Bangkok is a popular destination for many Singaporean tourists with its cheap shopping spots and delicious food.
Meet Uncle Dam, one of the street food vendors who hustle every day to earn a living. However, behind every bowl of Uncle Dam’s sweet ice kacang lies a bittersweet story.
Every day, the Thai street vendor walks 6km to sell ice kacang to earn enough money to take care of his son, reports Wongnai.
When his son was just 8 months old, Uncle Dam and his wife found out that he has special needs.
Sadly, his wife ran away shortly after, leaving Uncle Dam to take care of his son by himself.
According to Wongnai, Uncle Dam once contemplated suicide but stayed strong for his son.
When asked how he managed to overcome the absence of his wife, Uncle Dam claimed he found strength in a sermon he once heard which advised him to live in the present.
Uncle Dam currently pays for his son’s medical expenses since his son often falls sick due to his weak immunity system.
Every day, Uncle Dam will, without fail, walk about 6km to set up his ice kacang cart.
His son accompanies him because there is no one helping to take care of him.
Uncle’s stall offers a variety of toppings that customers can add to their ice kacang, such as corn, bread, and even grass jelly.
He originally sold the icy dessert for S$0.67 (15 baht), but it was too expensive for children and the elderly. Thus, he lowered the cost to S$0.45 (10 baht) instead.
Wongnai shared that while being interviewed, Uncle Dam was seen preparing another ice kacang, even though there was no customer in sight.
Soon after, Uncle Dam walked over to a blind person nearby and handed him the dessert, touching the crew deeply. Uncle Dam later added that he often gives bowls of ice kacang to the poor in the area.
Since he once had “no money to eat anything too”, Uncle Dam knew how hard it was being poor too.
At times, the future might seem daunting with all its uncertainties, but you might feel more assured with Uncle Dam’s tips — just live in the present.
Don’t forget about the sweet things in life too. If you happen to be in Bangkok for your holiday, look out for Uncle Dam’s pushcart.
Address:
In front of the SVOA Rat Burana
266/1 Rat Burana Khwaeng Rat Burana, Khet Rat Burana, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10130, Thailand
Though Uncle Dam’s cart may be frosty, his story remains a heartwarming one.
Featured image adapted from Wongnai.
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