“Maeklong Railway Market”
Mae Klong, Thailand. (12 photos)
This is Part 2 of my posts about Thailand, and Part 5 of my posts about my near month-long visit to Myanmar, Thailand and Singapore in November 2019.
About 90 minutes by road to the southwest of Bangkok – and that seriously depends on Bangkok’s notorious traffic – one finds the Maeklong Railway Market. It’s a traditional Thai market active since about 1905 predominantly selling fresh vegetables, meats, seafood, sweets, fruits, flowers and clothing in the province of Samut Songkhram. A local market really, but its novelty for the tourist who makes their way out there is that the market sits on the local railway tracks.
“Did you hear that?”
It’s not particularly ergonomically friendly. The walking surface is uneven, the tracks are a tripping hazard, and passing other people and vendors with carts on the tracks can be difficult.
But then a train whistle is heard and with military precision and timing the vendors spring into action.
“Action stations”
Awnings and umbrellas are closed and retracted. Locally the market is known as the Talat Rom Hoop which translates into โUmbrella Close Market.โ Carts and baskets of goods are moved back from the tracks, but only just enough – the vendors know how far they need to go. Produce on trays are left in position if they are low enough.
“Here it comes”
And the local train appears.
“Camera time”
Local workers take a break because they know no business will occur as the train passes. Tourists go into a photography frenzy.
“Coming through”
Some tourists also ride the local train for this experience.
With only millimetres to spare sometimes, the train travels over the produce that has been left on sheets on the ground, and skims past those standing close to the tracks. I don’t recommend reaching out to touch the train as it passes.
“And then it’s gone”
The train passes by and as quickly as the market was closed for the train, so the market springs back to life. Everything is returned to where it was before the train came through.
“Train, what train?”
Within seconds of the train passing, the markets are back to full activity.
Maeklong Railway Station is an end station, so about 30 minutes after the train came through, it came back.
“Here we go again”
Everyone knows what to do. It’s an activity that happens up to 8 times a day.
“Slow but powerful locomotive”
The train isn’t going fast when it comes through the market but it’s fast enough. People have been injured and killed in the past for being disrespectful of safety and common-sense, and not getting out of the way of the oncoming train in time.
“Rear window”
“Back to business”
Another one of those experiences of travel I won’t forget.
…..
This is Part 2 of my posts about Thailand, and Part 5 of my posts about my near month-long visit to Myanmar, Thailand and Singapore in November 2019.
What an incredible place!
Yep, when I read about it, I knew I had to go there. A very up close encounter with a moving train. Not anything I can do at home.
Absolutely, another world!
For sure.
Great photos of an unbelievable place, I almost hear the noise and smell all the foods.
Thank you. Asian markets have a hectic ambience to them. Add in a train that disrupts the markets and it is a full-on exciting experience.
I saw this on a travel documentary a few months back, and there seemed to be as many tourists here as ordinary people. It was good to see your photos now. I think I seriously underestimated the count of tourists when I watched that video!
Yes, that’s the way it is these days. Local sites of interest get discovered by tourists and soon outnumber locals. But I wasn’t going to miss this. ๐
How could you forget sth so weird, and so unique. Loved it.
Indeed, it was quite a riot. Especially since in some areas, the stall displays make it very difficult to get back far enough to avoid getting hit by the train. All part of the excitement. ๐
You eat standing on one foot. The other one is who knows where.
LOL
Un. Bee. Lee. Vuh. Bull. Great pics and writing.
Thank you kindly.
Wait a minute!!! That train runs right through the market??? Wow!
Yep. Part of the excitement is seeing everyone get out of the way, and of course, standing so close to a moving train.
I can put that kind of thrill waaaaaayyyy down on my bucket list ๐
LOL. It was clearly on my list. ๐
Dragons fly to a different beat of the drum ๐
Of course. ๐
There a very good timing between shopkeeper, customer and train.both are good management at single track.
Absolutely. The shopkeepers also help out telling people where the safe places to stand are.
Fantastic photos, LD. I loved visiting this market and it was amazing to see when they lifted the awnings for the train.
Thanks. Seeing the umbrellas and awnings retract, and the market going into a different kind of action was a big part of the experience.
Remarkable! Thanks for the great photos.
It was rather exciting being there. ๐
Hello! Such an interesting post – amazing how it runs like clock work. A fantastic experience and great images ๐
Yes, those vendors go through the routine up to 8 times a time. Just another day for them, but fascinating to the rest of us.
How totally bizarre is this? And I thought it was adventurous wading knee deep through a stream. Ha! ๐ ๐
Isn’t it bizarre? It was a fun experience though. ๐ Wading through water presents its own hazards and challenges.
Keeping the powder dry ๐ ๐
๐ ๐ ๐
Thanks for letting me take a peek at this amazing experience, Lignum. I made sure to move back a bit when the train came by. Fortunately there was no one behind me. ๐
Your comment about 90 minutes, but depending on traffic, reminds me a lot of the Chicago area. My dad once asked how far it was to Chicago from where we live and I had to reply that I didn’t know; only the time it took to get there was important (and it can vary wildly!) Because my husband and a cycling friend have ridden home from the city, I now know that it’s about 36 miles. ๐
janet
I’m glad the train didn’t hit you! ๐
There’s one drive for work I do semi-regularly. It takes 70-80 minutes in peak hour traffic. I did the same drive just after Christmas one year – it only took me 25 minutes.
