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Yasothon is a place that I wasn't expecting to ever visit but once the opportunity arose to go to a new city, it wasn't something I could miss. I have enjoyed every place I have been so far in Thailand and I wasn't expecting any different when visiting Yasothon. When I arrived in the city it didn't have any different kind of vibe than any of the other major destinations in the North-East of Thailand. From the moment I stepped out of the vehicle and into the main street it strangely felt very welcoming. Unlike the smaller cities there were side walks that we full of small little stalls with people selling food, beverages, lottery tickets, shoes even a place that sold exclusively knock off jewellery.
Being the capital city in the region means that there was always going to be a huge emphasis placed on business and unlike a lot of the smaller towns in the Yasothon region, the city of Yasothon had plenty of national wide, even international brand businesses and offices throughout the business district. This was one of the only places since Ubon where it was possible to purchase vehicles because there are car
dealerships. But it wasn't just the business importance that made the city memorable. It was also the markets that littered the side streets. Something that is typically South-East Asian in my mind, but it has been Thailand that has personified the Markets for me, now instead of just imagining what they would be like, now I have a clear image of what they are actually like in my head.
Aromatic and busy are two words that I feel best identify Markets in Thailand, specifically the one in Yasothon. As you walk down the tiny little side street full of little small square stores you wouldn't assume that these would lead anywhere. However if you persevere you eventually get rewarded by coming to a simple amazing undercover market place that seems to be rows and rows full of different produce. Whether it be fish, fruits or vegetables it is impossible to by pass anything or the inquisitive stares from the stall vendors hoping and pleading with you to buy produce from them. Walking down the aisles you notice the familiar of tomatoes, cucumber and those type of things. But I was more drawn to the unusual, all of
these pieces of produce became too much and I start to closely observe these foreign looking things. The sight, the smell and if it was small enough and the vendor wasn't paying close enough attention the taste. Let me tell you something, never be afraid to try new things because the risk is usually worth the reward. The thing I tried was peeled Achee, which had one of the most unique and remarkable tastes I have ever had. If I ever see it again, I will not hesitate in grabbing some.
Continuing to walk down the aisle of the market as soon a smell becomes rather overpowering, it smells of decaying and rotting fish. The smell hits you like a proverbial brick wall. It almost stopped me in my tracks and even caused me to choke momentarily. the smell of the rotting flesh from fish was extremely accurate as that was exactly what it was. It was fish that was just sitting out in the open. This is the poor Thailand I was speaking of, many people do not have easy accessibility to refrigeration to keep produce fresher for longer. Instead they have to dry out the
fish or just leave it sitting on the table in hope of selling it before it becomes inedible. But the sight of all of these fish was impressive, there were literally thousands upon thousands of these fish sitting on the tables, most with their lifeless eyes glazing straight at you. But after about 100 metres more walking down the aisle you eventually end up at an exit back to the main street of Yasothon.
Unfortunately that was all of Yasothon that I was able to view in the few hours of the day I was there, but it was enough to make me realise that it is a place that want to go back to in the future specifically during one time of year, an amazing sounding festival. Thailand is also rather famous for the different type of festivals they have, whether it be their Full Moon Parties or Songkran, which is known in the western society as the water festival. But one festival is becoming more and more known. I cannot speculate why it is becoming more apparent in the consciousness of people, but probably for a very good reason and it is the festival that
I want to return to Yasothon to see. This festival is called the Prapheni Bun Bang Fai or as it is known in English the Yasothon Rocket Festival. But I will not really talk about the wonders of this until I get to experience it, but you will only have to wait less than a year because I want to go to it next year.
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