Summer and varieties of tasty fruit in Thailand

Bangkok
Monday 6th April 2020
Hi there,

It's already23 minutes past one in the afternoon when I start writing this article and while looking over the balcony, I can see the extremely bright sunlight glare back at me. It's 36 degree Celcius here at my neighbourhood where is crowded mainly with three-storey shophouses and a number of 5-9 storeys old apartments buildings that sprang up not fewer than 20 years ago and have stood high pararelly ever since.  Green are dots of plants in the pots sitting or hanging at some of their samll balconies.  And those precious greens now look exhausted by the strinking heat waves.  Summer is here, obviously.

Despite the burning heat and fierce sunlight, summer means several kinds of local fruit are coming out into the markets besides the all-year-round ones.  A couple days ago I went out to get some vegetables at the nearby market and I noticed mangoes, rambutans, oranges, papayas, and longans besides apples, dragon fruits, and grapes. I can see that soon durians and mangosteens will flood the markets later.   Summer season is the best time for fruit lovers. 

 This year the prices of fruit like durians, mangoes and mangosteens are more likely to be lower than last year. And  a large amount of fruit are seen to be more available in local markets too. This is due to the effect of the ongoing Covid-19 spreads, leading several import countries to lock down and minimize or prohibit transportations from overseas, including imported fruit.

In one hand, it is not good news for fruit exporters and fruit business, for it means a great loss for them. But, as a local consumer, I can't help loooking forward to tasting good quality fruit in affordable price, at least for a short while.  Over the past years quality fruit here has mostly been exported, causing local consumers to not be able to find good fruit and if there are some, the prices are very expensive---so expensive that many cannot afford it. Durians, mangosteens and mangoes are good examples.

Today I am going to have sweet ripe mangoes with sweet sticky rice. It is a popular Thai dessert. I bought a kilo of ripe mangoes from a fruit stall at the market nearby. The mangoes are rather big and in good quality, while I paid only 40 baht a kilo, which is much cheaper than normal. This kind of mangoes is called Aok-rong and with this size I would normally have to spend at least 80 baht a kilo.
The sweet sticky rice is not a problem for I can cook it. I already have sticky rice, sugar, coconut milk and a little bit of salt in my cabinet. So, the plan is already set for my sweet dish.

 Now I am looking outside through mybalcony, yet the sunlight seems not so burning as it was earlier.
This summer is not that bad as long as we stay at home, wash our hands, wear a mask and keep physical distancing from others. And we should not bring about more trouble to our society and this world.

Gigi

Cats

Bangkok
Friday 3rd April 2020

Let's relax and stay happy with these cute babies during this tough time.  I can't help smiling whenever I see them.

Curfew to cope with Covid-19 spreads in Thailand

Bangkok
Thursday 2 April 2020
Hi there,

After I have stayed at home for several days to reduce the risk of getting COVID-19 viruses, today our Prime Minister General Prayuth  Chan-ocha announced of imposing a 10 PM-4 AM curfew throughout the country, starting from 3 April onwards.

Although , like many people, I love my freedom of going out anywhere and any time I prefer, I agree to this announcement. Each of us needs to take our own responsibility for protecting not just ourselves but others in the society, and the whole world.

Since the first outbreak of this deadly virus first reported from China, I have followed the news and wondered what would happen next and to people in Thailand including myself. Thailand is a big tourist destination, and each year we welcome hundreds of thousands of Chinese tourists.
 
As expected, later Thailand became the second country that has the virus spreads. Fortunately, the Thai government already kept updating information and warning people about the virus and its fatal illness.  Wearing a mask, washing hands often, staying away from the crowd were the early suggestion by the experts.  Some including I have followed the advice strictly.  I usually put on a mask when going outside because of the problem of the PM 2.5 fine particles hovering the city of Bangkok already.  However, many others did not take the advice seriously, and some even paid no attention at all.

Not until the spreads went worldwide and became a pandemic, with many dead tolls reported from several countries, many people showed little concerm about this virus.  Despite the warnings from the medical experts and the authorities, they, with no protection at all, had parties, gathered at the pubs and bars, gathered in the big crowds at various places such as boxing stadiums, religious places.  And these groups became super spreaders, following the first wave of spreaders --mainly local people directly contacting with some Chinese tourists in Thailand or  newly returning from China.

After the cases have been increasingly and continuously found, masks and alcohol mixtures are sold out in every place. They become rare items and sought-after.  But  they are available on some online markets and in sky rocket prices.  Meanwhile, more and more people became more scared of the virus and started stocking food and household items. Eggs became much more expensive just over the night, among other items like sugar, instant noodle, cooking oil.

Over the past two weeks, the government has encouraged people to better stay at home as possible, distance themselves from others with aims to minimize the spread rate of  Covid-19 in Thailand.  I have heard and see the campaigns via radio,  TV and websites on hand washing,  mask wearing, and self-observing health condition.  Work at home is also encouraged among office workers as many schools and universities are already closed temporarily.  Malls and some other places, such as markets, restuarants, have also been ordered to close for this period except supermarkets. Bangkok has become quiet and seems nicer as I noticed when I went out a few days ago for my cats' food and grocery.

Yet, it appears that there are many people who are not aware or probably don't care about anything, for they continue do whatever they like.  That causes the rate of spread to ontinue and increase
speedily.  It makes me feel angry when I see news each day showing this kind of irresponsible people along with news of more healthcare people getting sick with the virus.

Thus,  that might be the reason that Thailand does need this strong remedy---a curfew that is going to begin tomorrow onwards. Let's hope we are all safe and survive in this fight against COVID-19.

Gigi