Malls & Markets of Bangkok

Bangkok is a complex, multi-faceted city, full of contrasts a city that represents Thainess in a very particular way yet that, at the same time, is as far from pure Thai traditions as one could go. But, despite all its ambiguities, one of the unquestionable sights that more clearly represents and symbolizes it are its markets. There are countless types of them throughout the megalopolis, both indoors and outdoors, big and small, luxurious and shabby, hosted in enormous concrete malls or spread in tiny carts along the streets, selling all sorts of goods any time of the day or night.

Down, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Street patch I, GM1 + Panasonic Leica 15mm

Street patch II, GM1 + Panasonic Leica 15mm

No doubt, despite all the diversity they offer and the unceasing shift and change of appearances, there is always something they all have in common: a constant flow of people, a never ending bustle of movement and life, of people coming and going, of noises, colors and smells. An undeniably bond made of tastes and sounds connects them all. The may range in size and distribution, but all of them share the same vibes.

Ths spider web, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Body and concrete, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Breaking the pattern, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

This post doesn't intend to be a comprehensive study of the appearance or the differences of those markets, for such a task would be out of my reach, so this will rather be just a small observation of some of their idiosyncrasies as I have seen them randomly during the last few months on my occasional visits to them. These are just a few impressionist strokes that don't begin to paint the whole, complex reality of Bangkok's markets.

Bring me home, iPhone SE

Reflection in relief I, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Reflection in relief II, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

If there is one thing that links all the images shared in this post and that bridges the disparities of location and time, that is only the fact that all of them are product of my everyday life and, since I usually bring along the camera with me wherever I go, I had the chance to grab these images while out hunting for food or waiting for a movie to begin at the cinema. None of the photographs posted here, therefore, were taken during planned photowalks, but arose as a consequence of having a camera at hand, and a never dormant eye.

Rot Fai Market Ratchada I, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Rot Fai Market Ratchada II, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Rotfai Market Ratchada III, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

If I had to add a second aspect that is regular in all malls and markets around this humongous city, that would undeniably be their ever-changing bodies; there is nothing fixed or set in stone in them, rather at the contrary: all markets are expert shape-shifters. Granted, the street markets are subject to more variation (many of them are assembled and disassembled on a daily basis), but even the malls hosted in huge, modern buildings are constantly changing clothes and appearance as if playing a cross-dressing game to cater and attract more customers.

Renovations I, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Renovations II, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Renovations III, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Renovations IV, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Recess, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

The boss stalking, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Renovations V, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Renovations VI, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Renovations VII, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Some images have been taken inside the supermarkets, while others were grabbed outside their premises, in their vicinity; some where captured at daytime, yet other at night; there are images of people, other images of buildings, others are a mix of them. There is no real homogeneity apart from the fact that all of them have been captured in shopping areas or in their whereabouts. These images had started to stack up in my hard disk without much order and this is the element that I could find to bring them all together, thus uniting them in this post despite their differences.

The intruder, GX80 + Panasonic Leica 15mm