seen these sights many times on her tours. She had no tolerance for cheesy tourist trap sellers, but pointed out sellers of local fruits that I had never seen and asked if I wanted to try such treats as fried bananas and fried potatoes with coconut...uh yeahhhh, of course. Everything I tried was delicious. I'm glad I had Mod to take me to this place and help me navigate around.
The tracks of the train market. It was very narrow, and I had to duck under the umbrellas.
A vendor along the tracks
Scurrying to take down the awnings before the train passes through.
The train brings people from nearby villages to the market.
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