She who must be obeyed decided that today we would go to Chatuchak market in Bangkok.
Chatuchak is the largest outdoor market in the world (according to the Thais), and it is certainly big enough for me. I have visited many times over the years and failed to see all of it; and it keeps expanding so I will never catch up. More than 35 acres, more than 15,000 stalls; this is a place to visit early while it is comparatively cool and there are less people around. So I am kicked out of bed at 0600 and by 0630 we are on the road and up to Bangkok and parking at the market by 0800.
A friend of the wife had been collected along the way; so after a cup of iced Thai coffee (a real caffeine kick), I leave them to their bargain hunting and wander around with the camera. There are regions of the market which theoretically specialise in certain types of product; but you find assorted weird stuff all over the place. Some of my experiences are captured below.
I am sure these are your size sir……
A train set and a suitcase full of toys:
Reflections in an unusual mirror:
Wanna buy a loofah?
Statues and customers:
Fruity refreshments:
Assorted carvings:
Believe it or not, these are meant to be car accessories…
A simple act of giving:
Message and a boat and a house, in a bottle:
These are frozen lollipops which the boy rotates to aid the freezing process. In the background, a little ogling is going on…
This sounded bloody awful:
This sounded even worse, but they got the groupies:
I stumbled over a cock-fight in small alley. I soon got some looks that said I should not be there.
Food and shopping, Thai heaven. This is one of the snacking areas:
Bird fanciers:
Do you eat these or keep them as pets. I didn’t dare to ask:
Looks like food, is actually something you add to fish tanks:
Clearly these are for eating. The man on the right looks like it has consumed a litter recently. Notice one trying to escape:
Some small crabs in the green bucket, who would buy these? Some weird fish being haggled over:
Men with hats:
Stick this lot in your ears and you will look beautiful:
In these troubled times, it is good to know that your local police are pursuing the criminals using the latest technology:
After an agreed, absolutely firm, deadline of three hours shopping, we left Chatuchak after more than four hours and returned home with assorted bags of rubbish (from her) and some average photos (from me). Spent the evening processing, hope you like them.