Unrestricted and Alive: Thailand Street Life in Pictures

One of the first things that strikes an Australian strolling through any city or regional town in Thailand is the prevalence of street vendors selling tasty food at cheap prices on the side of the road, with the provision of tables and chairs.

And one only has to walk a few blocks to come across yet another marketplace, either street-based or a roofed open area, with vibrant colours spilling out of stores selling everything from fruits to flowers to buckets of live turtles, and a selection of unrefrigerated dead animal parts for purchase.

In contrast, a city like Sydney has overly restricted streets, sanitised by layers of legislation. If street food is contemplated, a local council announces an initiative wrapped up in red tape, resulting in a few overpriced vans selling local versions of exotic cuisines with limited spaces to operate within.

Many consider Southeast Asian nations to be harshly governed, which can be true in many respects. But what’s hidden to the Sydneysider, that must be obvious to any Thai tourist, is the web of restrictive laws resulting in a dearth of life in the streets.

Sydney Criminal Lawyers has been on the ground in Thailand to capture some of the freedoms that have been lost here.