### The bright sunshine in the morning made me decided to take an old friend for a walking tour of my favourite area around Robinson mall.  I did postpone this walking tour the other day, so I guessed I should fulfill my promise as soon as I could.  It was a bit tricky as this old friend has the habit of being late for all appointments. This time I did give a warning that I would wait for only fifteen minutes instead of the customary over forty minutes. Luckily, she did arrive late by fifteen minutes.  So, we could depart from the front of Robinson mall which was our meeting point; the car park fee here is the cheapest in central Bangkok. 

![img_7630.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmciAQyCRDo4nHWaYSRRvGrCfq9dngSbVeNKJjyaUTECqB/img_7630.jpg)

![img_7631.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmarmW36rSPLmanA5JeoYriMdzvfKFfMBH1L5Ngf4s1DLK/img_7631.jpg)

As my friend was not punctual, I had the time to survey the flea market in front of the mall.  I was very glad to see lots of people coming out shopping and buying street food from hopeful vendors. The cold spell seemed to have ended, the blue warm sky made me much more cheerful walking around the food stalls.  I would have loved to taste some sweets but I had lunch meeting with my friend. So, I could only eat these food and sweets with my eyes and camera lens. 

![img_7599.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmYYoqwDhT3iiNb4SPNQvJn8krY5HcE76i9g7v98pgf2Jw/img_7599.jpg)

![img_7601.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmWQTughWmnXXHhqYuC6PXBjeCSM8WFoTeUgpKqib5wSRY/img_7601.jpg)

![img_7600.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmf9RXgZV5JuTY59PPUqGy3trXg2qCkqLLw49Xgj2PdaC9/img_7600.jpg)

![img_7603.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmTxDSueDszj3aZGsdLfgMHV27TEBVymU5Lzn7PJjhdDR1/img_7603.jpg)

Ready made curries, fried vegetables and fish including more spicy food were quite popular among young people who did not have the time to cook.  But the fried noodles and PadThai should be much more healthy than very spicy curries.  

![img_7605.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmb7oYJZxgFHsjHNpGuqRxJfnMU9G2g3Tf4YWTpu21HPfT/img_7605.jpg)

![img_7609.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmbi2fn2vnQGHd6Lh3ZTkh3UA3eQHg4XdGvDHwGu2V843Y/img_7609.jpg)

![img_7610.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmW46neuDZkat1i3SfvLXLvfiJDTRbdXG7swQsuWebSp2V/img_7610.jpg)

![img_7612.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmPHPmnAtVcDPbJKDpNJgQ5fHzcsfQikbGzwUbutHrov7c/img_7612.jpg)

![2DE1F93833A945BE91E6FBC1337963DC.jpeg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/kaminchan/Le8qoiiJ-2DE1F938-33A9-45BE-91E6-FBC1337963DC.jpeg)

![img_7619.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmdpy6x23LJRndUpkvAv36cWCTwJ8XmhVhn119Z8Sbxw6N/img_7619.jpg)

Besides food stalls, there are clothes stalls and sale ceramic too. 

![img_7648.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmdn3hRG8vEZ5XzUGRQcixMwwtSFPCjHdt2Zx35pVpoFAP/img_7648.jpg)

![img_7624.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmUYLzSLgroPyVmJEsbAUJ2FtepvHmrEmeUpNW9ksexN2Q/img_7624.jpg)

![img_7620.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmRKKLtbb9c9ZhhvZ4CbMxU9S3u1XsXEr5EJtdEUMRdnJn/img_7620.jpg)

An optician has also set up a stall in this market offering very cheap frames. This is such a good idea to offer his service in a market where people would feel at ease in having their consultation about their eyes problems. The frames are free but the cost of a pair of lenses is 690 bahts (about 23 dollars.)

![img_7629.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmPySDpvckD4na7VKH2bSFfu52sv4E3Th2ZoM4bkucjeGa/img_7629.jpg)

We were supposed to meet in front of StarBucks which is next to MacDonald where I used to play with Goldie, the old orange cat who used to sit at the steps there. 

