It was Sunday. Mita, Zara, Jhuma Islam and Mazharul Islam woke up very early. They quickly got ready and started for Tha Kha floating market. They planned to have breakfast at the market. They reached the market place sharp at 7. The canals were surrounded with coconut palm trees. They hired a boat. The boatman started to row slowly taking them to the centre of the market.
There were boats everywhere. The sellers were mainly elderly Thai women. Their small boats were laden with bundles of lotus flowers, farm-fresh coconuts.
fruits, vegetables, local food, and delicious sweets. The sellers and buyers rowed their boats slowly. The sellers displayed their goods for sale and the buyers chose their pick. They could have a little chit-chat as buying and selling was going on.
The Tha Kha floating market is more traditional with a few tourists visiting than other floating markets. Originally, the Tha Kha floating market used to sit only six or seven days a month depending on the phase of the moon. Nowadays, the trade takes place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays too. The main buyers here are the Tha Kha natives. People seem to know each other very well. Everyone was seen smiling and calling each other by name. The locals did not notice Mita and others much. They were all busy buying and selling.
They passed an hour and a half at the market and enjoyed the business. Then all of them were hungry. They rowed near the boat of an elderly woman, who was selling food. She welcomed them with a smile and showed them the food. They bought the traditional and very popular food called ‘Pad Thai’, a kind of noodles with shrimps, tomato and some vegetables, with freshly roasted crushed peanut. The food was served in a bowl made from banana leaf. After Pad Thai, they ate ‘Kanom Krok’. It is a coconut pancake which is very sweet.
The Tha Kha people are simple and easy going. They are very friendly and polite. They do not understand English or any other language. Yet they have a way to communicate with Mita and others.
Mita was delighted to see a traditional Thai floating market. She took a lot of pictures with the elderly sellers.
রবিবার ছিল। মিতা, জারা, ঝুমা ইসলাম এবং মজহারুল ইসলাম খুব সকালে ঘুম থেকে উঠল। তারা দ্রুত তৈরি হয়ে থা খা ভাসমান বাজারের উদ্দেশ্যে রওনা দিল। তারা বাজারেই নাশতা করার পরিকল্পনা করেছিল। ঠিক সকাল ৭টায় তারা বাজারে পৌঁছাল। খালের চারপাশে ছিল নারিকেল গাছের সারি। তারা একটি নৌকা ভাড়া করল। মাঝি ধীরে ধীরে দাঁড় টানতে লাগল এবং তাদের বাজারের কেন্দ্রে নিয়ে গেল।
চারপাশে ছিল নানারকম নৌকা। বিক্রেতারা মূলত থাইল্যান্ডের বৃদ্ধা নারী। তাদের ছোট ছোট নৌকাগুলোতে ছিল পদ্মফুলের গুচ্ছ, খামার থেকে আনা তাজা নারিকেল, ফলমূল, শাকসবজি, স্থানীয় খাবার এবং সুস্বাদু মিষ্টান্ন। বিক্রেতা ও ক্রেতারা ধীরে ধীরে নৌকা বেয়ে চলছিল। বিক্রেতারা তাদের পণ্য প্রদর্শন করছিলেন, আর ক্রেতারা পছন্দমতো জিনিস বেছে নিচ্ছিলেন। কেনাবেচার পাশাপাশি তারা একটু গল্পগুজবও করছিলেন।
