I had an inkling that my car might need a big repair or change of old parts. After having a thorough inspection at a local garage. The staff could only change the old battery, the other major parts couldn’t be found at the Toyota factory as these old spare parts were no longer manufactured anymore. So, I had to ask some friendly staff to find compatible spare parts for my car. Luckily, most of the spare parts could be successfully found and the car could be fixed properly. But I was told that the front chokes should be fixed at the previous place where I bought them. So, I made an appointment with the old shop on Worachak road; this shop used to be very popular among teenagers who liked to modify their cars for illegal racing at night!
Several years ago, I befriended a young teenager who loved to midofy his car as he often went car racing with his friends at night around some secret racing venue. After he sat with me for a car journey, he told me that I needed to change the springs and chokes of my car. He was concerned that my driving style was surprisingly wild for a Thai; he considered my driving as ‘fast and daring’. My car didn’t hug the curve at high speed, it actually swayed and curved. So, I agreed that it would be a good idea to have better quality springs and chokes for my new car.
That’s how I started becoming a good customer at this car parts shop in Worachak road years ago. I could drive faster with more safety and assurance; my car seemed to stay more sticky on road surface and it wouldn’t sway during high speed drive along curvy roads. I haven’t met this kind youngster for years as he went abroad and got on with his busy life. I thought about him every time I had to get new chokes for my car. He had no idea that these high quality springs and chokes had improved my driving skill and saved me from a collision once a long time ago.
The old staff at this shop including the three technicians have become my friends as I have become their loyal customers. I guessed I was the only customer who kept coming back to this old shop each time the car needed new chokes. The manager always gave me special discount and the technicians were happy to see my old car. There were new and modern car repair centers opened along major roads. But I couldn’t trust these staff as they weren’t my friends. The friendly staff at this old shop looked after my car very well and gave me good advice on how to save money on spare parts.
Worachak road was constructed during the reign of King Rama V, (in 1898) the modernisation phase of Siam. This area was only ten minutes walk from my family’ second house. Worachak road was synonymous with spare parts for cars and motorcycles, including bicycle center. There used to be hundreds of bicycle shops along this road and along the side alleyways. This was the center for wholesale and retail bicycles, parents often took their children to choose their first bicycles from one of these shops. My father also took three of us to choose our bicycles in Worachak. So, walking along this road brought back lots of sweet memories of my childhood. That’s probably why I became attached to the shop for getting new pairs of chokes every four years. Coming back to Worachak was like revisiting my childhood’s good old day.
This time things have changed for worse for most businesses in this area. After the long lockdown, business hasn’t fully recovered from the big slump because of Covid measures. There are now less than twenty bicycle shops along the main road. Fewer repair shops for motorcycles could be spotted and fewer shops selling bike spare parts. I guessed lots of businesses have gone online since the lockdown. Those who couldn’t adapt to new information technology and new way of doing business had to close their shops.
Worachak road used to be very busy with traffic jam all day long. But nowadays the road was quite empty of heavy traffic and motorcycles. The manager at the choke shop told me that business was very slow and customers were hard to come by. I wondered where all the customers have gone; there are more cars bought by new drivers every year. Perhaps there are new product names at much lower prices. But this old shop used to be well known among amateur car racers.
I walked around some bicycle shops waiting for customers. In the past, bicycles were being sold like candy. There were children in most shops. The birth rate has gone down a lot, so demand for bicycle would decrease over time. I dropped by the shop where I bought my touring bicycle almost a year ago. I might need a carriage rack on my bike soon, the price was rather expensive as it’s imported and made in aluminiam. I would have to wait for bull market in crypto! Meanwhile I would have to use my old rug sack.
I noticed many pot plants in front of several shops. Fortunately, local authority didn’t forbid these residents from their greening efforts. But one old shop was quite unique; the elderly lady could keep a chicken, a cat and a dog in the same house. These three animals seemed to be friendly and very much at home together. I could never keep a few chickens around my orange cats. It would be nice if my cats could look after the chickens for me while I was away. It seemed people ate resigned to the fact that things wouldn’t improve much during this time. They acknowledged the news in the Middle East and hoped that the new government could do improve the economic situation and keep the prices of energy at a lower level.
The manager gave me a special discount as he knew we were all in the same boat. I wished I could return his favour one day. I have small Buddha ‘amulets’ to the three technicians. These were my own collection of old and rare Buddha statues which could fetch a good price in the antique amulet market. But some people just treasure the hidden protective power of old amulets.
Some old shophouses in narrow alleyway have been transformed into modern hostel. But tourism has been in doldrums so the hostel is still closed.
The technicians were quite impressed by my gifts as these were twenty years old. They could give them protective and lucky vibes; or they could exchange them for food or money during hard times. These are hard working and honest people whose lives would fluctuate depending on government’s policies. I wished they knew about crypto so they could have some safety options. I couldn’t imagine what would happen when the fiat system finally collapsed. Could I survive that dramatic event?
Being back in Worachak which was very familiar to my childhood days, observing changes in this area made me realised that changes and the impermanence of all things are inevitable. I was very grateful to all the friendships and assistance offered to me freely. I told the manager to give me a call whenever he happened to have adverse effects from his vaxx. I had the right antidotes for such conditions as I have been helping several friends and villagers. I prayed that the economy would steadily improve so that Worachak, as a shopping center for car and motorcycle owners would flourish again. I do agree with Elon Musk that people should have more children. Then, these quiet bicycle shops would become lively once more.
Wishing you peace, good health and prosperity.
Stay strong and cheerful.
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