Like so many in Pattaya, Somporn Phompienchai had carved out a decent living for himself, only to be forced to change jobs after the coronavirus hit.
Somporn sold artsy posters and carvings to Chinese, Russian and European tourists on Koh Larn, earning up to 4,000 baht a day during high season. But Koh Larn was closed for months and, now that it’s open again, only Thais are going and have no interest in cultural kitsch.
These days Somporn can be found on Soi Photisan in Naklua, making Chinese-style steamed rice noodles.
He sells them in soups concocted from family recipes with bamboo, bean sprouts, tofu, sweet pork, crackling and dried shrimp, topped with black sweet sauce. Each bowl sells for 30 baht.
He modified his motorcycle to make it a food cart and now rides about the Naklua Old Market every morning, Thepprasit in the afternoon and around Pattaya at night before swinging back to the Naklua Market.
For all that effort, he brings home just 400 baht on a good day.
Somporn said he longs for the day foreign tourists can come back to Thailand.
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