“Thailand floating”
Bangkok, Thailand. November 2019. (12 photos)
This is Part 4 of my posts about Thailand, and Part 17 of my posts about my near month-long visit to Myanmar, Thailand and Singapore in November 2019.
Floating markets abound throughout parts of South East Asia, and the experience of visiting one borders upon being iconic in Thailand. So it was inevitable that apart from visiting the Maeklong Railway Market that I would visit a floating market whilst in Thailand. In fact, I visited 3 of them, all outside of Bangkok.
“Tha Ka vendors”
Tha Ka is a small Thailand floating market outside of Bangkok, more of a locals market than a tourists market, so the emphasis here seemed to be the selling of fresh produce and the eating of freshly cooked food.
“Cooking to order”
Arriving in the morning I made sure to (over)indulge on the food options available.
“Lady of the lake”
“3 ladies”
“Scenic cruise on the khlong”
Being in a rural setting, there was plenty of time to enjoy a very peaceful ride along the canals after my fill of food.
“Damnoen Saduak”
In stark contrast the Damnoen Saduak floating market is a lot busier and more touristy. There are also plenty of food options here and those 2 boats selling coconut ice cream and mango with sticky rice both caused me to open my wallet without hesitation.
“Trinkets”
“Traffic jam”
At times it feels like being stuck in peak hour traffic there.
“Amphawa”
The other floating market I visited was Amphawa, also touristy but less so than Damnoen Saduak.
“Seafood and eat it”
I was here for dinner. The freshly cooked seafood direct from the boats was delicious.
“Sunset on Amphawa”
And the sunset was beautiful.
…..
This is Part 4 of my posts about Thailand, and Part 17 of my posts about my near month-long visit to Myanmar, Thailand and Singapore in November 2019.
Everything’s beautiful. I love their markets but heard they’re slowly dying out. Probably external pressure.
Thank you. I’m not sure if they’re dying out but that wouldn’t surprise me. At the least they are changing. I’m not sure how they’re being affected by all this Covid-19 madness.
That breaks my heart. So many people have been left stranded.
Yes, lives and normality have suffered a lot in this crisis.
Visit three floating markets! Wow, that’s my kind of dream. The first one is, as you wrote, less touristry and better in that way.
Not all on the same day, of course. 🙂 Yes, the trick is to find the less touristy markets where you can enjoy the experience of being there.
I’m turning green as those gourds with envy. I was planning to do a trip this year. I’ll be lucky if it can happen next year.
To think the outbreak had already started in China whilst I was in Myanmar, just across the border. It’s possible Australia and New Zealand will commence travel betweenone another before the year’s end, but it is unlikely I’ll be allowed to leave the country to visit elsewhere before mid 2021 without being forced into 2 weeks quarantine upon return.
Or worse, being first forced into 2 weeks of quarantine in the country you are planning to visit.
Yep, 2 weeks quarantine on either side of travel, plus the risk of longer (and the other consequences) if one tests positive. I’m glad I got that last trip done, just in time.
Love these images, Draco….and good to see you
Thanks very much, Sue. Yes, I’m slowing down mainly because I’m at about 85% of my free storage and potentially I can only fit about 25 more posts in, unless I change my style of posting. At this time, I’m not prepared to pay for an upgrade or start a new blog, so I need to consider the options.
OK, I shall be in a similar position sometime
Yep, those of us with blogging longevity eventually have to decide what happens when the free blog fills up.
Indeed
🙂
You always give such a great feeling for a place. It’s especially good to be able to travel along with you when we have been confined so much to home. The upturned faces made me smile but the picture that captivated me most is of the green foliage. It is so hard to capture anything other than a contrasty mess in conditions like that, but your technique gives so much detail.
Thank you very much. I was based in Bangkok so the cruise along the canals amongst the foliage was quite a pleasure. I try to find a focal point in such scenes to lead the eye. The light on the bridge ahead works in that photo.
Sigh…to travel again! Even here in the states we cannot either go to a state or have to quarantine for 14 days. Great shots too here 😉
Thanks. Only recently have we been allowed to leave the area we live in to visit the rest of the state. Interstate travel just starting up again. International travel (except maybe to NZ) off the cards until mid next year I suspect.
I so wanted to visit Tha Ka when we were in Thailand but circumstances did not permit. Thank you for taking me there. Great images. I’d heard of tourist troves at Damnoen Saduak so steered clear, but you make the chaos look like fun. Beautiful sunset on Amphawa. So missing SE Asia.
Yes, Damnoen Saduak can be frantic, but I accepted it for what it is and enjoyed the ride from vendor to vendor on the canals, eating to my heart’s content. 🙂 Agreed, that was a beautiful sunset to end the day. I’m glad I got there before Covid-19 did.
So beautiful, so full of life, so interesting, so fascinating!
Thank you. Asia offers many experiences like that.
Wonderful shots, LD. I loved visiting the famous one in Bangkok- it was overwhelming to say the least.
Thanks. Yes, the more popular ones should be visited early to avoid the crowds but that’s not always possible, so anticipate the crowded vibe and enjoy the food and you won’t be disappointed.
It doesn’t look like anybody’s going hungry 🙂 🙂
I certainly didn’t! 🙂 🙂 🙂 A sign of a good day out, I’m sure you’ll agree.