What a fantastic experience; would absolutely love to see that.
It was a weird feeling to be standing right next to a moving train, leaning back as far as I could to avoid being hit. I guess there’s a bit of a thrillseeker inside me. ๐
Yikes, that looks a bit hairy. I’d be worried that I hadn’t got any room to get out of the way, there’s not a lot of space around that train. You do find some extremely interesting places LD. xx
All part of the experience of travel, particularly in SE Asia, Jude. I was quite amazed when I read about it, so it was definitely something I wanted to see. Fortunately the larger stalls can accomodate several people well clear of the tracks.
Wow, what a quirky phenomenon. Something I’d definitely go out of my way to witness. It would be funny to ride the train, too.
Crazy, isn’t it? I made sure I was standing at the front to be next to the train as it passed. Others had to move inside stalls to accomodate the crowd that develops, but there’s no fun in that. ๐ I did think about riding the train but due to time constraints (had to go to a floating market afterwards) I passed that up.
Amazing!
I know. It was definitely an experience.
I’ve read about it. What an amazing experience to see this oddity that is filled with local produce and products.
I’m surprised this is allowed to continue but it’s part of normal life for the vendors. Fascinating.
Wow, how amazing! I think I’d be tempted to both ride the train and then visit the market as two separate photo outings.
It’s a good idea. I didn’t think of it at the time, since I did need to be elsewhere later that day. It’d be a full day excursion to go there by train, see a couple of trains come/go, then leave by train later.
Well, if you needed an excuse to go back, one has presented itself.
Indeed, thanks for the suggestion.
lol, like you are lacking ideas ๐
Thanks. ๐ Have a great weekend.
๐ Amazing; thanks for showing!
My pleasure. Thank you, Harrie.
Splendid! Long may it last before some killjoy Health & Safety chap arrives and shuts it down…
Agreed, I hope the market never loses its unique character.
I say! ๐ฎ Fascinating and a bit hilarious too. Thanks for this!
That’s a nice way to describe it. I enjoyed the experience. ๐
I traveled a great deal through Thailand via rail but was completely unaware of the Maeklong Railway Market. Craziness! Thank you so much for introducing me to the place. I’ve added it to my ‘Must Visit’ list for my next lap around the globe.
My pleasure. The trick is to find a good place to stand so the train passes right next to you – that’s the fun bit. ๐
Very cool. I wonder if the natives like the tourists for the extra business or dislike them for getting in the way?
I’d be suspicious the latter is more applicable. Big crowds of people but mostly buying nothing I suspect, except snacks/lunch. It really is more of a local produce market than a souvenir market.
Amazing! Inspite of seeing this so many times, captured by so many different photographers, it never ceases to amaze – must be quite an experience, even for an Easterner like me, so used to overcrowding!
I’m sure you’ve seen things related to the railways that would fascinate us all. Railway life in SE Asia and the Subcontinent is so different to how we know it in the West.
True that
๐
It looks like a fantastic market .. and to top it off thereโs a train! Great shots Mr Draco … ๐
The train certainly adds a lot of excitement and dynamism to the market. Thanks, Julie.
wait, how did that train even fit in there lol ?! such great, vivid scenes, bustling with life…. and so well captured, I’m sure it was not easy with so many people around…
It was quite exciting to experience this even though it’s a normal day for them. Markets in Asia are a world apart from everywhere else. I love them.
PS Good to see you back from your break.
omg, I just browsed through your blog, will have a lot of catching up to do, you did so much traveling in the past years and taken so many amazing shots… hats off!!
I just looked back through my records. Last time we spoke I was posting about Cambodia. I’ve been to 20 overseas countries since then, including next door to you. I may have even flown over your country. I’m scared to think how many photos I took, but it was all fun.
that’s an amazing achievement Lignum, and there’s no slowing you down I can see… ๐ good for you!! frankly, it’s good you didn’t visit my country, or I would have missed your visit ๐ I haven’t taken a single shot since July 2018 ๐ ready to be inspired by your amazing photography… will check back later which Balkan country you visited ๐
Thanks, Alex. ๐
That’s it. Thailand here I come. Great inspirational photography and info.
What have I done?!?! LOL
Thank you. I spent most of my time in Bangkok, given it is such a metropolis.
Your photos are gorgeous! I’m impressed, this is a wonderful place! Thanks!
Thank you very much.
It’s been about 30 years since I’ve been in Bangkok and seeing the city scape, I wondered if there would be any of the city that I remembered still there. Then I saw the train market. Then I read your comment ” Another one of those experiences of travel I wonโt forget.” That’s the Asia experience I remember.
To present the experience- you did it so well.
Thank you very much. Life and travel are full of experiences we’ll not easily forget. The photos are just the proof we were there. I have a blurred photo on my phone from getting out of the train’s way. Nothing worth posting, but just as full of memories to me.