If you've been to Ayutthaya to look at the Buddha in the tree and its ancient ruins, you probably won't go again. If you've been to Damnoen Saduak floating market, chances are you will not visit it again. Even for places located within Bangkok like the Grand Palace, Yaowarat Road (Chinatown), Pak Khlong Talad flower market and Wat Arun, you are unlikely to go again except maybe to eat at Chinatown. Once you've seen it, it'll be another tick off your list of places to visit.
Instead, you would stick to the more convenient places like Platinum Mall, Siam Paragon and Centralworld for shopping in comfort and food. And if time permits, perhaps a trip to other destinations you've not visited before. Unless it's been donkey years since you last visited the place. Or you've missed out some areas previously that you would like to explore.
And with most people traveling to Bangkok for 3 to 5 days as a short getaway, there's only so many places that one can covers. And these shopping malls are enough to satisfy their objectives, that is to shop and eat.
So did any one of you visit the famous Mae Khlong Railway Market or Amphawa floating market?
Mae Khlong Railway Market, nicknamed Talad Rom Hoop meaning "Umbrella Pulldown Market" became famous after video of it was circulated online and promoted by the Thailand Tourism Authority. The market is situated right at the middle of the train track. Each day, the train will pass through the market a few times. To allows the train to pass through, the vendors selling their goods along the track will pull their stalls away from the track and fold down their umbrellas. Once the train is gone, they will set everything back and continue with their businesses. There are lots of fresh seafood and vegetables, which I believe should be cheaper than Bangkok.
Mae Khlong is just 1 hour away from Bangkok via minivan.
Amphawa floating market is a local market that opens from Friday to Sunday from 4pm onwards. It's less touristy as most of the people who visit this place are the locals. However, in recent years, there are more tourists as they get to know about this place.
You can see shops along both sides of the river selling things like shirts and souvenirs and food. There are boats selling food, which you can order and eat by the bank of the river. For a small amount, you can take a boat ride down the river and watch fireflies at night.
Amphawa floating market is about 8 to 10 minutes from Mae Khlong Railway Market by songthaew.
You can see the traditional lifestyle of Thai people in these two places. The atmosphere is relaxed and nostalgic.
For myself, I am back at Mae Khlong Railway Market the third time in less than one year.
First was my very first time there and wasn't very sure about what to expect to see there except for the train. The second time was with my family and relative acting more as a tour guide. The third was just recently to buy some seafood as requested.
You might think I'm crazy to travel 1 hour there just to buy seafood.
You're right. I'm sure I could get it in central Bangkok even though it may be more expensive. And if you factor in the transport fare, I think my seafood costs more in Mae Khlong.
But that is the secondary reason.
My main aim is to soak in the friendly atmosphere of the place and also to visit the little boy that I met on my second trip (click here). His grandma's stall is opposite the stall where we bought our seafood from.
On our way to Mae Khlong, the traffic was heavy and took us 30 minutes more than the usual one hour to reach there. It was Songkran holiday and people in Bangkok were all taking trips out of the city.
When we reached, we went to the seafood stall. I saw the little boy sleeping on top of the table where his grandma has laid out her goods for sale. It's been four months and naturally his grandma couldn't recognize us. Even the seafood stall owner couldn't recognize us.
What's surprising was the lady selling plastic bags next to the seafood stall recognized us.
She walked to the grandma and told her we were the ones who bought the ball for the boy. His grandma said something which seemed to me that "Little boy is sleeping."
After buying our seafood, we left as the boy was still sleeping. Wondered around and went back to a stall that sells kueh bahulu that we bought the last time too. The son of the owner was friendly and chatted with us in English, which is rare in this place. We guessed he might be working in Bangkok and is back to help during the holiday.
Bought another pack of this delicacy and went back to the grandma's stall.
By now, the little boy has woke up. We passed the kueh bahulu to him and his grandma asked him to Wai and say thanks to us.
Oh shit! I forgotten to take a photo with him. So I can only show you the one I took previously.
He is now taller and has lost some of his baby fats.
We have wanted to proceed to Amphawa but decided to head back to Bangkok.
Now I'm missing the granny who sells dessert at Amphawa.
People, it's what makes a place so special.
P.S. I'm going back again.