Friday thing : leather tote
A tame reminder of one night (afternoon) in Bangkok
When I travel, I try to find as many local treasures/businesses as I can during my free time. Luckily, the last time I was in Bangkok I found both at the Chatuchak Market.
Like with most flea markets around the world, there is a vibrant mix of generic commercial items and handcrafted goods at Chatuchak, and that is fine - sometimes we need a pair of cheap sunglasses1 or a t-shirt with an unintentionally hilarious English translation or some life-saving anti-chafing powder2. The most satisfying things, though, are the artisan booths where people show & sell their creative endeavors; even if I don’t end up buying delicate jade earrings or handsewn pajama pants, I’m richer for having admired them.
Usually I opt for souvenirs that will fit safely into my suitcase like magnets, Christmas ornaments, small books, or if I’m especially fortunate, View-Master reels. I’ve also bought t-shirts or socks because they can easily be squished into small spaces, or worn on the trip home3. But during our 2019 visit to Bangkok’s weekend market, we came across a leathersmith crafting totes onsite, a brilliant [devious] marketing strategy. I am a sucker for bags of any kind (see recent Friday thing : purses) - they are practical, can be unique & stylish, and sometimes they smell luxurious [if you’re not a vegan], like warm velvet and sun-flush fields.
I was drawn to this duffel for its size - roomy but not bulky - plus the striking embossed flowers & antiqued bronze fixtures4. Its sturdy leather, reinforced handles, and shoulder strap sealed the deal for my husband, the bigger pragmatist. In fact, he’s the one who convinced me to spend the money, and he volunteered to carry it the rest of the trip.
This is our favorite tote for road trips, though when I travel alone it stays home - it’s a tad too big to fit under the seat in front of me yet a touch too small to accommodate all of my wardrobe & toiletry needs as a carry-on. And it can no longer be checked as we haven’t yet replaced a broken shoulder strap clasp, and the zipper is starting to misbehave so we no entrusting it to baggage handling.
Regardless, I envision a day when it will be a beloved decades-old supple-yet-still-sturdy tote like the one we helped a celebrity carry to his car after a long convention weekend - battered and faded, it looked more like a leather laundry bag than once-noble expensive luggage. He told us his wife regularly asks to replace it and he, aghast, always declines. It’s like a companion. It has seen things. It holds more than mere objects; it carries stories, love.
That is the real value of a good bag.
“We” here means all of those 20/20 vision folks or people who can endure contacts for more than twenty minutes. I have only wished since 8th grade that I was one of the cool kids who could wear stylish sunglasses off the rack. I mean, I could wear them but wouldn’t actually be able to see anything more than eight inches in front of my face. Which isn’t very cool, I’m guessing.
If you are ever near the equator/a humid place/Hell, bring or seek out Snake brand Prickly Heat cooling powder - I discovered some in a café bathroom in rural Thailand and took a picture after applying it [while thanking the gods + restaurant proprietors] so I could buy my own tin later. I smelled like everyone’s grandma but at least didn’t feel like crying with each step anymore.
When I wore my Piña Colada Song tee home in our upgraded seating with free drinks, the flight attendant insisted I get some sparkling wine. #TravelWin
I smelled it later. Many times.
I’m glad you let me convince you we should buy it. It always reminds me of that tip and the fun we have traveling
I bought a beautiful leather bag in Costa del Sol, Spain when I was 20. My sister and I bartered for it. I used it as a book bag in grad school and my first year teaching at a little private school in the U District of Seattle. I kept the bag in a cupboard...and it got stolen (as well my wallet and address book) from the cupboard. The school was trendsetting....the doors were locked and you had to be buzzed in. The day it was stolen, two classes were on a field trip, and someone must have slipped inside, grabbed my bag from the cupboard. It was all so bizarre. Like, how did they know where to look? I tried to find a replacement, but was unsuccessful. I think about that bag all the time. It makes me sad.