Chatuchak Weekend Market

I decided to go to the weekend market today since I am thinking it is still winter here in Bangkok. But as I soon found out, it is not. The coolness that I experienced before heading to Bali is now a distant memory and it looks like it is only going to heat up this week. Too bad I didn't take advantage when it was cool, but c'est la vie.

So anyway, I hopped on the skytrain which goes directly to Chatuchak Park where the weekend market is located. I actually never realized there was a park there until today. I've been there probably every time I've been to Bangkok, and I've been to Bangkok close to 20 times, but I never realized there was a park called Chatuchak. How could that be?

Anyway, I headed directly to the area of the market that sells tourist-oriented items. I passed lots of vendors selling food, delicious looking stuff, but I was on a mission to get to a familiar part of the market, buy some souvenirs and then maybe eat if I was feeling like it.

I did stop and buy these little round things that I think are made with rice flour and coconut milk, I don't know what they are, but I was feeling a bit peckish and needed a pick-me-up. I also bought a longan drink, which was nice. There is one noodle stall that I usually get a bowl of noodles at, but I couldn't find it. They seem to have moved things around a bit.

I am amazed at how big this market is and how many people are involved in selling things. I have never walked through the whole market, mostly because it is too hot and crowded, but I am sure you would need both Saturday and Sunday to actually cover the whole thing. Lately, I just go to one area to buy stuff and then get out as quickly as possible.

Basically, that is what I did today. I walked through the aisles of the stalls where they were selling Thai silks, antiques, touristy stuff, etc., and the only thing I bought were some soaps made by a woman in her kitchen. I learned in Bali that certain spices have antiseptic properties, and these soaps are made with those spices, so they are very good for the skin. I got clove, cinnamon, lemongrass, etc. They'll make nice gifts and also be nice for me to use and remind myself of all of my spa treatments that I won't be able to afford in San Francisco.

I started feeling a little bit like I might be on the verge of a vertigo attack and that was kind of scary because I didn't have any medicine with me. It was hot, crowded and noisy and I was a long way from the exit, but I made my way through the crowd and eventually got to Chatuchak Park which is located right next to the stairs for the Skytrain.

Once I was on the Skytrain I felt better, so I stopped at Silom Center, a shopping center one Skytrain stop from my hotel. They have a nice food court there that seems to serve mainly office workers and students from the different schools in Silom Center (computer and English programs). It's one of those deals where you buy coupons and then go to whichever stall you want to get food from. I had a pork and rice dish and some tapioca with coconut milk and corn. It only cost me 50 baht, which is a little over a dollar. Food is definitely cheaper in Bangkok than in Bali.

I came back to my hotel and rested a bit and then had a 1.5 hour Thai Massage. It wasn't the best massage I've had. The guy seemed to be trying too hard. When he asked if I wanted medium or soft, I said strong. I think he actually didn't know how to give a strong massage and was trying so hard he was hurting me and himself. I finally told him to relax and go softer, but it was too late. The good news is neither one of us were injured.

So it looks like my major focus this week will be shopping. I want to pick up some spices and ingredients so that I can cook Thai food in San Francisco. Even though some things are available there, they are so much cheaper here, I want to stock up. It also means I need to buy another suitcase to carry everything home in.

I'm not sure what else I will end up buying, but really Bangkok is a shopper's paradise. You can buy anything here and you can buy it anywhere. In addition to the weekend market, there are night markets and then countless shopping centers and supermarkets and my favorite place to shop (and eat) MBK.

Depending on the weather, I may sign up for a bike tour I read about, but if it is too hot, I think I'll stick to air-conditioned shopping centers and continue my quest for a good Thai massage that is convenient to my hotel.

Gee, I'm hungry now and I've already eaten four times today.....