The Photography of Dr. Jeff Harper

Pakkret* (variously Pak Kred or Pak Kret) is a small municipality (population 180,000) in the Thai province of Nonthaburi, 10 miles up the Chao Phayra River from the heart of Bangkok. [* The name Pakkret derives from the Thai, Ban Pak Tret Noi (บ้านปากเตร็ดน้อย), meaning village on the mouth of the lesser bypass.]

Pakkret sits on the east shore of the busy river.  Longtail boats and ferries move people across and around the river banks.

Small government ferries take shoppers headed to the big Pakkret Market . . . for 3 baht (US$0.09).

Many wooden houses on wooden pilings line the river at Pakkret.  Many of these houses sit below the river flood level and the residents vacate their home for 2-3 months of the year.

Shoppers going back across the river.

When I think of Pakkret I think of the river . . . and the two grand markets.

With Chinese New Year just a week away, the Pakkret market has taken on a festive feel.

The Pakkret market is a very visually stimulating place . . . and an olfactory stimulating place.  Wonderful smells.

A Pakkret market fish hawker.

So many still life studies everywhere I looked.

All that great tasting Thai street food has its origins in these 'wet markets.'

I am not even sure know the names of all of these interesting vegetables.  I can't remember ever eating purple green beans . . .

It was a late Saturday afternoon, so it was not a crowded as usual.

What would a Thai market be without the ubiquitous stuff-on-a-stick!

Delicious Jackfruit.

I don't normally take cat photos, but this forlorn market mouser with a recently chewed ear caught my eye.

Food is very inexpensive in Thailand.  Most markets have stalls selling these 'meals in a bag' for commuters.  Just pick one of these up on the way to or from work.

My brother-in-law from Hong Kong, and fellow photo buff, was the excuse to explore the market and riverside attractions.  We found the little Chinese temple sandwiched in an alley.

Chinese Temple detail . . .

In addition to food, the Pakkret market also has sections for [old lady] clothes.

After shopping for your restaurant or market stall, you can hire a motorcycle taxi truck to get your stuff where you want it to go.

Motorized carts for moving produce and products around the market district.

A traditional, and less expensive, means of transportation is the samlor.

The Thai markets are places of constant action and movement.

Outside the market, on the street, are even more edibles . . . steamed dim sum.

I am always amazed at the artistry of Thai artificial flowers!

We wandered around in some alleyways along the river and discovered a Buddhist Temple Supply Shop.

A back alley home cookie factory making traditional Chinese treats.

Somebody's business: crushed ice.

Down along the river . . .

Our late afternoon walk brought us to the riverside . . . and this fantasticly weathered and decaying old wooden house . . .

The high water lines of recent river flooding clearly shown on the old house.

I love the textures of deteriorating wood on old doors and windows.  This particular riverside house had absolutely scrumptious surfaces.

Yes, these are the actual colors . . . fantastic.

I think of the surface variegation on these surfaces as their histories.

This window has everything I want in a photo: dilapidation, corrugation, and decay.

This window and those above are all on the same old wooden house sitting on pilings in the Chao Phraya River.

The Thai-style gabled roof . . . showing the age of this magnificent structure.

Just as we were leaving this beautiful place, the sun came out and shown magic afternoon light on the rotting piers of the old house.