“How spicy you like?” said an elder Thai woman from behind the Phat Thai counter, a phrase visitors appreciate when visiting the Sunday Market at the Wat Mongkolratanaram Temple.
Located on the Palm River, the golden gilding of the Wat Temple gleams brightly in its subtle location. Under the palm trees, picnic tables along the river are filled with people enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
Open to the public seven days a week, Wat Temple is predominately known for its Sunday Market. Each Saturday, female Buddhist volunteers prepare cuisine at their own expense, to sell in exchange for donations.
“If you do good, everything will always be good for you,” said CJ Chombri, a volunteer at the temple.
Cars spilled into the crowded parking lot last Sunday as traffic directors greeted guests upon arrival. Lured by the smell of fresh Thai cuisine, hungry customers let their noses decide what to devour first.
For a small donation, visitors are awarded with gracious portions of authentic food. Some items, like the chicken egg rolls, only cost $1.
Boiling woks containing fried bananas, sweet potatoes and taro root bubbled wildly and caught the attention of bystanders. Once crisp, the fried goods were packaged in brown paper bags at the price of $3.
Gallons of white batter were poured into large griddles forming gooey coconut custard balls, while curries and rice were scooped into Styrofoam containers on the opposite end of the market.
“I love to come here on Sundays,” Ryan Gentilucci said. “The food is inexpensive and I like knowing my money is supporting a good cause.”
Anxious lines formed for “Guiteow” noodle soup, with the choice of beef or chicken broth and two different noodles, similar to fettucini and angel hair pasta. An assembly line of volunteers put the finishing touches on the soup and requested $5 upon completion.
Flower cookies, sweet mango sticky rice and Che, a bowl of coconut milk containing crunchy water chestnuts, cubed agar and taro with slices of jackfruit, were a few of many desserts available. Ranging from $1 to $5, the table of sweets was bare before the market came to a close.
By the river, people stood as smoke billowed over their heads and waited in front of the grill for chicken on a stick. Fresh produce and flowerpots were also for sale, kept in the shade to preserve their liveliness.
Members of the temple donate homegrown produce each week, and a majority is used in food preparation for the event, said one of the volunteers.
Donations collected at the temple contribute to multiple causes. Last week, a portion of money collected was dedicated to a seawall being built on the river.
Running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays, the market isn’t the only Sunday activity at the temple. Religious services including chanting, meditating and sermon are held from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. inside the temple.
Before attending the Theravada Buddhist sanctuary, guests are asked to respect several customs. It is crucial to refrain from pointing your feet at Buddha statues or monks, as this is a sign of disrespect. Also, it’s imperative to remove shoes before entering the temple.