78-Year-Old Hawker Sells Pork Porridge To Make An Honest Living In Bangkok
Many of us hustle at work everyday to earn an honest living.
But this incredible story will tug at your heartstrings and make you wonder if there’s more we can do to help the elderly in our societies retire early in comfort.
A man in Bangkok named Max Udomsak shared the touching story behind a bowl of pork porridge with egg he purchased from an elderly 78-year-old uncle.
He was shocked to find out that this was the only bowl he had sold during the entire day.
Here’s his post in full, translated in English.
Pork congee with eggs 25 baht, no eggs. 20 baht really delicious especially for this price. Inexpensive plus the serving is big. Please help to give him business help one another he’s already 78 years old. His condition is quite poor with bad eyesight and not in good health however he’s not giving up. On rainy days he uses a plastic bag to cover himself and hide from the rain in front of 7-11. He doesn’t have a home, currently squatting in a building which was burnt down and the building owner has not repaired it yet. He relies on next door neighbor’s help for water. However, the burnt building’s owner is about to make a repair so the uncle will have to move out. He doesn’t have much, making 200-300 baht of profit per day. One day I went to support and give him business he said he’s been standing there for 3-4 hours only managed to sell one bowl. The other day he told me he has 2 kids but all passed away already. His wife couldn’t bear it and she passed away not long after to join her kids. Leaving him alone in this world. But he’s still fighting and not giving up. He wants to be in homes for elderly but no one wants to take him in. Anyway if anyone passes by Soi Mor-Leng please come and support him. Some day he will go there as early as 3am and stay until late afternoon.
#congee-uncle
#coordinates7-11KJS
#humanswehelponeanother
We tell his story in detail below. Here’s his original post.
78-year-old man hustles to make an honest living
This elderly street hawker in Bangkok decided to sell porridge as a way to make an honest living.
Max shares that the 78-year-old uncle had no next-of-kin left, after his children passed away 2 years ago. His wife “left to join them” shortly after, leaving him “alone in this world”.
Porridge is priced at a modest price of S$0.90 (20 baht), but he has been struggling to make ends meet because business isn’t great.
Serves Thai-style pork porridge with homemade meatballs
His signature dish is a thick ‘jook’ — traditional Thai-style porridge with handmade pork meatballs, topped with optional condiments like fish sauce or Maggi sauce.
To try to drive up profits, the elderly hawker has tried to open his store along Soi Mor-Leng in Bangkok everyday, braving the elements by using a “plastic bag to cover himself” while taking shelter “in front of 7-Eleven” store when it rains.
On especially hard days, he even keeps his store open from 3am to late afternoon.
Right now, he continues to worry that he will have to shut his store down due to landlord woes and rental issues.
Prefers to rely on self to make a living
As for where the grandpa lives, he currently calls a makeshift tarp-roofed shack his home.
When asked if he would consider going to a “nursing home” to spend the rest of his days in comfort, he shares that he has tried but to no avail. Apparently, no “homes” have accepted his application.
He has still not given up hope and now prefers to persevere with his endeavour to make the stall a success.
Netizens chip in to help
The story of this hardworking hawker has gone viral at the time of writing, with more than 11,000 shares on the original Facebook post.
Netizens have also chipped in to help raise funds to tide the grandpa through, and ensure that he has better living conditions.
Faith in humanity restored
In this uplifting story, we’re glad that social media was used in a beautiful way to change an elderly hawker’s life forever.
Hopefully, the funds raised from the incident will help tide him through a comfortable retirement.
If he continues to choose to sell his porridge, we’re sure that his new legion of fans will support him by dabao-ing a bowl home after work.
We know, we will. Here’s how to get to his store if you do find yourself in the vicinity on a Bangkok getaway.
Street Name: Soi Mor Leng
Address: Din Daeng, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Opening Hours: 3am to 4pm, Mon-Sun
Google Map Pin: https://maps.app.goo.gl/8hgnoCqdpBH5miYb9
Are there any other inspiring elderly hawker legends you remember in Singapore? Do share their stories in the comments below.
Also read:
90-Year-Old Hawker Ah Ma Still Wakes Up At 4.30AM To Prep For Her Wanton Noodles Stall
Featured image from Facebook.
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