I bought Binggrae melon-flavoured milk the night before. It’s some BTS edition. The musk melon flavour was actually quite yum!
Everytime I visit Bangkok and it’s a weekend, I try to visit Asia’s largest street market — Chatuchak weekend market.
I took the BTS to Mo Chit station
I visited Chatuchak market for the first time during my very first visit to Thailand back in 2009. This is probably my fifth or sixth time coming here — it’s like a ritual whenever I am in Bangkok
Why?
Because this place is awesome — it has something for everyone!
So many food stalls selling everything from Pad Thai…
After checking out Ong Ang Canal and Mega Plaza, I walked up Yaowarat Road to the section that is widely showcased as Bangkok’s Chinatown. This being mid-January, Yaowarat Road was decorated to usher in the Chinese New Year vibes.
Bangkok’s Chinatown area is in the Samphanthawong district
Chinese have been migrating to Thailand for over 200 years. Initially for trade/business, then later waves of refugees fleeing the civil war era of the 1900s, and then the Mao era post 1950s. Mostly from southern China, first by way of border nations like Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia — and then making their way to more prosperous Bangkok.
Many businesses traditional Chinese goods
Even to this day, Chinese are trying to migrate to Thailand using various means. Mainland Chinese are the largest group of foreign buyers of real estate in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Many come to study in the international schools, and use education visa as a foot through the door to stay long-term.
I was getting near
The crowds were already thronging road-side stalls
Cheongsams were available for purchase if you wanted to get the ‘Chinese’ look
After walking through Khaosan Road for the first time, I booked a Grab bike taxi and decided to head towards Yaowarat Road, the main street in what is dubbed Bangkok’s Chinatown.
The bike passed around Democracy Monument
We then passed by Wat Suthat Thepwararam compound and Sao Chingcha a.k.a Giant Swing
Giant Swing is one of Bangkok’s icons
As I reached Yaowarat road, I got down near a canal
I honestly wasn’t sure where exactly I was dropped off
I walked over to Ong Ang Canal (Khlong Ong Ang in Thai), which it turns out, got a makeover during COVID19 and has now become a tourist attraction.
