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Photos and stories from many of my travels in the past 5 years

Thailand: Amphawa Floating Market in Samut Songkhram

By Mithun Divakaran
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Jan 12, 2017
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Thailand, Travel

Date: 03 April 2015

After seeing the oddity that was the Maeklong Railway Market, the next stop on our tour was Amphawa Floating market. I had been to the more popular Damnoen Saduak floating market back in 2010 but I heard that Amphawa was the floating market that more Thais visit.

It’s also a lot bigger.

After we got out of our tour van, we were told by the guide that we could roam freely for up to an hour or so. We would then meet back to go for a boat ride to see fireflies.

Amphawa floating market fruit vendor — At first glance it didn’t appear as too touristy as Damnoen Saduak

Aamphawapanich eatery Thailand — But you realize soon enough that there is no shortage of cafes, eateries and stores largely catering to tourists. There’s a good number of Thai visitors too.

Amphawa floating market stalls Thailand — You also had shopping centres like this one which sold knick-knacks, souvenirs…

Dunk Thai girl Amphawa market — … and games like ‘dunk tank a girl’

Boat ride Amphawa floating market — We could pay extra to have a boat take us around the river. I don’t remember how much it was cost per person but it wasn’t too high.

Amphawa floating market canal Thailand — The boat cruises along very slowly through these canals

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Thailand: Maeklong Railway Market in Samut Songkhram

By Mithun Divakaran
/
Dec 05, 2016
/
Thailand, Travel

Date: 03 April 2015

The few days I was in Bangkok after my amazing first visit to Japan, I made the most of it and saw some places I hadn’t been to yet. I had been longing to visit the famous but not-easy-to-get-to Maeklong Railway market (Talad Rom Hub in Thai) in Samut Songkhram province, just outside Bangkok. So I was happy to get a tour which combined the railway market and Amphawa Floating market in one day tour. It cost around 1700 baht but I felt it’s better than trying to go there myself on my own.

Fortunately no early morning pick-up for this tour. We were told we only need to be at Maeklong post noon as that’s when we could see the train depart. The train departs from Maeklong station just a few times a day. We would witness the last train departure for today.

Maeklong railway crossing Thailand — We reached the railway crossing at around 3PM. We were directed to the left side first.

Maeklong railway station Thailand — This is Maeklong station, from where the train departs. Now more of a tourist commercial zone than a rail station.

Maeklong Ladyai station board Thailand — The train departs from Maeklong four times a day according to this timetable on Railway Thailand’s website

Maeklong station Samut songhkram Thailand — I walked across to the other side

Talad Rom Hub railway track market — Talad Rom Hub, as this place is called locally, is like no other fresh market I’ve seen

Seafood railway market Samut Songkhram — I’ve seen stuff being sold on railway platforms and at rural stops before… but never this close to the railway tracks or on it!

Prawns Crabs market Maeklong Thailand — Lots of fresh seafood

Talad Rom Hub streetside vendor Thailand — And cooked seafood

Frogs Maeklong fresh market Thailand — And… frogs

Vegetables market Maeklong Thailand — I wonder how many locals shop here though

Samut Songkhram umbrella market Thailand — Most of the crowds I saw were tourists

Shop umbrella maeklong market Thailand — These shopfront umbrellas would be going up in a bit

Folding umbrella shops Maeklong Railway market — The horn was blown from the station and the vendors knew it was time

Maeklong railway market tourists Thailand — And tourists like me all prepared ourselves to capture the train passing through

Maeklong railway market Samut Thailand — Here comes the choo-choo 🙂

Here’s a short video I made. Observe how tight the gap is when the train passes through!

It was short but still felt worth it. Ever since I’ve heard about the Maeklong train market, I have really wanted to come and see this train pass through the market first hand. Satisfied, we re-grouped and headed back to our van.

Next, we would stop at Amphawa Floating Market.