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Exercises Time travelPhoto courtesy of Bangkok Post Summer vacation is a good time for people to get out of town and discover what life in other parts of the country is really like. The Talad Samchuk community � known for its famous market � is one place that gives visitors a glimpse of a simpler lifestyle and an earlier time. Read the story from the Bangkok Post to find out more about this community.
However, real fans of Samchuk know that the strength of the market lies not just in these traditional buildings. It resides in the spirit of the people who live there and who, working together in a campaign to preserve and develop the area, have brought Samchuk back to life. MORE THAN JUST A MARKET�The architecture is only an image of the past that has been preserved, but the spirit of Samchuk is in the people,� Samchuk Conservation Development Committee chairman Pongwin Chaiwirat said. Pongwin said that people in the historic area still maintain their traditional ways of living. There are shops selling antique clocks and watches, an old-style dentist, a traditional coffee shop, a grocery shop, an antique photo studio that uses only old cameras to produce black and white photos, a traditional Chinese pharmacy and vendors selling food. FORMER GLORYLocated on the banks of the Thachin River, Samchuk, also known as the old Sampeng market, was a prosperous trading centre for imported goods in the past. With increased development and the construction of roads, the river eventually lost its importance as a main route for communication and transportation. In 2000, the Treasury Department, which owns part of the land in Samchuk Market, came up with an idea to turn the old shophouses into modern commercial buildings. The plan brought Samchuk people together in a campaign to improve the market while conserving its traditional culture and architecture. BACK TO LIFEWith the cooperation of the community and support from the Community Organisations Development Institute, Samchuk Market has returned to life. Many visitors tour it, especially on weekends. One of the fruits of the comm unity�s cooperation is the development of former liquor and opium tax collector Khun Chamnongjeenarak�s home into a community museum. The house is recognised for its traditional architecture and displays of antique items. The first floor is also a centre for children from the community who have been trained as guides to help tourists. ExercisesRead the story. Then, fill in the blanks with the correct words. 1. Khun Chamnongjeenarak was once a ...................... and ........................... tax collector. 2. Sampeng Market is located on the banks of the ............................. River. 3. The people of the Talad Samchuk community still .............................. their..................... way of living. 4. The Treasury Department came up with an idea to turn the .............................. into modern .............................. .
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The well-preserved wooden shophouses that line the streets
of the Talad Samchuk community in Suphan Buri are undoubtedly the reason why
the famous 100-year-old market there has been recognised for maintaining
architectural art by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. 
