Page 43 - TICA Membership Directory 2016-2017

SHOP LIKE A LOCAL

Travel south again to the tranquil resort city of Hua
Hin and you have double delights – celebrated night
and day markets. The night market opens around
6pm and finishes at approximately 11pm, but some
will remain in business until much longer. The focus
is firmly on food and your conference party will find
almost countless stalls selling a range of traditional
Thai meals. There are also a mindboggling diversity of Next is Khlong Lat Mayom, which is some 20kms
handicrafts, souvenirs and clothing for sale. It is worth from the city. It is more authentic than some of the
noting that as with Chatuchak, it can get very hot larger and more crowded venues and your party may
and crowded. be some of the few foreigners there. After a few hours
there your group might want to travel on to the bigger
The day version is Chat Chai which is undercover and Tailing Chan Market which is only a couple of kms away.
adjoins the night market. Here is a chance to shop like
a local and discover a fantastic mix of fish, seafood, The seafood lunch is recommended and can be eaten
meats, fruit and vegetables. Stalls set up around sitting on the floor Thai style with the locals. If you
4-5am and they will stay open until about 7pm. prefer to sit in the usual fashion, there are a number
of more conventional restaurants with chairs close to
Head back to Bangkok and you have a choice of the railway bridge. You can also relax later after some
several floating markets. Said to be the most popular retail therapy with a massage under the trees.
in Thailand is Damnoen Saduak which has great
photo opportunities for your group, lots of food to
buy and gives a glimpse of a traditional way of Thai
life. Perhaps the best way is to take a tour bus from
the capital as the market is more than an hour away.
Long tailed boats will navigate the narrow, busy and
noisy canals and you will get close up and personal
with sellers rowing their own boats. Fruit is one of the
major products on sale, but there is a vast range of
other items from boat noodles to freshly made mini-
coconut pancakes.
The second most popular floating market near
Bangkok is Amphawa, not as large as Damnoen
Saduak, but it is arguably more authentic. Most of Finally, back in Bangkok, you will find something
the visitors are actually Thai. It has become such an very different. There is a fascinating dry land Amulet
attraction for locals during the weekend that the food Market which is situated on the footpaths of Thanons
stalls have expanded from the riverbanks and now (roads) Maharat and Phra Chan and also a
stretch far back into the nearby streets. The emphasis network of covered market stalls close to
is on seafood including shellfish, large prawns and Phra Chan Road. The key business here is
squid, all cooked on wooden boats moored around the small talismans which are highly prized by
renowned central bridge. collectors, monks, taxi drivers and people
who work in dangerous professions. Some
There are several other floating market options in and of the medallions can fetch sky high
around the capital. Bang Khu Wiang is where a variety prices. It is a good venue to just walk
of fresh farm produce is available. This is more of a around and interestingly, the majority
traditional style location with monks arriving on boats of the customers and browsers are
to collect offerings. Bang Nam Pheung is classed as a men. They are looking for amulets
floating market, but should really be called a riverside with hidden meanings, and if they are
market as most of its stalls occupy solid ground. fortunate, extra value.

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TICA MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY 2016 - 2017