Like the tides, it moves in and out
Just down the street from my apartment there’s a market that, during the lunch hour, is teeming with people buying stuff, eating their lunches or just browsing.
There are literally hundreds of people pouring onto the street, where this market is located, from the neighbouring office buildings, school and our hospital. I have mentioned Soi Rubia, the street where the hawkers line up at lunch, in a number of previous entries, including one I described as being a slow day and, more importantly, one last June where I described how the street hawkers would appear during lunch and then quickly disappear after their patrons went back to work. In both of these entries, I was referring to the activity taking place directly on the street. I had always thought that the street action was crazy enough, but once inside this off-street market, I soon discovered an even busier place.
Located under a large series of canvas canopies and metal panel roof sections is a very large space. I suspect this area is an old building site or maybe an abandoned parking lot. It’s paved and probably measures at least 40 meters on each side. At lunch time, it’s packed with vendors selling everything from clothes, to charms, to electronic items, to baby stuff. You name it and it’s on sale in this market. Towards the back of the space, well off the street, is an eating area with more food hawkers. There are also lots of plastic tables and chairs for patrons to use. So not only is the street swarming with lunch time buyers, but this covered market is also packed. Since there are electric fans located throughout the space, it’s cooler than the street. I’m sure this draws even more people into the area, particularly on extra hot and steamy days.
The sheer volume of stuff located under this canvas and metal roof is amazing and a bit unbelievable. It’s as if a Dollarama store moved its merchandize into the space. And, on top of that, just for the hell of it, throw in a fast food diner as well.
And then, two hours later, it’s all gone. There’s nothing left to show that this market actually existed except for some tables and a few bits of paper. All of the Dollarama’ish stuff and the food have disappeared, until tomorrow’s lunch, when it will all appear again. (Slides 10 to 14 tell the story.)
In my last entry on the Soi Rubia market, I talked about the tidal wave of people moving onto the street and then out again. The covered market is a tidal market. Each day, at an appointed hour it arrives and then on a precise schedule, it pulls out and is gone. The only thing remaining is the Spirit House, that is left to guard the site when there is no one around.
I also thought this was so weird too, however I must say Living in Kensington is kind of similar in terms of tides of people albeit on a much much much smaller scale.
I guess that in Kensington, it’s all based on store hours. It seems that here it’s based on when people eat. No eating, no hawkers or market.