![img_7597.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmR3jVG8aBee4H8UAU7fny8zBq96jkyka3GefXzYgk4QZ8/img_7597.jpg)

![img_7598.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmSxm4ohbiHi7jJxpaKwDurmz2zgoRaifTb2X7Sc7k8QKx/img_7598.jpg)

After the arrival of my old friend, we walked pass Robinson and crossed the main road. There were people selling lotteries, fruits and jasmine garlands along the way. Our first stop was to reach the street food road of Sriwiang, a side road along the main road (Charoenkrung road). We were supposed to taste the famous beancurd custard in ginger syrup, but the vendor decided to take a holiday. So, we had to backtrack to the main road to let my friend catch up with her late lunch.

![img_7593.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmRRXMTE357MBoBjDN8pxrV24eKjxJXeHExxEjVrWtfQsP/img_7593.jpg)

![img_7641.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmeFMLgouJZ6Z9aYahB2Roys4VBqSoR9AEdcc9Q79f7iSv/img_7641.jpg)

![img_7644.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmZRgpAayqZbyFdMvqU8PxFJFCmK6CqUhYMo76mo4q6jyG/img_7644.jpg)

![img_7647.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmNSo3vanyZQK3MqATWJfjrb8w6aquKW9cV3DHDEwtZn3N/img_7647.jpg)

![img_7639.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmaz7YH6KhxStfUJodtCCFm5w7CHkT1feJHTtdgzEjoftp/img_7639.jpg)

Charoenkrung road or New road is still a vibrant area full of small shops, restaurants, coffee shops, Thai massage and spa, jewelry shops and amazing varieties of street food. The proximity to Silom road and Sathorn road means that this narrow road is full of traffic jam during rush hours.  Thousands of office workers still travel via Charoenkrung road to connect with skytrains, ferries and express boats. The majority of local Chinese people still live and work in this Bangrak district making the atmosphere along the old houses very friendly and homely.  My old friend wanted me to take her for a walk around this area as a reminiscent journey back to her childhood.  She used to live just off Silom road; her grandmother used to take her shopping around here during the good old days.  So, we settled down to simple fish-ball noodles in a Burmese managed restaurant before our walking tour.

![img_7670.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmcwmVSRFzhbcHSJzLygmno3J9whLAgMqWPrtiXqS9fNFH/img_7670.jpg)

![img_7666.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmU6rP54qXAKxnArdMpGvxvoMiZgCTmA9Xj1rZ48VYo4e9/img_7666.jpg)

![img_7660.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmdF55Du8CniijTTGphbjcPcE6ENUBSuK8rLBHtGL3shq6/img_7660.jpg)

After the noodle shop, we stopped by the sweet stall next door for some cool iced Chinese sweet. We were both very impressed by the freshness of the ingredients and the fragrance syrup. There are eight kinds of fruits and bean based ingredients in this sweet. You would feel very refreshing after a bowl of ‘Boi Kia’, and probably want to come back again later on.

![img_7664.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmRr8qvbfk3VC14KQycYYk1kZtcyViPCEwgd2UJbWbGoj4/img_7664.jpg)

![img_7661.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmaYCkKG61HbwycFW2hcmFL6tQrB2iuzy6xECtUKjFTzby/img_7661.jpg)

![img_7663.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmRLCLCvhZeUGNh7JQb359xMZ9xvvunSJhD48ei9AU7cFr/img_7663.jpg)

In this joint, you could find at least other four kinds of food; from roast pork or duck on rice, soft spring rolls and rice noodle with minced-fish curry and pork noodles. We had a good time chatting with old Chinese owner to find out about the old bakery which my friend could recall as a child.  It took quite a bit of engaging discussion to locate this ‘ancient’ bakery whose original owners had long passed away. The old bakery had moved to the other small alley selling only a few kinds of bread. The other bakery owned by the other sibling of this Chinese baker’s family had opened his own bakery on Charoenkrung road, a few meters away from where we were having our sweets. So we decided to check out the old bakery later.