I greatly enjoyed this trip, Lignum, and I love the aerial shot of the vendors. Getting close to dinner time might not be the ideal time to read and see this, though. I think my dinner will suffer by comparison! Stay healthy!
janet
Thank you, Janet. Thailand is rightly famous for its great (and cheap) food. I did 3 food tours whilst I was there. 🙂 🙂 🙂 Have a lovely dinner.
Beautiful images. I never did make it to a floating market during my visit so many years ago. My ex lives in BKK and he tells me that it’s absolutely dead/sad right now. They apparently are considering raising costs to attract luxury tourists after it reopens. Not sure that’s such a good idea…
I can imagine, the tourism industry and attractions are all suffering. I recall Bangkok was the most visited city in the world a couple of years ago, so the strain from lost tourism would be immense. I’m getting a bit stir-crazy myself, but not taking any risks.
Probably the coolest thing I ever saw 😉
Thank you. 🙂
You are welcome!
🙂
And why have you been away so long?:)
Haven’t been away. I used to post twice a week, but after 7 years of that, I’ve made the deliberate decision to “slow down”. 🙂
Wow, 7 years!
I am trying to do the same thing after close to 2 months. My school work is suffering right now, so I need to make “hard” decisions 🙂
Always put real life below virtual life
Word!
You are the real deal, thank you.
🙂
Your pictures made for the perfect virtual trip this morning. Although it pulled on my heartstrings as I miss the freedom to travel, it did quench most of that thirst. I suspect that the world will be upside-down for a very long time to come. My heart really aches for the millions of people who rely on tourism and have no income anymore. How do they survive?
Thanks, Jolandi. I know the Australian Govt has flagged our borders will be closed until mid next year at the earliest in all likelihood, so domestic travel is the only option for a while, but I doubt that’s enough to sustain many in the industry. Unemployment benefits are barely enough in most countries. Yes, it’s going to be a struggle world-wide.
It definitely is going to be. Sadly so. And only time will tell which decisions were good ones and which ones weren’t, I guess. I suspect we will all have to take a good look at how we live and how we will adjust to the new restrictions and realities of life. I was hoping to get to our land in Portugal, but the UAE is not yet on the EU list of countries whose residents can travel there. Although the emirate of Dubai has opened up for tourists yesterday, Abu Dhabi (and the rest of the country) hasn’t. Only if you can show a negative Covid test result are you allowed in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. I am biding my time, and if I am lucky I will be able to just make a permanent move to Portugal in the next couple of months. Fingers crossed. Do you have some plans for domestic travel until you wait for the border to open?
I wish you the best for getting to your new home in Portugal – the situation is so fluid at the moment.
At the moment, Melbourne has just gone back into lockdown because of a significant outbreak or second wave of disease, and this has the potential to impact the whole country. So, no plans to leave Sydney at all for the moment until the situation becomes clearer.
Wow! Imagine king Arthur’s surprise, had he met YOUR lady of the lake. No glistening sword of kings in hand, but a very serviceable hat. You must have been rolling home that day, after 3 floating markets, ice-cream, fish…
Now that would be an interesting time travel proposition. 🙂 Thanks but the 3 markets weren’t all on the same day. One does not go hungry in Thailand.
I’m Thai. Your post is cool. 😀
Thank you very much.
I was there a few years ago; thanks for the memories!! Great photos 🙂
Thank you. It’s a wonderful country and culture. I enjoyed it there.
I just love that second photo of the lady smiling up at you…too sweet.
Thank you very much. She had a lovely smile.
Ah…a lazy day on that river…snacking and drifting…sounds ideal.
Indeed, it was.
Scenes like thing make me fantasize about recruiting a couple Thai friends (one of whom is an exceptional photographer) to act as tour guides on a Thailand trip. Alas, that’ll just have to be a fantasy for a while…
That sounds like a dream trip, no doubt with expert help in finding the best food. I hope it can become a reality for you.
Lovely photos of the markets but also of the people that spend their days here. I can only imagine how colourful and chaotic it is in person! Hope you are staying safe 🙂
The quiet market was a delight, and the busier market was an experience for the senses. All good as far as I’m concerned.
Thank you. I hope you’re keeping well too.
Wonderful images as always Mr Draco …so much colour and life! And that last shot is amazing! 👏
Thanks, Julie. You take your chances with sunsets and I got lucky that day. 🙂
In your photos there is a certain charm that conveys the peculiarity of the country. As for me it is very cool!
Thank you very much.
Those are beautiful, fantastic memories that you could never forget!
For sure. Thank you.
Looks like a busy and delicious place. I would love to have some seafood now! I especially like the second photo “Tha Ka Vendors” because of the angle that shows all the wonderful produce on display, three hats and one lady smiling!
Thanks so much, Denise. Such a different world to the present day. I can’t wait to go back again, even if only for the feasting. 🙂
Oh, man. These are the sort of places I miss! Look at those calamari and prawns ready to be grilled!
Fabrizio
I ate well those days at the markets. Cheap, fresh and plentiful food. 🙂
That was a lovely feast filling the hearts and guts.
Indeed, those days were so gratifying for the photography and the eating. 🙂
Visiting three floating markets outside of Bangkok. You sure were busy while you were over there. It’s such a humble life, selling food on floating boats all day long. I hope you got good serves of the coconut ice-cream and mango sticky rice 😀
Thailand was fantastic for good cheap food, so I was in heaven. I did 3 separate food tours while there. Food is a major reason for visiting the floating markets. Coconut ice cream and mango/durian sticky rice was a daily staple for me. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Marvellous scenes and I endorse your food choices.
Thank you. Good food = good memories. 🙂