থা খা ভাসমান বাজার অন্যান্য ভাসমান বাজারের তুলনায় বেশি ঐতিহ্যবাহী এবং এখানে পর্যটকও তুলনামূলকভাবে কম আসে। মূলত এই বাজারটি চাঁদের কলার ওপর নির্ভর করে মাসে ছয়–সাত দিন বসত। বর্তমানে শুক্রবার, শনিবার ও রবিবারেও এখানে বেচাকেনা হয়। এখানকার প্রধান ক্রেতারা থা খা এলাকার স্থানীয় মানুষ। সবাই একে অপরকে ভালোভাবে চিনে বলে মনে হয়। সবাইকে হাসতে এবং একে অপরকে নাম ধরে ডাকতে দেখা যায়। স্থানীয়রা মিতা ও অন্যদের তেমন খেয়াল করেনি, কারণ তারা সবাই কেনাবেচায় ব্যস্ত ছিল।
তারা দেড় ঘণ্টার মতো বাজারে কাটাল এবং সেই ব্যস্ততা উপভোগ করল। এরপর তাদের খুব ক্ষুধা পেল। তারা এক বৃদ্ধা নারীর নৌকার কাছে গিয়ে থামল, যিনি খাবার বিক্রি করছিলেন। তিনি হাসিমুখে তাদের স্বাগত জানালেন এবং খাবারগুলো দেখালেন। তারা ঐতিহ্যবাহী এবং খুব জনপ্রিয় একটি খাবার “প্যাড থাই” কিনল — এটি এক ধরনের নুডলস, যাতে চিংড়ি, টমেটো ও কিছু সবজি থাকে, সঙ্গে ছিল ভাজা ও গুঁড়ো করা চিনাবাদাম। খাবারটি কলাপাতার তৈরি পাত্রে পরিবেশন করা হয়েছিল। প্যাড থাই খাওয়ার পর তারা “খানম ক্রক” খেল — এটি এক ধরনের নারিকেলের প্যানকেক, যা খুব মিষ্টি।
থা খা এলাকার মানুষ সহজ–সরল ও নিরুদ্বেগ প্রকৃতির। তারা খুব বন্ধুত্বপূর্ণ ও ভদ্র। তারা ইংরেজি বা অন্য কোনো ভাষা বোঝে না, তবুও মিতা ও অন্যদের সঙ্গে যোগাযোগের একটি উপায় তারা খুঁজে নেয়।
মিতা ঐতিহ্যবাহী থাই ভাসমান বাজার দেখে অত্যন্ত আনন্দিত হয়েছিল। সে বৃদ্ধা বিক্রেতাদের সঙ্গে অনেক ছবি তুলেছিল।
Vocabulary Box: A Visit to Tha Kha Floating Market
Words/Phrases | Meaning | Synonyms | Antonyms |
Floating market (noun) | ভাসমান বাজার | a market on boats, water market | fixed market, land market |
Planned (verb) | পরিকল্পনা করা | intended, arranged | improvised, unplanned |
Sharp (adverb) | ঠিক (সময়ে) | exactly, precisely | approximately, roughly |
Canals (noun) | খাল | waterways, channels | |
Surrounded (verb) | ঘেরা | encircled, bordered | isolated, detached |
Hired (verb) | ভাড়া করা | rented, engaged | bought, owned |
Boatman (noun) | মাঝি | oarsman, rower | |
Row (verb) | দাঁড় টানা | paddle, oar | |
Elderly (adjective) | বয়স্ক | aged, senior | young, youthful |
Laden (adjective) | বোঝাই | loaded, filled | empty, unloaded |
Bundles (noun) | আটি, গুচ্ছ | bunches, piles | single item |
Lotus flowers (noun) | পদ্ম ফুল | a type of aquatic flower | |
Farm-fresh (adjective) | খামার–তাজা | freshly harvested, garden-fresh | stale, processed |
Buyers (noun) | ক্রেতারা | purchasers, customers | sellers, vendors |
Displayed (verb) | প্রদর্শিত | showed, presented | hid, concealed |
Goods (noun) | পণ্য | merchandise, products | |
Chit-chat (noun) | গল্পগুজব | small talk, conversation | silence, formal speech |
Traditional (adjective) | ঐতিহ্যবাহী | conventional, customary | modern, unconventional |
Tourists (noun) | পর্যটক | visitors, travelers | locals, natives |
Originally (adverb) | মূলত | initially, at first | currently, finally |
Phase of the moon (phrase) | চাঁদের কলা | lunar phase | |
Nowadays (adverb) | আজকাল | currently, these days | formerly, in the past |
Trade (noun) | ব্যবসা, লেনদেন | commerce, business | |
Natives (noun) | স্থানীয় লোক | locals, inhabitants | foreigners, outsiders |
