Bangkok and Beyond (Part 3): Railway Market, Floating Market, Night Market

- November 17, Monday.

- One of the most touristy things that I have never experienced in Bangkok was a visit to the big floating markets. I did visit a smaller one closer to Bangkok in 2016, but I wanted to experience the most cliche one: what else, but Damnoen Saduak Floating Market!

- Since the floating market is located outside Bangkok, in Ratchaburi Province, I decided to join another Klook tour. From Siam Paragon, the meeting place, our small tour group of three people went first to Samut Songkhram Province to visit the Maeklong Railway Market. The railway was built first in the early 1900s. When railway technology was introduced to Thailand, the Thais of that time had no idea what a train was. So when the government asked them to relocate, they refused. Hence, the train passes through the market until today. 

Train fast approaching.

It was so hard to take a photo because the shopkeeper (the one with the hat behind me) was in a hurry to set up shop. They often fold the awning (I think it's an awning?) when the train passes by, and immediately open it again afterwards. 

- Photographs can be taken with the train after it stops at the station. Our tour guide was quick to take photos of us as there were so many people.

Catching a ride!

I'm now noticing what one of my favorite poses is. HAHA.

Self-explanatory.

- Since it was too early to visit the floating market, part of the tour was to visit the Chang Puak Elephant Camp in neighboring Ratchaburi Province. Our guide assured us that this elephant camp was supported by the royalty and that the animals were in good condition. I rode the elephant thinking that it was going to walk around some kind of natural habitat. However, it was during this elephant ride that I had a more close-up view of how the elephants were really being treated. This place was anything but natural, and the elephants did not have a lot of space to roam around. Worse, in the feeding area, the elephants were chained too, and they did not look happy. Later on, I also saw other animals like monkeys dressed up in ridiculous clothes for paid photo opportunities (which I didn't avail anymore as I was too upset with the place). Well, at least I knew I didn't want to be there anymore nor did I want to go back, and this is also why as much as possible I'd like to do my own tours so I can avoid places like this since I always do my own research beforehand.  

A place I thought was nice huhu.

I wanted to feed the elephants.

Well OK, this is a nice photo.

A nice photo too, kind of.

See, it's a very limited space.

This elephant isn't chained but I did see other ones that were chained.

- Finally, the moment I long waited for - the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market!! I honestly was there just for the experience because I knew beforehand that the prices in this market are jacked up as it was mainly a place for tourists. The floating market, so called as many sellers are on stilt stalls or on boats, was established in the 1800s as a regular market to take advantage of the river. However, it was turned into a tourist market in the 1970s. Our tour guide also advised us not to buy food and eat on the boat, because if another boat passes by and splashes water at us, the food won't be clean anymore.

OK....it was a nice experience but it wasn't as picturesque as I've seen in magazines haha.

But at least I can finally say that I experienced the floating market!!

I think there are only certain places that are "picturesque" and it's really hard to get that awesome view of the market while on the boat. But we didn't have time to walk around since we were on tour.

It was a calming ride, I guess.

So many colorful boats!

 - After the tour we had a really hearty lunch (and I was so hungry I forgot to get the name of the restaurant oops), before we had a long drive back to Bangkok and were dropped off at Iconsiam (closest to Charoen Nakhon BTS Station.) Iconsiam is known for many things: the 6th tallest tower in Thailand, a multifunction mall, its luxury brand stores, and for its very colorful marketplace. The marketplace was what I was interested in since I saw this in various photos and videos in the past. It partly brings the floating market culture indoors, with the marketplace separated into the four regions of Thailand. It is meant to showcase the food and crafts of all provinces of Thailand, to some extent at least. I didn't think I'd like it since it wasn't the "authentic" experience, but I'm always a sucker for colorful cultural bazaars.

The marketplace is called the Sook Siam Marketplace.

Ghosts of the Phi Ta Khon Festival, which comes from the province of Loei in Northeast Thailand (Isan Region).  

The "floating market".

Merry Christmas khrap!

Finally made it here, accidentally haha. (Iconsiam wasn't really part of the itinerary, it was really just supposed to be the drop off point of our tour.)

- That evening I visited Pratunam Night Market (closest to Siam BTS Station, and Ratchaprarop Airport Rail Link Station.) I bought a bunch of stuff before buying some dinner to go. The most interesting addition that I didn't think I would try would be sago worms. I always see them being eaten raw or cooked, and they didn't seem too intimidating since they weren't like the other insects with big legs or wings. The sago worm is the larva of the palm weevil, so it doesn't look like a "proper" bug yet. Anyway, it didn't taste like much since it was fried, so it just tasted like a crunchy crackling with a hint of coconut. I heard from people that if eaten raw, its insides are mostly watery and would taste like the rotten palm trees they eat and live in.

Indra Square, one of my favorite places to shop haha.

One of the stalls outside Platinum malls was dedicated to selling edible bugs.

I don't think I can eat a big scorpion (I did try small ones in the past, in China!)

My grubs.

See they don't look too scary to eat.

- I didn't realize until alter on that this was a day of markets (railway market, floating market - both real and simulated, night market) - and an unfortunate visit to the elephant camp. Regardless, this day opened my eyes to various aspects of the different realities of Thailand. And if I were to choose between riding another elephant or eating another grub....I'd rather visit the railway market again instead!