Bangkok's best kept secret
It contains thousands of stalls. Literally. Because here there are more than 15,000 shops with Thai products of all kinds. Although it is known as a weekend market, it is also open from Wednesday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. . It is estimated that 200,000 people visit it every day. An authentic medina in the heart of Asia. His popular name is JJ. If you want to integrate with the natives, there is nothing better than calling the market by its most colloquial name. Opened in 1982, It is the largest open air market in Asia and certainly the largest in Thailand.
Follow an order. Although it seems like a real chaos, in reality it follows a perfectly pre-established order. It is divided into 27 sections , including, amulets and books (section 1) , home decor and terracotta (2-4) , clothing and ornaments (5-6) , antiques (7-9) , clothing , appliances and pets (from 10 to 24), fresh and dry food (from 17 to 19), furniture and handicrafts (from 22 to 26) and finally books, food stores and collectibles.
The best way to get there is by bus. Although there is also a metro stop that leaves us nearby (l to Chatuchak Station ), the experience of getting on a bus and experiencing urban chaos firsthand is priceless. Beware of the tuktuk: they lie more than they drive.
Some decoration objects...religious
It has a local feel. Because most of the vendors in the market come from surrounding factories, so you won't find as many products made in China. but things really made in the country.
And the price is too. As relatively few tourists visit the market (it is considered that they are only 30% of the visitors ), prices are not as inflated as in other parts of the country. In this charming market it will be even easier to find the product we want at an unbeatable price.
The products here are 100% from Bangkok
It is best to get lost. Maps are of little use here. and that is part of its magic. The best thing is to follow our instinct and enter those stores that attract our attention or that whet our appetite the most. The clock-tower , located in the center of the market, will be your beacon.
…And get away from Bangkok. Although we are fans of the Thai capital, it can become an overwhelming destination. In JJ we will not find cars or motorcycles , only hundreds of pedestrian paths that take us to increasingly curious shops.
The gastronomic offer is very wide . And you will also find other cuisines and flavors. Enjoy the small street vendors that offer us things that we have no idea what they are, but they taste very good. Shop at stops that don't have anything written in English; is a guarantee of proximity.
Don't leave without trying the dry foods. Squid, shrimp, all kinds of fish and dried meat may seem strange and even unpleasant to us. But they form a very important part of Asian gastronomy, and now we have the opportunity to test them. Who knows, you might like that strong salty taste.
A dress for every occasion. Clothing occupies three sections of the market, from 2 to 4. And that guarantees designs for all tastes: Eighties will find imitation Levi Jeans, the trendy ones have paraditas thai designers , manga lovers find a whole collection of t-shirts with television characters and the most vintage have the best second-hand clothing at their disposal.
Weird items. Life-size puppets, ancient records of Thai dandy groups, electric fans imitating the 20s, Musical instruments from mountain tribes or Thai school toys are just some of the thousands of indigenous products that will make us raise an eyebrow in surprise. Let yourself be surprised by all this material.
Assault on the senses. The fragrances of aromatic candles, flowers and plants, spices and fried foods intermingle in a Sensitive diversity more than shocking. Get used to it and enjoy imagining what is the next section of the market that you are going to find.
Enter the plant section. Thai farmers also bring here fruit trees and sell their fruits at bargain prices . Lovers of cacti, an increasingly popular fashion among trendies, find a paradise full of this plant.
The color of exotic fruits
ornate animals . They put bows on the dogs and dresses on the rabbits. Is rare. But we find it hard to look away from those charming animals in disguise. Although it is not recommended to buy them, because their origin and the treatment they receive is uncertain, strolling among the dozens of species is a unique experience.
Ask the sellers. People in stores spend many hours waiting for buyers, so they will be more than happy to talk to you and explain details of the products they sell and what life is like in Thailand. Take the opportunity to strike up a conversation with one of the artisans who carve wood.
Talk to the merchants: that is traveling
Get lost all day. It's not difficult at all: there are so many things to see that your day will surely fly by. It is better to go around noon, to eat there and spend the afternoon walking until dinner time. When the market closes, some prices are even lower.
Carry enough baht. Most of the vendors do not accept credit cards, so it is better to carry small bills that allow us to haggle better. And please, don't play tourist and get on that train that runs through the market. You are not like that.
You can't see everything in this life. This is one of the most wonderful lessons of visiting the Chatuchak. You have to make decisions and you have to let go. It doesn't matter if you can't complete everything; the important thing is what we find along the way.
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It is essential to eat something there, live