Notice (verb) | লক্ষ্য করা | observe, perceive | ignore, overlook |
Business (noun) | ব্যবসায়িক কার্যক্রম | trading, commerce | leisure, inactivity |
Hungry (adjective) | ক্ষুধার্ত | famished, starved | full, satiated |
Welcomed (verb) | স্বাগত জানালো | greeted, received | shunned, rejected |
Popular (adjective) | জনপ্রিয় | well-liked, famous | unpopular, unknown |
Shrimps (noun) | চিংড়ি | prawns, small crustaceans | |
Roasted (verb) | ভাজা | grilled, toasted | raw, boiled |
Crushed (adjective) | গুঁড়ো | ground, powdered | whole, intact |
Peanut (noun) | চিনাবাদাম | groundnut | |
Served (verb) | পরিবেশন করা | offered, presented | received, took |
Bowl (noun) | বাটি | dish, container | |
Banana leaf (noun) | কলা পাতা | leaf of the banana plant | |
Pancake (noun) | প্যানকেক | a flat, thin cake | |
Simple (adjective) | সরল | uncomplicated, plain | complex, complicated |
Easy going (adjective) | নিরুদ্বিগ্ন | relaxed, casual | tense, stressed |
Friendly (adjective) | বন্ধুত্বপূর্ণ | amiable, cordial | hostile, unfriendly |
Polite (adjective) | ভদ্র | courteous, well-mannered | rude, impolite |
Language (noun) | ভাষা | tongue, speech | |
Communicate (verb) | যোগাযোগ করা | interact, converse | misinterpret, miscommunicate |
Delighted (adjective) | আনন্দিত | thrilled, overjoyed | disappointed, saddened |
Pictures (noun) | ছবি | photos, photographs | |
Quickly (adverb) | দ্রুত | swiftly, promptly | slowly, leisurely |
Breakfast (noun) | সকালের নাস্তা | morning meal | dinner, supper |
Centre (noun) | কেন্দ্র | middle, heart | periphery, edge |
Sellers (noun) | বিক্রেতারা | vendors, merchants | buyers, purchasers |
Vegetables (noun) | শাকসবজি | greens, produce |
Here are 50 multiple choice questions (MCQs) based on the passage about visiting the Tha Kha Floating Market.
- What day did Mita and her friends visit the market?
A) Saturday
B) Sunday
C) Friday
D) Monday - Who woke up very early that day?
A) Only Mita
B) Only Zara
C) Mita, Zara, Jhuma, and Mazharul
D) Only Mazharul - What market did they go to?
A) Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
B) Tha Kha Floating Market
C) Chatuchak Market
D) Maeklong Railway Market - Why did they get ready quickly?
A) To catch a train
B) To reach the market early
C) To meet a guide
D) To take a flight - Where did they plan to have breakfast?
A) At a restaurant
B) On the boat
C) At the floating market
D) At the hotel - What time did they reach the market?
A) 6 AM
B) 7 AM
C) 8 AM
D) 9 AM - What surrounded the canals near the market?
A) Mango trees
B) Coconut palm trees
C) Pine trees
D) Banana trees - How did they travel around the market?
A) By car
B) By boat
C) By bicycle
D) By walking - Who rowed the boat?
A) Mita
B) Zara
C) The boatman
D) Jhuma - Where did the boatman take them?
A) Near the shore
B) To the center of the market
C) Back to the hotel
D) To another canal - What did they see everywhere in the market?
A) Shops
B) Boats
C) Motorbikes
D) Cars - Who were the main sellers at the market?
