Thailand,  Human Encounters

Instant tailoring

The other day the backside of my hiking trousers exploded. It started off with a small tear, potentially caused by a stubborn struggle of mine with a group of rattan and other spiky jungle greenery.

The signpost insisted I need to turn right. So why would I give up my plan to finish hike #5, just because the path was overgrown wildly? After bush bashing my way through the thicket I come out rather scratched on the other side. Only to discover that a bit further down the “wrong” way (aka hike #4) people had already created a little bypass. A detour, but nice and easy.

Well, I’ve always quite liked doing things the hard way. No pain, no gain type of personality, you know? Not so much by choice actually. But you gotta deserve your merits, is what my World War II generation parents passed on to me. So off I go into close combat with some really clingy stuff in the jungle out there.

I love that episode of my hike, the metaphoric quality of it! Made me giggle for the next two kilometres or so. Of course I had expected some difficulty. You shall ask and it will be given! ?

Anyway the rip on my behind expanded that same evening into a proper see-through hole, rendering the outfit unusable. My only hiking trousers and at least five more days in the Thai jungle ahead of me!

Quick help is needed and luckily readily available on the streets of any Thai town. Having easy accessible, non-formal service providers on the sidewalk is something I am missing badly in Germany and other over-regulated countries in the “West”.

Today I’m happy to find a whole row of tailors and shoemakers with their working tables set-up on the street in front of Khon Kaen police station and post office. Bless bless!
And it takes just a short pleading with one of the capable ladies to get my fix instantly.

It’s 4 pm already and I’m bound to leave for the national park early the next morning. She understands the urgency of the case, drops what she’s doing and has me sit down while she gets to it right away.

Meanwhile a friend of hers comes by and drops some herb I’ve never seen before. Urged to taste it I realise once again how many a flavour is really an acquired taste. ? It goes very well with Nam Prik and Larb Moo, says my tailor. Well then.

Our conversation with her non-English and my non-Thai is rather rudimentary, but we have a good laugh about my face during the degustation. Swiftly she turns back to her sewing machine, finishing up the rescue mission for a total of 40 Thb (about 1 Euro).

I give a tip and all my love for the express service and we part with big smiles.
She literally saved my arse for the rest of this trip!
? ? ?

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