The streets around the glittering malls of Bangkok magically transform into a night market every evening, particularly during the festive season.
Walking back from dinner one evening, we were struck by the stark contrast between the little roadside stalls and the luxury brand hoardings on the facades of the malls behind.
A contrast of fantasy v/s reality, of practical need v/s aspirational yearning.
What is it I wondered, that makes us covet these iconic brands? Their exclusivity? Their superior craftsmanship? Or just a notion of authenticity?
You can find more posts on Bangkok here.
The Urge To Wander 
Great interpretation of contrast, Madhu!
Quite a thought provoking question.
spectacular clicks..and great contrast… nice post madhu ..very thoughtful!! xo
You made a very thoughtful post here. I ask the same questions you ask – why do people spend so much on the luxurious items? Then I wonder – whether it’s because I can’t afford them that I am astonished by the way others can splurge on those goods. 🙂
It is everywhere that contrast between what is
What a wonderful post this Madhu. So insightful and the photo really demonstrates your thoughts on this contrast.
Just adding to your workload, my dear, but there’s no way you could be left out. It’s an easy one! 🙂
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Aww that is so sweet of you Jo. Thank you. And congratulation on your award 🙂
Spot on!!!
Excellent gallery of contrasts. Nice!
we cherish to shop in so called “flee markets’ where traditionally goods are displayed on make shift stalls and we pay in cash. It gives us some basic satisfaction.
The BRANDS are created for those who have (or find that they have) loads of money and do not know how to spend. Not for us commoners.
I imagine one feeds off the other!
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great images and contrasts
Congratulations your photo is perfect Madhu. I also don’t understand the love affair with “Brands”.
I am not a walking advertisement for Brands but they are a part of the culture not doubt. Nice interpretation Madhu!
It’s crazy how much people will pay for a ridiculous price bag and any branded item. When people start talking of how much they want this or that, or they bought this or that. In my mind, that amount is more than enough to feed several hungry families for months. As for roadside vendors/market, that is my idea of an exciting adventure and not the huge malls.
I would be more interested in what the roadside vendors had to offer…probably more authentic items!
Great photos Madhu! I believe the media/corporations wants us to believe that we are hip and successful if we carry or wear name brands. It certainly seems to help sell products.
Superb contrast @Madhu, btw Bangkok is the most exciting city to be seen 🙂 Fantastic photos
Good choice Madhu! Must admit I never noticed the upscale malls in Bangkok but I sure remember the little stalls!
Very telling photos, Madhu. We live in a world where wealth is accumulated, rather than shared. The rich and the desperately poor rub shoulders every day.
What an absorbing blog this.. …. The ‘urge to wander’ and quest for wannabes beckons readers..thanq..u are a go-getter of diff sort..
As always, Great pictures. 🙂
We love to acquire, we humans, Madhu. It’s programmed into us, I think. Lovely post.
Good choice and example of contrasts. I prefer the little market stalls to the designer stuff because I’d rather buy from the little people than a big retail giant.
Your photo does capture the slick marketing that many of us succumb to. The contrast about “need” and “want” are what we should focus on – not conspicuous consumption. Many of my students firmly believe that they will play better ball if they have one of those expensive pair of sneakers with some top athlete’s name on them.
Slick marketing. I get a kick out of the “knock offs” we can find on the street in San Francisco or L.A. I got a great “Louis Vuitton” bag for $25 in L.A. a few years back from a street vendor. I think that has become illegal now 🙂
I confess to having picked up a couple in Shanghai, that fell apart within a few months 😀
I’ve seen kids in Haiti get their parents to buy them a certain Nike brand and wonder why their is little to eat. This commercialism of “you need this, or you deserve this” drives people into stupid choices. Just ask the credit card companies.
A life full of contrasts… Great post Madhu!
🙂
Often, I’ve wondered about the questions you posed here today, Madhu. My borther-in-law is big on name brands and images on his shirts kind of guy. I’ve found it to be pretentious. Now, he is pompous so that may go along with it. I think the only people who benefit are the ones putting it out there for those who think it’s important to buy. Definitely, not my thing.
The photos are terriffic, though. They depict the excitement that seems to go on at night in Bangkok. Good entry for the challenge — Contrast.
What a contrasts! The needs and wants…. Great selections, Madhu!
Indeed its contrasting and we long for stuffs perhaps the way it is packaged or advertised.
Vishal
http://www.vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com
Great post on contrasts, Madhu. The iconic brands you’ve featured have been marketed to a clientele and lifestyle that most of us can only dream about. Maybe it’s a little bit of wanting what we can’t have, or simply appreciating, as you said, superior craftsmanship and design.
Bangkok is a prime example of this weird contrast – you’re right Madhu. But it’s happening everywhere – here included – and even the other day on surfing the TV the I heard some plummy voiced chick telling the young Indian wannabes who watch those programs how they simply must have a pair of (five hundred = US – dollar) Ferragamo shoes!
Great post – stunning shots 🙂
Great example of contrast. When visiting Times Square in NYC I saw similar scenes.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Ive had the same thoughts walking the streets of Bangkok lately… Great post! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Love your photos of the stark contrasts Madhu! They remind me of a picture that I saw on a local newspaper a few years ago showing a poor family walking in front of a billboard of a new luxury apartment in Jakarta. Such is the world.
stark contrast between the
little roadside stalls and the
luxury brand hoardings…
Un giornalista e scrittore Tiziano Terzani http://www.tizianoterzani.com/ che per tanti anni visse in Asia, nella sua biografia racconta di quando da bambino veniva portato dai genitori in centro città a Firenze e da dietro una siepe restava a guardare i signori che mangiavano il gelato.
Le vetrine con prodotti di marca, irraggiungibili ai più, che in tanti desiderano e le bancarelle che offrono un oggetti simili a quelli che non si possono acquistare non sono un contrasto, ma l’offerta di un palliativo.
Ciao 🙂
Yes Madhu, I travel to BKK often and these evening markets never fail to amaze. Good shots.
Peace, Eric
nice collection
tantalising glimpse madhu … the whole brand thing is a complete puzzle to me … i have no idea why people like it … one of the weird things about the world that i never ‘got’!
Great contrasts Madhu! Stunning photo’s hon. 🙂 *hugs*
Thank you Sonel 🙂
You’re very welcome hon and I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your lovely visits and your beautiful and interesting posts. Since I’ve started blogging, you’ve always made me feel so welcome, so without further ado :
http://sonelcorner.wordpress.com/2013/04/22/wordpress-family-award/
*big hugs*