On our very first day in Bangkok we visited the Chatuchak Weekend Market, one of the largest open air markets in the world. To get there from the Saphaipae Hostel where we are staying, we took the BTS Skytrain. The difference in temperature in- and outside of the train is huge: while you are sweating just by standing there waiting for the train, it is almost cold once you’re inside.
After a short stop in the Bangkok Butterfly Garden (with suprisingly few butterflies), we reached Chatuchak Weekend Market and gazed at it for a while before being soaked in. We drifted along with the crowd of market visitors and didn’t know where to look first. This market can please every kind of shopper, as you can find almost everything there is to be bought: food and drinks, decorations, clothing, toys, plants, books, antiques and so on. We even stumbled upon some cute puppies and kittens in the pets section.
It’s a shame there’s no room in our backpacks for souvenirs, as I love buying cute unique things just for fun or decoration. If you do have some room left in your luggage and like markets then you’re definitely going to like this one. You could spend hours here discovering new things around every corner.
The first thing we bought was a great refreshment in the pressing Bangkok heat: an iced lemon drink. It was so good (and still so hot) that we bought another one before leaving the market. I also got myself an invisibobble, a must have gadget for keeping your hair together without leaving bobbles in your hair.
Chatuchak Weekend Market offers plenty of opportunities for eating as well. From small snacks (like the vegetable spring rolls we got) to tiny little food places tucked between market stands. We forgot where we ate exactly, but it was quite tasty. I had a classic Pad Thai (safe choice already tried at home) and Brecht had Basil Pork Fried Rice, which was a bit too spicy for his (so most definitely for my) taste.
Satisfied with day 1 of our trip around the world, we are gonna crawl under the covers a bit early to compensate for the lack of sleep on the flight over. We’ll cover some more Bangkok attractions soon!