There has been talk of a Tescos, Big C, or something of the sort making its way to Mae Sot. This would be the equivalent of a Thai-style Walmart or Target.
I knew of the possibilities, but I was in denial. Until we passed a very large piece of land, completely flatten, with quite a lot of machinery and workers for this area, and now I’m in mourning.
I was listening to “Big Yellow Taxi” while I ran the other day,
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got til its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot.
I don’t think I can really stop them from putting up the monstrosity and I don’t have to shop there, but I’m determined to at least know and be thankful for what I have now.
Even on the most frustrating days, I love that its not easy to cook here. I love that I am learning to cook with new vegetables and spices; I love that I can buy things from local shops, even if that means about twenty of them have to be visited! I love that if something sounds good, I have to start searching recipes and experiment to make it myself. The challenges have been refreshing, and have really shown me the times I have settled for an easy pick-up at the store, when making it from scratch really isn’t so difficult. And it also shows me the times that it is well worth finding a local genius who can do some things for you!
I’m watching Mae Sot “develop” around us, and I just want to be sure I soak up this time and realize what I’ve got–simplicity.