Monday, 8 September 2008

Market Day at Ban Phuc

Ben writes from site:

With the river rising at the end of the wet season, the travelling market was able to make it up the tributary and into the small town of Ban Phuc. From about 7am the boats started to appear, heading towards the market area. Apparently this event occurs every two or so weeks and only lasts the morning so I took the opportunity to go and have a look.

The sellers spread themselves out up from the market area and onto the main street spreading out their wares on ground sheets and tarpaulins and narrowing the road down to a single lane. I was hoping to find something of the local handicrafts or clothing but was a little disappointed to find that the market was basically an opportunity for the locals to buy the necessities of life: clothing, hardware, pharmaceuticals and packaged foodstuffs.





Picture: The boats arrive



Picture: The boats setting up


Picture: The boats: floating hardware shops, selling everything from rope to chainsaw chains and piping




Picture: The market




Picture: A local girl in traditional garb



Picture: The Mining Camp across the river

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