Thailand, July 2006. Chumphon food market, late afternoon.

Chumphon Noodle Soup

  Malaysia: Peninsula and Borneo - July 2006

Dear English-speaking readers, this page is an automatic translation made from a post originally written in French. My apologies for any strange sentences and funny mistakes that may have been generated during the process. If you are reading French, click on the French flag below to access the original and correct text: 

Here I am, landed at Chumphon (pronounced "tcheumpone") by the LomprayahThe boat-catamaran that connects with the Thai peninsula. Then, shuttle bus with luggage and passengers piled up on the back platform to the center, where I was dropped off with the others in front of an internet café a few minutes walk from the station.

They keep the big bags, it's convenient. As I have several hours to kill before the train departure, I went for a little walk.

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The food-market of Chumphon, in the late afternoon.

Change of atmosphere, after the beaches of Koh Tao. Chumphon is a big provincial city, without much charm in itself. But fortunately, there is the inevitable "food market" just a few steps from the station and my internet café, and I rush to it.

As always, a whole street occupied by stalls, carts, gargottes and small restaurants with their tiny plastic chairs. The good thing about Thailand is that you can always find something to eat, and at any time. People pass by on motorcycles and stop to buy skewers, fruits, small sandwiches or grilled squids...

I saw a noodle soup restaurant, full of customers, and I thought that this was a good sign and that the soup must be good... Another good sign: the guy who was making the soup didn't understand a word of English. Besides, I am the only one "Farang" (Foreign).

Sitting on my little plastic chair, I feel myself being watched. Stealthy look and smiles in the corner from other customers, only Thais.

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Especially when I take out my camera as the worthy tourist that I am. The two kids from the restaurant, curious, came to examine me more closely.

They pose for my camera. And to top it all off, the mother who serves me my bowl of soup forces them to say thank you afterwards... "Kop kun kaaah! Kop kun kaaah!" And the two little ones run away giggling after admiring themselves on the digital screen.

The noodle soup was famous and filled my stomach for the modest sum of 30 baths (not even one euro), before this long journey by train (departure 9:15 pm, arrival 10:30 am).

I'm going to stroll a little more before reaching the station... See you in Malaysia!

  Malaysia: Peninsula and Borneo - July 2006

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  1. Fascinating, your blog! I go back up from town, take a look at my computer screen, on which the page was still displayed... and one click later appear the noodle soup and the smile of the two little girls...

    See you soon in Malaysia! Have a good train trip! I can't wait to read the detailed story...

    Biz
    Pascale

  2. From Brittany to Thailand with a simple click, amazing, no? Here I am, just back from St Brieuc and the time to sit down and open the blog, I find myself transplanted to Chumphon, a city I didn't know existed until now. I love your account of a street scene captured on the spot, it looks like Nicolas Bouvier.

  3. I'm glad you like it !!! Me, it makes me do almost homework every night... Here I am in Kota Bahru, less easy to find an internet café than in Thailand. But this is it, I can continue the blog!

  4. Yo Titbulle,

    We follow you through your blog and you make us travel with you. We too would like a good noodle soup. Continue to make us dream. We kiss you and we can't wait to read the rest of your adventures.

    PS. Your adobe suite for Mac has arrived ...

    A +
    FW

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