“Matriarch” Photograph

More typically associated with elephants, no disrespect to these people is meant with this title and as a highly revered animal in Thailand I don’t think any would be taken. The similarities in this photograph with a herd of elephants go no further than the oldest woman leading and the clearly very close family ties (and perhaps the slight independence of the young male).

Incidentally, I also love football (soccer).

Photograph taken at “Saturday Walking Street”, Chiang Mai, Thailand

“Chair Men” Photograph

I have given this photograph a title that fits three men sitting in chairs and yet the body language suggests there is actually only one Chairman.

At least, that’s how it looks in this particular instant and I have no problem making such character judgements of people in these photographs as long as it is realised that it’s a judgement of the photographically frozen moment not the actual people in real life or even the situation that was photographed. The problems start when people assume photographs represent reality or truth when they are actually often very misleading.

Photograph taken at “Saturday Walking Street”, Chiang Mai, Thailand

“Eyebrows” Photograph

My sister once told me that she collects body-parts. I haven’t actually checked in her attic but I’m fairly sure she meant in her memory. Things like somebody with a pair of remarkable ears or perfect feet.

In this spirit I’d just like to say that I love this woman’s calligraphic eyebrows.

Photograph taken at “Saturday Walking Street”, Chiang Mai, Thailand

“Eyes” Photograph

I’ll let the eyes speak for themselves with this one.

But I’d just like to add that I love these bamboo cups like the one the woman is holding. One of the nicest ever drinks I had was “bamboo tea” which was just water heated up in the freshly cut stem of a large bamboo shoot propped up in a campfire and then drunk out of a newly made bamboo cup. Beautifully subtle flavor perfect for an evening in the forest (but also good from a street-stall).

Photograph taken at “Saturday Walking Street”, Chiang Mai, Thailand

“Streetview Protest”

This man came up to me and pushed a newspaper in my face, which is unusually demonstrative behavior in Thailand so I took this quick photograph and edged away. Only on getting home and looking at the picture did I notice the “EVIL POLICE” written along the top and then tried to translate the headline. After struggling to think what “sadree daweow” could mean, it suddenly dawned on me.

The headline says, “Streetview Thailand”, which had just launched in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket, (earlier than expected thanks to a special request from the Thai Government keen to show flood-free streets). And this man seems believe it to be a mechanism for the police to spy on us.

I feel sorry that I didn’t take the time to understand his protest when he came up to me as I might have been able to put him at ease or at least shift his anger towards Google. I went back the next day but couldn’t find him.

However, I’m glad I didn’t get his face in the photo or I could be accused of being an evil police spy.

Photograph taken at Chiang Mai Gate market, Chiang Mai, Thailand

“Three Look Back“ Photograph

“Hey, look over there!”

“April fools.”

This is actually one of my favorite photos of all those I’ve taken on the streets of Thailand. I love the synchronized pattern of all three looking back together plus the fact that you have no idea what they are looking at (and that’s how it’s going to stay).

Photograph taken at “Saturday Walking Street”, Chiang Mai, Thailand