Buhay Bangkok

 

 

A visit to a flea market last Sunday ended up with me getting a treasure trove of books.

 

Sanam Luang Park 2 is situated along Thani Wattana, the road that runs parallel to Khlong Wattana, a major canal project in Thonburi during the reign of Rama IV. Though roads like Phuttamonton Sai 3 and Petchkasem Road have taken over the role of canals as the major thoroughfare in Thailand, Khlong Wattana still retained its value, as it irrigated orchards and other agricultural landplots along its banks.

 

This stretch of canal (and roadway) has also played host to an increasing number of middle- to high-end housing developments. Sanam Luang Park 2 is just a kilometer or so from the Phuttamonton Sai 3 bridge and Thani Wattana.

 

As a park, it is definitely bigger than its namesake in Rattanakosin Island. It has wide expanses of coconut groves, irrigated by ponds. The centerpiece is a small man-made lake with a fountain at the center. Round it runs a track. In one spot,  gym equipment are installed.

 

We spent a Sunday afternoon in the park two weeks ago. Then last Sunday, we decided to visit the weekend market ringing the park. It is said to be meant as a Jatujak Market of western Bangkok. From what we’ve seen, Sanam Luang Park 2 weekend market offers bigger and more organized commercial space than the more famous JJ market.

 

It was close to 5 pm when we arrived. Most of the stalls have closed for the day, but a lot were still open. We first had a snack of roasted chicken and pork with rice at a stall. The roast chicken tasted like inasal, once again reminding us of home.

 

We strolled along the stalls that were still open. Lizl had her hands full with Thai stuff, like wall decors. She also bought some back issues of English-language magazines. Paulo and Chubby each had toys while Leah bought both toys and learning materials for her son Arlei.

 

For me, I had a moment of serendipity. I chanced upon a stall that sells Thai books. A browse through the old seller’s stocks, however, led to a pleasant discovery: Several English-language books published in the 80s, mostly novels by Stephen King and Harold Robbins.

 

It appeared these books were distributed by Asia Books in the 80s, as they were all stamped in the first page with the distributor’s imprint. It was interesting to say that at that time, Asia Books only had two branches, one at Sukhumvit (which is still there) and another at the Peninsula Hotel. The books were turning yellowish with age, but aside from some minor creases in the spines, they are in relatively good condition. Probably they are sample books that bookstore habitués like me browse while hanging out in the store.

 

I bought a copy of Stephen King’s Carrie, Skeleton Crew and an illustrated issue of The Gunslinger. What’s remarkable is that these three books apparently are early (if not first) British editions, perhaps making them something of a collector’s item.  I also bought Leon Uris’ Trinity, also by the British publishing house Corgi. The only other book published by its American publisher is Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Ultimatum (which 18 years after its publication and 20 years after I have read its two predecessors, I haven’t read yet, as at that time my interest in Ludlum had been starting to wane.) I believe this Ludlum is also the first paperback edition, the cover of which had that familiar rings emanating from an illustration on the upper right part.

 

I feel good getting these books. Though I have moved on in my choice of authors, these books, by themselves perhaps close-to-rare editions, also bring back nice memories.

 

Next time, we plan to be in the flea market earlier in the day. Who knows what pleasant discoveries we would find.