Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok

On our last day in Bangkok, we took a taxi north of town to the Chatuchak Weekend Market. The market occurs every Saturday and Sunday, and is frequented by locals and farangs (thai for “foreigner”). Over 9,000 individual booths including food, handicrafts, clothing (new and used), furniture, pet dogs, cats and lizards, books, towels, silk flowers….and the list goes on. So if you’re in the market for used Nike or Puma tennis shoes, a baby turtle and a new teak dining table, this is the place.

It is refreshing to see true examples of local markets thriving here in Thailand.  I wish that we could say the same in America.  Our flea markets are still going strong, and the farmers markets are picking up again.  But the average purchases are made at shopping malls and big-box stores.  I know that we will never get back to this, but I hope that we can all understand the market’s worth.

At Chatuchak, the market is so huge that they had to set up a street grid with numbered "soi" or lanes, and they distribute printed maps. This reminds me of the huge antique malls that you find in America, or I suppose it is also similar to Ikea but cooler.

There are a few blocks dedicated to books. Most are in Thai, but they were still nice to look through even though I don't know how the shop owners find anything.

This manikin was sporting a sassy grey unitard as she hung out next to the Thai oranges. It looks cool in theory, but I don't know how anyone could pull it off!!

One of many colorful paper stalls

The best thing about Thai Markets (other than the clothes, housewares, shoes, people watching, jewelry, fabric, books and handbags) is the food. Here you see a young lady serving up delicious fruit shakes. Banana is the best!!

I can report that I mostly refrained from buying anything. I walked away with a zebra print beach towel and a Thailand flag patch to add to my growing collection of country patches. I was tempted by fabric, clothing, dishes and jewelry, but we are still in the travel-every-other-day mode, so it was impractical….and I am on a frugal vacation. Is that an oxymoron?

ps. I looked for the silver beads a friend had requested. I haven’t found them yet, but Chiang Mai is supposed to be the silver mecca of Thailand, so hopefully I’ll have better luck there.