A) Young Thai women
B) Elderly Thai women
C) Thai men
D) Tourists - What kind of boats did the sellers use?
A) Large cargo boats
B) Small boats
C) Canoes
D) Speedboats - What goods did the sellers have on their boats?
A) Electronics
B) Clothes
C) Lotus flowers, coconuts, fruits, vegetables, local food, and sweets
D) Jewelry - What types of flowers were being sold?
A) Roses
B) Lotus flowers
C) Lilies
D) Tulips - What kinds of fruits were available?
A) Local tropical fruits
B) Apples and pears only
C) Imported fruits only
D) No fruits - How did the sellers and buyers move their boats?
A) Quickly
B) Slowly
C) Randomly
D) In circles - How did sellers display their goods?
A) Hung them on trees
B) Laid them neatly on their boats
C) Kept them on land
D) Stored in baskets - What did buyers do while choosing products?
A) Bargained
B) Sang songs
C) Took photographs
D) Ignored sellers - What else did the sellers and buyers do while buying and selling?
A) Played games
B) Chatted a little
C) Sang
D) Stayed silent - How is the Tha Kha floating market different from others?
A) It is very crowded with tourists
B) It is more traditional with fewer tourists
C) It is larger
D) It has more motorboats - Who mainly visits the Tha Kha floating market?
A) Tourists
B) Thai government officials
C) Tha Kha locals
D) School children - How often did the market originally sit?
A) Daily
B) Once a week
C) Six or seven days a month
D) Only on festivals - What decided the original market days?
A) Government rules
B) Weather
C) Phase of the moon
D) Local holidays - On which days does the market operate now?
A) Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
B) Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
C) Only Sundays
D) Daily - Who are the main buyers today?
A) Tourists
B) Tha Kha locals
C) Street vendors
D) Fishermen - How do the locals seem to know each other?
A) They are strangers
B) They know each other well
C) They fight often
D) They are unfamiliar - How did people behave with each other in the market?
A) Angrily
B) Cheerfully and politely
C) Indifferently
D) Rudely - Did the locals notice Mita and her friends much?
A) Yes, very much
B) No, not much
C) Only a little
D) They asked them to leave - Why did the locals not pay attention to Mita and friends?
A) They were shy
B) They were busy buying and selling
C) They were asleep
D) They were on a break - How long did Mita and her friends stay at the market?
A) 30 minutes
B) 1 hour and a half
C) 3 hours
D) All day - What did they do while staying at the market?
A) Played games
B) Enjoyed watching the business and surroundings
C) Slept
D) Went shopping in malls - What did they decide after feeling hungry?
A) Go back home
B) Buy food from a seller
C) Take a nap
D) Swim in the canal - Who was selling food at the market?
A) A young man
B) A teenage girl
C) An elderly woman
D) A tourist vendor - How did the elderly woman welcome them?
A) With a frown
B) With a smile
C) Ignored them
D) Shouted at them - What traditional food did they buy first?
A) Sushi
B) Pad Thai
C) Kanom Krok
D) Fried rice - What ingredients were in Pad Thai?
A) Rice only
B) Noodles with shrimp, tomato, vegetables, and roasted peanuts
C) Chicken and noodles
D) Fruit and coconut - In what kind of bowl was the food served?
A) Plastic bowl
B) Metal bowl
C) Banana leaf bowl
D) Ceramic bowl - What did they eat after Pad Thai?
A) Ice cream
B) Kanom Krok
C) Fried rice
D) Fruit salad - What kind of food is Kanom Krok?
A) Rice dish
B) Coconut pancake
C) Soup
D) Noodles - How does Kanom Krok taste?
A) Sour
B) Salty
C) Sweet
D) Bitter - What are the Tha Kha people like?
A) Aggressive
B) Rude
C) Simple, friendly, and polite
D) Busy and unfriendly - What are the characteristics of the locals?
A) Polite and easygoing
B) Impatient
C) Aggressive
D) Unfriendly - Do the Tha Kha people understand English?
