Walking on Perfume

Lotus flowers

Walking on air, perfume filled air.

The Chiang Mai flower market is intoxicating.

 

 

Pink mums

 

Stunning was the volume of flowers brought in during the night.

Flowers wrapped in newspaper ready to be shipped near and far.

Every imaginable flower and flowers I never imagined. Bundle after bundle,

Everyday of the year, twenty four hours in the day, perfuming the air.

 

Little white flowers

 

 

While walking amongst the sheer beauty, a stand had lotuses in every stage of bloom. The Buddhist value of the lotus came to mind:

 

Roses in newspaper

 

"Because lotuses grow out of the mud pure and clean, like morning dew from heaven… The lotus flower inspire us to continue striving through difficulties, they show their true nature to the outside world, no matter how bad the circumstances may be. This is what it means to be as a lotus flower: Ringing beauty and light from the murky darkness at the bottom of the pond.

Another symbolic characteristic of the lotus flower leads from the observation that the plant's stalk is easy to bend in two, but is very hard to break because of its many strong sinuous fibres. Poets use this to represent a close unbreakable relationship between two lovers or the members within a family, showing that no matter how far away they might live nothing can really separate them in heart."

Legend of the Lotus.

 

Notes:

The "Ton Lamvai" Chiang Mai Flower Market.



Comments

21 responses to “Walking on Perfume”

  1. Beautiful and fragrant way to start Sunday.

  2. This is beautiful not simply for the display of flowers, but also for the information about the lotus flower. The fact that the stem can bend but is hard to break, I have often felt that I am broken by what life has thrown at me, however, from somewhere a strenght enables me to pick myself up and move forward. I am still striving to live that life where I do not need to bend so much. I will now consider the lotus flower when my thoughts are too much to bear.
    My favourite flower my daughter, each and every day I take inspiration from her. Love to you Corey.
    as ever Corey, thank you.

  3. funny, I’ve been wondering today if you would like to see HK flower market 🙂

  4. get lost, rambo
    and I’m a European woman

  5. Corey those flowers are amazing!! I can smell them from my computer. You are walking thru flower heaven…be sure to take me with you 🙂
    PS~ I have no idea who that “Rambo” guy is, but maybe you should get rid of him?

  6. Mmd. Tortoise

    We need only feel sorry for the likes of Mr. Rambo, and focus, as we do, on the poetry in corey’s soul no matter where she takes us: today, allowing us to walk with her through the market and almost share in the scent of those beautiful flowers, and to learn of the meaning of the Lotus. It was easy to tell you were in heaven Corey; I so appreciate that you brought me with you.
    I send my love to you and a prayer for Mr. Rambo.

  7. Gorgeous flowers, I can imagine the fragrant air and colors that are out of this world.
    I’m sorry, why would a man post a comment like that on your blog?

  8. Will you be staying in Chiang Mai the entire time you are in Thailand or will you be venturing out and about? Would love to see other areas of this country through your camera and soul.

  9. Venturing out and about.

  10. Deleted Rambo, he was getting on my nerves.

  11. Brenda L from TN

    I didn’t see what “Rambo” said…guess that was what was deletred but the NAME pretty much says it all as far as I’m concerned…
    Loved the flowers and the descriptions…can almost smell them from here.. (:

  12. The legend of the lotus holds lessons for all of us.
    I can’t imagine how overwhelming it must have been to have all those scents bombarding you at once (a good kind of overwhelming!). You are so good to take photos to share with us. I’m afraid be in one of two camps: either I’d be so taken with the sight that I’d forget my camera completely, or I’d be so busy taking photos of the the different flowers that I’d miss out on the overall experience. You seem to find just the right balance. 🙂

  13. I love the scent of lotus, a truly beautiful flower. Enjoy your walk with the blooms.
    Don’t feed the troll ladies, it’s what he wants. Let him be a fool on his own.

  14. A friend recommended Worarot Market for good food, but didn’t mention flowers. Now I am ready to run there to sniff the flowers.

  15. Thanks for sharing. I would of never dreamed such a place existed! Love fragrant flowers. Sounds like you are having a fantastic time.

  16. joanne nixon

    lovely meaning of the lotus flower….strong and supple….beautiful in appearance and scent…..wonderful….must have truly been overwhelming to see and smell such heavenly scents……

  17. sigh 🙂
    I am nearly dying here, because I am SO allergic to all those intoxicating perfumes although I absolutely LOVE flowers… but the perfume comes over so strongly; it’s amazing what power your writing has, corey. Merci beaucoup – marvellous description and beautiful photography!

  18. I love the photos, especially the one directly above the buddhist value quote.

  19. Gorgeous flowers, Beautiful its post and great idea for flowers . really i loved that and interesting details shared in the post ….

  20. Dear Corey…The straightness of those bundled stems and the contrast of roses and newsprint are simply wonderful photography!

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