Behold...a Sidewalk!

      Through the year I track news of Thailand.  Much has been written about government authorities clearing much of the sidewalk sales; food stalls and night market stands that sell almost everything.  The only evidence I'd noticed were most of the night market sales were gone from Silom Rd.
      Today when I exited the guesthouse I notice all the food stalls on the street, Soy Sala Deang 2, were gone.  Around the corner on Convent the same thing; all food stalls gone and the usual three foot passage was now the full sidewalk of about seven feet.  Absent, too, were the customers clogging the sidewalk.  On Suriwong, the next major street over from Silom...absent.
       Have the authorities removed them for the work week?  They were there Saturday and Sunday.  No, as it turns out, it was their day off.  As usual one answer raises another question.  How was the decision made that they would all take Monday off?  If one stayed in business they'd be swamped with sales.  Is it government mandate?  A 'gentleman's agreement'?  Even the sidewalk sewing machine guy was gone.  Whatever the answer I am glad that they all get a day off.  The typical Thai workweek is six days for $300. a month or less and no sick leave and little if any vacation.

Knowing it was my last day, students hovered around  me.

With her "Smoky" hat on her hijab teacher Da, drums.