We had a single day in Bangkok before heading home and wanted to do something we’d not done before. I had fancied visiting a floating market and never managed it during the last trip.
So we headed off to the most famous one Damnoen Saduak which is a fair ole ride out of the city in a very cramped van on a very pot holed road! (equalling one very sore butt . . )
Now I had heard various reports about the market, namely it was a tourist trap, you got dropped off at the wrong place and had to pay more to get to the actual market etc. In short the usual Thai experience.
In truth it was incredibly busy and full of tourists (more tourists clogging up boats and walkways than actual vendors!) full of people over charging for cheap items, trying to get you posing with a snake and other annoyances.
However it was still fun! Lots of colour, piles of food, spices, wooden carved artwork, fans, buddhas and other items to browse.
Fancy a grilled banana or a conical hat? Sorted! Ditto a coffee, fridge magnet, tea-towel, boiled dry fish, peppercorns, pineapple, sticky rice and mango and more!
More of the tiny dried shrimps that seem ubiquitous in Thailand on every street corner, market stall and food vendor.
But there’s more. Pre packed fruit and nuts, plenty of tempting piles of jewel bright morsels.
There was also a wide selection of traditional headgear in evidence. Including one that appeared to levitate above the wearer’s actual head!
This style of bamboo-hat is called a ngob and protects from the sun and heat. The space between the hat and head allows air to circulate, keeping the wearer cooler.
The colourful wares for sale are a nice contrast to the grey, grimy water of the canals.
While a canny sales man waits with his slippery photo opportunity.
nice write up. I am also posting on this Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in my blog. It is really a cool place.
It was somewhere I have wanted to see since my first visit to Thailand many moons ago! There’s just something about boats, markets and piles of food that I love! 🙂