Amazing Thailand

Thailand has long been many people favourites place to visit for different reasons. The food, shopping, nightlife, festival to island and hill trip are just some of the long list of attractions. Colourful and vibrant and at time outrageous it attracted photographers from all over the world to descend onto Thailand annually.

One of the many attractions I find most interesting and distinctively Thai is their marketplace. There seem to be an abundant of market places all over Bangkok. Some are really humongous like the weekend market of Chatuchak or the famous but fast disappearing Thai floating market. The strange but amazing railway tracks market of Maeklong and the ever-popular night markets which can be found all over Bangkok.

Chatuchak Weekend Market.

This is Bangkok most famous and the biggest of all market, which is only open during the weekend. Every weekend thousands of people, tourists and local alike will be in Chatuchak roaming through the thousands of stalls selling every imaginable item you can think of. Chances are if you can’t find them in Chatuchak you will not find them elsewhere in Bangkok. There are local designers selling exclusive items in tiny stalls to huge wholesales retailers. There are many photo opportunities here but you have to be cautious in taking pictures at the stalls. Some of these stalls are selling exclusive designer items and they do not allow it to be photograph. It is advisable to go early in the morning when it’s not so hot and crowded. In the afternoon the heat can get unbearable and walking through crowded narrow walkway is not a pleasant experience and more than likely you will get lost in the endless rows of stalls.

Suan Lum Night Bazaar

This is an alternative to the daytime market of Chatuchak. Open daily in the evening it has hundred of stalls but lack the varieties of Chatuchak. It does have a number of restaurants offering a mix of Thai and other cuisine from affordable to more pricey outlets. Walking through the sprawling bazaar is more pleasant in the evening without the heats of daytime Chatuchak. There are enough stalls to keep most shoppers happy and the moods here is more relax as you browse thought the shops offering the usual Thai handicrafts, fashion and if you are tired of walking there are a choice of massage shops in air-condition rooms. Next to the night bazaar there is a huge outdoor beer garden, food court and a stage that feature live bands. Taking pictures here needs a much higher ISO as lighting condition is dim but some shops do have colourful lights that add to the ambience.

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market 

If you have seen one of those Thai Tourism poster of the floating market that show dozen of boats filled with colourful fruits and food you will not be able to find them here. A number of narrow klongs lead to a main market area where most of the boats gather framed by shops of both sides of the canal. This place is chaotic as many boats ferrying tourists narrowly avoid crashing head on with each other and with those boats by ladies selling fruits, food and drinks. And you not find them all lined up neatly for you to take pictures as there were always on the move. The best position is standing on the overhead bridge to wait for them to pass by below to get a good overview of the floating market but shops on the side with huge awnings blocked of the sun casting dark shadows.

Maeklong Railway Market

This must be one of the strangest markets in the world. The Maeklong Railway line pass through the market literally running directly through the middle of the market. At the sound of the approaching train vendors pull back their awnings and wares leaving just enough space for the train to pass through while shoppers and tourists jump to the side and push themselves back against the stalls.  Just seconds later the awnings are put back to their original position and business resume as usual. Get your camera ready but do find a safe spot to stand. And the scene is replay 8 times daily. Now isn’t this amazing?