A) Yes
B) No
C) Some words
D) Only greetings - How did they communicate with Mita and others?
A) Through gestures and smiles
B) Using English
C) Writing on paper
D) Using phones - How did Mita feel about the floating market?
A) Bored
B) Delighted
C) Angry
D) Confused - What did Mita do at the market?
A) Played games
B) Took photographs
C) Bought souvenirs only
D) Slept - With whom did Mita take pictures?
A) Other tourists
B) The elderly sellers
C) Children
D) Boatmen - What made the experience memorable for Mita?
A) The crowded market
B) The food, friendly people, and traditional market experience
C) The boat ride only
D) The rain - What does the story tell us about Thai culture?
A) It is modern and fast-paced
B) It is traditional, friendly, and community-oriented
C) It is rude and competitive
D) It is closed to outsiders
Answers: 1. B, 2. C, 3. B, 4. B, 5. B, 6. C, 7. B, 8. B, 9. C, 10. C, 11. B, 12. B, 13. B, 14. C, 15. B, 16. A, 17. B, 18. B, 19. A, 20. B, 21. B, 22. B, 23. C, 24. C, 25. B, 26. B, 27. B, 28. B, 29. B, 30. B, 31. B, 32. B, 33. B, 34. C, 35. B, 36. B, 37. B, 38. C, 39. B, 40. B, 41. C, 42. C, 43. A, 44. B, 45. A, 46. B, 47. B, 48. B, 49. B, 50. B.
Answer the following questions
- What day was it when Mita and her friends went to the market?
- Who woke up very early in the morning?
- When did Mita, Zara, Jhuma, and Mazharul wake up?
- What was the name of the market they went to?
- Why did they get ready so quickly?
- Where did they plan to have breakfast?
- What time did they reach the market?
- What surrounded the canals near the market?
- How did they travel around the floating market?
- Who rowed the boat they hired?
- Where did the boatman take them?
- What did they see everywhere in the market?
- Who were the main sellers at the market?
- What kind of boats did the sellers use?
- What goods did the sellers have on their boats?
- What types of flowers were being sold in the market?
- What kind of fruits were available there?
- What were the sellers and buyers doing with their boats?
- How did the sellers display their goods?
- What did the buyers do while choosing products?
- What did the sellers and buyers do while buying and selling?
- How is the Tha Kha floating market different from other floating markets?
- Who mainly visits the Tha Kha floating market?
- How often did the Tha Kha floating market originally sit?
- On which days does the market sit now?
- Who are the main buyers in the Tha Kha floating market?
- What kind of relationship do the locals seem to have with each other?
- How did people behave with one another in the market?
- Did the locals notice Mita and her friends much?
- Why did the locals not pay attention to Mita and her friends?
- How long did they spend at the market?
- What did they do while staying at the market?
- What did they decide to do after feeling hungry?
- Who was selling food in the market?
- How did the elderly woman welcome them?
- What was the name of the traditional food they bought?
- What ingredients were used in Pad Thai?
- In what kind of bowl was the food served?
- What did they eat after finishing Pad Thai?
- What kind of food is “Kanom Krok”?
- How does Kanom Krok taste?
- What are the Tha Kha people like?
- What are the characteristics of the local people?
- Do the Tha Kha people understand English?
- How did the Tha Kha people communicate with Mita and others?
- What was Mita’s feeling about the floating market?
- What did Mita do at the market?
- With whom did Mita take pictures?
- What made the experience memorable for Mita?
- What does the story tell us about Thai culture?
Answers:
- It was Sunday when Mita and her friends went to the market. They chose this day to enjoy their outing together.
- Mita, Zara, Jhuma Islam, and Mazharul Islam woke up very early in the morning. They wanted to start their trip on time.
- They woke up early to prepare for the trip to the floating market. They were excited to visit and explore.
- They went to the Tha Kha floating market. It is a traditional market in Thailand.
