Lemongrass Vendor Arranging Bundles on Bangkok Floating Market Boat

Pale green stalks of lemongrass rest in neat, thick bundles on the weathered teak planks of a narrow wooden boat. A vendor's hands move methodically, adjusting the stalks near a steaming wok that releases a thin ribbon of white smoke into the flat noon light. The sky overhead is a uniform sheet of soft gray, diffusing the glare and casting gentle shadows across the wet deck. Surrounding boats drift in the background, their hulls painted in faded blues and reds, while the cool season air hangs still over the Chao Phraya River. Steam curls upward, momentarily obscuring the distant market stalls before dissipating into the humid haze. The rough texture of the bamboo baskets contrasts with the smooth, waxy sheen of the herb stalks.