Fan Seller
I sometimes complain about my “daily grind”, and the stress that comes along with my job. And then I go travelling and see how some people work and try to make a living. It is inspiring and a great motivation for me to always keep pushing forward. This lady was selling these fans – which she also was making – for 30 Baht/each. 30 B equals about $1 CAD. I can’t imagine myself sitting on the ground trying to sell these all day – and here she was doing exactly that, from morning until night. The thing that struck me was how much positive energy she emitted. She wasn’t sitting there in despair, instead she had a wonderful presence and dignity about her. I also think the contrast between her and the surrounding cold concrete rather striking.
Mike Pratt Photography Blog 
I hope you bought one.
Of course. I bought one and gave her 100฿.
:)
I know exactly what you mean Mike in regard to the daily grind , and sometimes I’ve been shooting homeless or rough sleepers and come home and hear my friends or even myself stressed and complaining over some trivial thing such as how long the bank left me on call waiting or what terrible service i had at the restaurant . It really puts everything into perspective when looking at photos of a lady like this. love her smile and her hands also tell a story of a life of working hard .
About 20 years ago I stayed with a very poor family in Bangkok for a few nights and it made a deep and lasting impression on me how people with so little still managed to have such a happy life. If they wanted to watch tv they had to go to a neighbours house. The whole family of about 10 people lived, slept , ate and everything in just 2 small rooms .
In a way they were more free than we are because the things they wanted for were very simple.
All the family worked very hard for little money .
When I left them the father gave me a very old buddhist amulet that I had admired on his shelf amongst a collection of them
As he put it in my hand I asked him ‘ please let me pay you something for it’ and he wouldn’t accept any money from me and told me that it had to be given otherwise it had no meaning, I still have that amulet and I would regard it as one of the most valuable possessions I have. Not just for the sentimental value but I took it to an Asian Antique specialist in London and he could tell from the markings on the back that it was from Lop Buri and around 600 years old . I feel in some respects I wish he had kept it for his family as it would be worth a lot of money but perhaps there was a reason it came to me and I will look after it until I feel its time for me to give it to somebody else .
Thanks for sharing this Gavin; a touching story and excellent reminder of your time in Thailand. I find that many Thai’s are amazing in their resourcefulness and ability to make a living and take care of family with what we would consider very little.
Many people have it easy in life (even with work and typical stresses), and it is difficult to compare to a person who lives on the streets, or has a tough go at making a living. I’m finding myself putting things into perspective having traveled quite a lot and photographing the less fortunate both at home and abroad.
I believe most of the people have this kind of mold of what they need to have or how things need to be, and if they don´t do it this way they won´t be happy, it´s like an obligation, and time goes on, having this in your mind and bittering your life time. Instead there are other that have less than you but despite their difficulties, still smile because they ask less from life. dependance (emotional and material) makes your life awful. I believe you just need to disconnect yourself sometimes and see that things are not as terrible as you think they are. The contact with the humbles allow you to focus yourself and have a wider vision of what life can be.
I have experience that in the past, no matter i don´t have much contact with these people, or don´t do street photography.
hope you are doing fine, and gess what i´m stressed out now :P
I think many people worry too much and forget to just enjoy the simple pleasures life has to offer. “Stopping to smell the roses” is a good cliche in this case, I suppose :) We might look at her and think – how is it possible to do this at her age? But, she didn’t seem at all sad or unhappy. It was her routine, her life and I’m sure she was proud of it. Try not to stress out so much Alvaro! Hope everything is going well for you and with your studies.
I love that I am looking through all of your work. Absolutely, devastatingly gorgeous, all of it, the images, the messages, the heart – what an honor. Mike, forgive me, don’t you have another site as well? There was a photo you did of a boat, a rowboat, in water and I’m so sorry, I forget where to find your additional collections.
Peace, friend :)
Allison