![0AE943B495974BA1A53537115941A384.jpeg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/kaminchan/BrnFb76e-0AE943B4-9597-4BA1-A535-37115941A384.jpeg)

![7026F5560C9042B99EBB5F032CC349FC.jpeg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/kaminchan/aQxAwe1Q-7026F556-0C90-42B9-9EBB-5F032CC349FC.jpeg)

เราพึ่งมีโอกาสพาเพื่อนเก่าที่เคยอยู่ในถนนสีลมตอนเด็กๆ กลับไปเดินระลึกถึงอดีตวันวานสมัยก่อนในถนนเจริญกรุง เขาไม่ได้กลับมาแถวนี้หลายสิบปีแล้ว เรานัดเจอกันที่หน้าห้างโรบินสันบางรัก เราไปถึงก่อนจึงถือโอกาสเดินสำรวจตลาดและร้านค้าแถวนั้น และถ่ายรูปขั้นบันไดที่หน้าห้าง ที่เจ้าแมวส้มชื่อโกลด์ดี้เคยนั่งเล่นทุกวัน เราคิดถึงแมวตัวนี้มากแต่ก็รู้ว่ามันคงไปเกิดในชาติใหม่แล้ว เราให้ความสนใจอาหารและขนมที่มาขายที่นั่น เราอยากลองชิมพวกเส้นผัดซีอิ๊วและขนมหวาน แต่เรานัดกินข้าวกับเพื่อนจึงต้องอดใจไว้ ที่นั่นมีช่างมาเปิดร้านตัดแว่นตาประกอบแว่นในราคาที่ถูกมาก เสียดายเราไม่มีเวลาไปคุยด้วย อาหารปิ้งย่างมีให้เลือกมากมาย แถมยังมีร้านขายจานชามราคาถูกสุด และพวกเสื้อผ้ายีนแบบแถมด้วย พอเพื่อนมาถึงเราก็ข้ามถนนไปเดินถึงจุดหมายคือ ถนนศรีเวียงที่ซึ่งเราจะพาเพื่อนไปกินเต้าฮวยน้ำขิงที่อร่อยมากๆ แต่โชคไม่เข้าข้างเขาหยุดขาย พวกเราก็ไปหาก๋วยเตี๋ยวลูกชิ้นปลากินเป็นอาหารกลางวันที่ถนนหลักกัน

![img_7594.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmY3zmAugfyNXj4cxAnqFzeMyJPnvJKGitTDnXjGWLCh4Q/img_7594.jpg)

![img_7627.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmXBADrJB534WSBQTii8wsmzCXHwEe7sVL7gum6DpaH3Me/img_7627.jpg)

![img_7618.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmeTdSmicV16nXnVnhPScRuy42niCiWKaEWPt1sDrGqutj/img_7618.jpg)

![img_7643.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmUbAkebjqM22nXUx1uch6SiaKpWQ3NVtUv3K9oEjU4HEk/img_7643.jpg)

พออิ่มจากร้านก๋วยเตี๋ยวลูกชิ้นปลา เราก็ไปนั่งกินขนมหวานน้ำแข็งใสกันคนละชามที่ร้านถัดไป ขนมหวานอร่อยมาก กินแล้วหายเหนื่อยและสดชื่นขึ้นมาทันที  ที่ร้านนี้ยังมีขอวกินอีกหลายอย่าง ทั้งข้าวกน้าเป็ดย่าง หมูแดง เปาะเปี๊ยะสดและขนมจีนน้ำยา เพื่อนของเราอยากจะกินทุกอย่าง แต่ก็ไม่ไหวเพราะอิ่มแล้ว เราถามถึงร้านขนมปังเก่าแก่ที่เพื่อนเคยซื้อกินตอนเด็กๆ เจ้าของร้านอาหารคนจีนที่อายุมากแล้ว เขารู้จักคนแถวนี้และเล่าให้เราฟังว่า ร้านขนมปังสองร้านที่เป็นญาติพี่น้องกัน ตอนนี้ร้านหนึ่งย้ายไปอยู่ข้างในซอยเล็กๆ แต่เจ้าของเดิมร้านด้านในเสียชีวิตไปนานแล้ว และลูกน้องเก่ารับทอดกิจการ แต่ก็ขายขนมเพียงสองสามอย่าง ส่วนร้านใหญ่ยังอยู่ที่ริมถนนเจริญกรุง เราก็ตัดสินใจไปตามหาร้านขนมปังที่เพื่อนอยากจะมาฟื้นความหลัง

