‘Trep

”Trep – Definition: An abbreviation for “entrepreneur” that,
for reasons obvious,
has mainly been embraced by slang-obsessed teenagers and Netspeak devotees.

The markets in Asia have continually grabbed my interest and fascination. Maybe because there is such a lack of them where I grew up. There were flea markets and farmers markets that made their appearance during the week in Amerikkkah. But no ongoing daily and nightly markets with clothing, food stalls, artist installations, live music, and all the chachkas made in China that you can imagine. And these markets are all over the place in Thailand.

It was dinnertime. I am staying in a part of Chiang Mai where you can get “craft” beer for the same price they sell it at home. You can also get an all you can eat shabu feast or a meat buffet for $25. Compare that with genuine Northern Thailand food where you can get the tastiest meal for about $2. I don’t know why anyone would come here for a “western” food experience. Sure, you can find some of the westernized culinary artistry found in bakeries and pizza to satisfy the craving from home. It’s just not the experience I want, nor would I encourage.

 

Lang Mor Night Market, Chiangmai University

I got curious where the students were hanging out after school and headed to this evening to get something to eat. First, I walk the entire market to see what is available, what’s the most popular by the queue, and what makes my mouth water. The Japanese sukiyaki stall had a waiting station in the street. The battered and fried potatoes also had a good line to wait.

Of course, the health inspector and germaphobe in me get activated.  I look at all the raw meat and large quantities of prepared foods sitting out in 90f temperatures and cringe sometimes. Then I realize the fear-based nature of my country, and this is the way they have been doing it for so many years. There are cooks everywhere trying to recoup their cost by selling bad and spoiled product all over the world.

You can eat some of the best food like a king/queen for under $4.

 

The Walk Home…

I’m a walker and a talker. I took a different way home. With my eyes wide open. Watching every footstep on the broken concrete tiles, uneven sidewalks, and high curbs. Poking my head into some of the brick-and-mortar shops along the way to see how they might compete with the night market nearby.

Then I came across a hamburger shop. With scrunchy eyebrows I peered in. Wondering where the tables were and assuming they were in the back somewhere. Uh, no. It was this eight-foot wide by 12-foot-long storefront. With one induction cooktop and a series of traditional hamburger condiments on the table.

สวัสดี ค่ะ – sa wàt dii kʰâ

A Thai language “good evening” greeting. Coming from the young lady running the shop as I am carrying bags of food back to my apartment. I was still a little confused about what was going on in that shop of hers. She was well spoken in English, and I asked her what she was selling. “Hamburgers”, she said, “for 49 Bhat”. If you want chili sauce it will be 65. But no place to sit, only take away.

We were a little ways away from the big Lang Mor Night Market. I asked her how she can compete with that big night market selling all that food every day 17:00 -22:00p. She said she is only open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, because she just graduated from the university and has a job as a teaching assistant. I was amazed at this young lady and her ‘trep spirit.

I thought about what it would take for someone who wanted to sell simple food items in Amerikkkah. All the hoops the government has the people jump through makes it so prohibitive. Even to sell simple items like a hamburger or even lemonade. like we all did as children from the street corner. But in Thailand, where life is simpler in this regard, you can sell anything on the street. You probably will have to pay off the police, so they look past you as there is much corruption in law enforcement. That seems to be a common occurrence.

 

One More To Consider…

When I arrive to a new place, I like to walk around the neighborhood to get used to my surroundings and see what’s out there. There was this woman I came across a few times in the same spot. She was selling these homemade bite sized egg tarts with a visible flakey pastry, topped with foi thong, or egg threads. The egg threads looked like cheese. She was selling them, 4 for 10 Bhat, or $0.30. Luckily there was a customer there to show me this video to educate me about foi thong.

This woman on the street corner in front of the Lotus Supermarket was very vibrant and was super friendly. She was smiling all the time and drew me right in. It was the end of the day, and she was now selling the pastries for 6 Bhat or $0.20. I asked her if she makes other things, but this was the only one. Considerately, I stepped aside as she was actively trying to sell out the remaining tarts she had, while other potential customers came to look.

I really didn’t want these things, but I wanted to try the foi thong, I decided I would purchase a couple of them and give her 20 Bhat. More than double of what she was originally asking for because she was so vibrant and friendly.  She also took the time to educate me about what she was selling.

She packed up a bag for me and then asked for 10 Bhat, her original price. It made me sad because it was so opportunistic. I had watched her trying to sell for 6 Bhat, but because of the color of my skin and being a foreigner (farang), she thought she could get more money out of me. Even though the additional few cents wouldn’t be all that much to me and would mean so much more to her, it was the principle that made me sad. I did not change my mind at all in what I wanted to do. I called her out on her actions, she reduced her price, and I gave her the 20 Bhat anyway.

The moral of the story here is that the ‘trep spirit is alive and well here in Thailand. People are trying to make a living. And we are all trying to get the best fair price, supporting each other, while not being taken advantage of.