- They got ready quickly because they wanted to reach the market early. They planned to have breakfast there.
- They planned to have breakfast at the Tha Kha floating market. It was part of their morning outing.
- They reached the market at sharp 7 in the morning. They arrived just as the market was getting busy.
- Coconut palm trees surrounded the canals near the market. The scenery added to the charm of the market.
- They traveled around the floating market by boat. The boat allowed them to see everything from the water.
- The boatman hired by them rowed the boat. He took them gently through the canals.
- The boatman took them to the center of the market. This allowed them to see all the sellers and buyers closely.
- They saw boats everywhere in the market. Each boat was filled with different goods for sale.
- The main sellers at the market were elderly Thai women. They were experienced and polite.
- The sellers used small boats to sell their goods. The boats were manageable and easy to navigate.
- Their boats were filled with lotus flowers, fresh coconuts, fruits, vegetables, local food, and sweets. These items attracted many buyers.
- Lotus flowers were being sold in the market. They were popular among the buyers.
- Various fresh fruits were available for purchase. These included tropical fruits grown locally.
- The sellers and buyers rowed their boats slowly through the market. This allowed smooth buying and selling.
- The sellers displayed their goods on the boats for buyers to see. They organized the items neatly to attract attention.
- The buyers chose their pick carefully while inspecting the products. They made small decisions before purchasing.
- The sellers and buyers sometimes had little chit-chat during transactions. This made the market lively and friendly.
- Tha Kha floating market is more traditional than other floating markets. Fewer tourists visit it, keeping it authentic.
- Mainly Tha Kha natives visit the floating market. Locals are the primary participants in buying and selling.
- Originally, the market sat only six or seven days a month. The schedule depended on the phase of the moon.
- Nowadays, the market operates on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. This allows more people to visit regularly.
- The main buyers are the Tha Kha locals. They come frequently to buy goods for daily needs.
- The locals seem to know each other very well. They interact in a friendly and familiar way.
- People behaved cheerfully with one another in the market. They smiled and called each other by name.
- The locals did not notice Mita and her friends much. They were too busy with their buying and selling.
- The locals did not pay attention to them because everyone was engaged in trade. The visitors blended into the bustling environment.
- They spent about an hour and a half at the market. They explored the surroundings and observed the trade.
- While at the market, they enjoyed watching the business. They also appreciated the traditional lifestyle.
- After feeling hungry, they decided to buy food. They looked for a stall selling traditional Thai dishes.
- An elderly woman was selling food in the market. She offered them local delicacies.
- The elderly woman welcomed them with a smile. She showed them the available food warmly.
- They bought a traditional dish called “Pad Thai.” It is a popular Thai noodle dish.
- Pad Thai contained shrimp, tomato, vegetables, and freshly roasted crushed peanuts. These ingredients made it flavorful.
- The food was served in a bowl made from banana leaf. This added a natural and traditional touch.
- After finishing Pad Thai, they ate “Kanom Krok.” It is a sweet coconut pancake.
- Kanom Krok is a type of coconut pancake. It is a very sweet and delicious snack.
- Kanom Krok tastes very sweet. It is soft and coconut-flavored.
- The Tha Kha people are simple and easygoing. They are friendly and polite.
- The locals are respectful and courteous. They maintain a welcoming attitude towards visitors.
- The Tha Kha people do not understand English. They communicate mainly in their local language.
- They still found ways to communicate with Mita and others. Gestures and smiles helped convey messages.
- Mita was delighted to see the traditional Thai floating market. She enjoyed the experience very much.
- Mita took many pictures at the market. She captured the scenes and interactions with the locals.
- She took pictures with the elderly sellers. They posed with her and smiled for the camera.
- The friendly nature of the people and the authentic market experience made it memorable. The sights and food added to her enjoyment.
- The story shows that Thai culture is traditional, friendly, and community-oriented. It emphasizes simplicity, politeness, and a close connection among locals.