![img_7674.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmYBCf1ydnVULJ4caqdMyVz16CSPrxb5pL314C1ATKCzh4/img_7674.jpg)

![img_7675.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmPPLBw497m4qai8ie6AEugVzmJEsj5N4SBHkpBykNvwgP/img_7675.jpg)

![30310E8449F24A8795CA84EC8DD643EC.jpeg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/kaminchan/UIPIhrob-30310E84-49F2-4A87-95CA-84EC8DD643EC.jpeg)

![2EE1395823C4429CAB8AFDCBFEF83DD0.jpeg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/kaminchan/mRuQ3BcG-2EE13958-23C4-429C-AB8A-FDCBFEF83DD0.jpeg)

![img_7677.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmVDiw2k48y2p65PD2RoXZ9Z7SWvogfhiLioLxcdTyTRHm/img_7677.jpg)

We met a farmer who took organic rice from his village and other wooden tools to sell in Bangrak area.  I have seen him here from time to time during the past few years.  He told me that the lack of tourists really hit his business. He asked us to get some of the organic rice but we were already carrying so many bags; but I intended to visit him again soon. Finally we found the modernised ‘ancient bakery’ with automatic glass door and air-condition. 

![img_7718.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmXwFpZu5v2eadi7c8iZSBJqLt5ARDT6PC87YTgo4zbc7Y/img_7718.jpg)

![img_7717.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmcirD726bjMuM4zZvJKVR38XZLZqv8RUcoNjQkq65ejjz/img_7717.jpg)

![img_7688.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmR5DqsQRjteK1sHwx56atGQ3DY6NZBDqJfU8fuZLVBp44/img_7688.jpg)

![CDF961B563C64A8683A6E12A635612F5.jpeg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/kaminchan/f8DLZVsL-CDF961B5-63C6-4A86-83A6-E12A635612F5.jpeg)

![img_7694.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmUY5YPKwpseYo7gsJ3q1mXZcwQpKCgZ3UKKvPBUkognts/img_7694.jpg)

![img_7695.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmdSxnFXJPQBJL9DXH89yDMzEZ1iTk3LegDpQ2UYMtmMMu/img_7695.jpg)

The choices of cookies, cakes, snacks and bread were quite mind blogging. We walked around in a circle several times before deciding on what to buy. My friend had a good chat with the eighty years’ old lady-owner of the bakery.  She told how she used to buy bread and cookies here as a child. I was quite surprised by the ultra-low prices of cakes and bread. They haven’t raised the prices for over fifteen years. The name of this bakery is Panlee. I would certainly come to stick up some cakes and cookies here again soon; the cakes were just incredibly cheap and delicious.

![A111D26B8F01413D93C2C3AF5528A0C9.jpeg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/kaminchan/sNaUfSqo-A111D26B-8F01-413D-93C2-C3AF5528A0C9.jpeg)

![img_7687.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmQnhfNdL7ZU1uXqoxTmzQmXhRNA9FKX9isv5n4ZoArbCB/img_7687.jpg)

พวกเราเดินไปห้านาทีก็เจอร้านขนมปังชื่อปั้นหลี ที่ถูกปรับปรุงให้ทันสมัย มีประตูอัตโนมัติและติดแอร์ด้วย ในร้านมีขนมปัง เค๊กและกุ๊กกี้มากมายหลายชนิด ราคาก็ถูกมากจนเรางงว่าเขาขายราคานี้ได้อย่างไร เขามีกาแฟขายด้วยแต่ปิดเสียก่อน พวกเราก็เลือกขนมเค็กใส่ถาดแล้วจ่ายเงิน เพื่อนก็คุยกับหญิงสูงอายุเจ้าของร้าน ถึงความหลังสมัยเด็กๆ เพราะสมัยก่อนแถวนี้มีร้านขายขนมปังมีชื่อร้านนี้ร้านเดียว ในร้านมีรูปภาพโบราณของถนนเจริญกรุงในอดีต บนฝาผนัง เราก็เลยขอถ่ายรูปเก็บมาด้วย ภาพพวกนี้หาดูยากมาก สักพักเราก็มองหาร้านกาแฟเพื่อพัก และทบทวนว่าพวกเราไปเดินสำรวจถนนเจริญกรุงกันได้ผลเป็นที่น่าพอใจมากน้อยอย่างไร นับว่าเป็นแห่งการเดินเที่ยว เพื่อย้อนความทรงจำในอดีตที่สนุกมากวันหนึ่ง

![img_7690.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmRK92UN47wJQfvdjjie5ugzAhDr1bFHYp4RUhpyypi6Ef/img_7690.jpg)

![img_7689.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmPemzBE6HyFLxJU7kawdYBcAJdn6TDez71XmF7Y4HKz15/img_7689.jpg)

I saw several old pictures of Charoenkrung road over a hundred years ago on the wall.  They allowed me to take some photos.  Electric trams could be seen in the photo while shop-houses were not fully built along the road yet.  Rickshaws, trams, horse drawn carriages and cars shared the same old road in those cars.  Luckily, there was not the problem of traffic jam to stop traffic flows for hours like today. The electricity poles were all made from teak wood! That’s the time when Siam started cutting down her dense forests around the country; some foreign companies made a lot of wealth from exporting teak woods overseas. 

![img_7691.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmR9tmX1cED2HWhb2Q7zVavjRhb2B4V2KF5S2raQ6BVazu/img_7691.jpg)

![img_7685.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmY17Vxtw7aceRWDUGHPPzkiCfSGHdVd5kpU1wzVPTnnHo/img_7685.jpg)

![img_7692.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmZKwUq2RTbKDD8hb81cjHyasVAh2SEvN7NSaCRUC4gh6p/img_7692.jpg)

It has been a long day of reminisce about the past with my old friend who wished to revisit the familiar places of her childhood.  I did gain more understanding and make some new local friends along the way.  These local people were quite surprised to know that we were retracing old familiar  places and memories of the good old days. I would have to show them my post and photos one day.

![img_7659.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmdpEZCWVZyEfdJ272CtKQnqYnuoBQboUcP1q1o6Ko59ci/img_7659.jpg)

![img_7656.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmXwpWJXF2Bau1BtXAhtCwsShdFcLsdFfQ1Jb8mVuarimE/img_7656.jpg)

![img_7657.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmSa41TaHEVWXKNj3DoyQSL212n246tFmK7FJQeXmuXESH/img_7657.jpg)

We also went to explore narrow alleys around the side road where local people have been living peacefully for generations.

![B513FD04A0494CB09F429E611B53DCEC.jpeg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/kaminchan/5G7wuASv-B513FD04-A049-4CB0-9F42-9E611B53DCEC.jpeg)

![img_7655.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmR9aN2qSJYYXwCSU9CR9cYvFp1wmyEGYrmAVQb4G5JxrC/img_7655.jpg)

Wishing you all a very nice day.

Stay warm and cheerful.

[//]:# (!pinmapple 13.721790 lat 100.516579 long The old bakery, Panlee, Bangrak d3scr)