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Thailand: Maeklong Railway Market in Samut Songkhram

By Mithun Divakaran
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Dec 05, 2016
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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.

Michael Jackson poking Mithun Madame Tussauds Bangkok

Thailand: Madame Tussauds, Asiatique and leaving Bangkok

By Mithun Divakaran
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Sep 09, 2013
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Bangkok, Thailand, Travel

Date: 27th November 2012

I left Siam Ocean World and walked to Siam Discovery. It was still raining, but I still made my way to the top of Siam Discovery, where Madame Tussauds was situated.

Madame Tussauds elevator Bangkok — This was inside the elevator up

Madame Tussauds Bangkok entrance — Madame Tussauds is on the 6th floor

MBK BTS track from Siam Discovery — Hello MBK

Madame Tussauds Bangkok king Thailand — Various photos of King Bhumibol lined the entrance

Madame Tussauds Bangkok — You begin with the History zone of great leaders

Mahatma Gandhi Madame Tussauds Bangkok — Mahatma Gandhi is the very first wax figure

Chairman Mao Madame Tussauds Bangkok — Chairman Mao

Princess Diana Madame Tussauds Bangkok — The much beloved Princess Diana

Madame Tussauds Bangkok world leaders — You then have a selection of world leaders

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Thailand: Psy in Bangkok, Siam Ocean World

By Mithun Divakaran
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Sep 06, 2013
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Bangkok, Thailand, Travel

Date: 27th November 2012

The previous day (26th November) was spent… nowhere. When I woke up, it was raining heavily. I had breakfast from the hotel restaurant and then just stayed indoors for much of day, doing some work online. The plan for today was to go to Maeklong ‘Railway’ Market, but it was far out and given the weather conditions, there was no guarantee I would get there in time for me to see the trains pass through.

Today (27th November), the weather only got slightly better.

Magnum chocolate truffle — I had a Magnum for ‘breakfast’

I decided to have an early lunch and walked around the area heading towards Asoke BTS.

Shalimar Indian restuarant Bangkok — I ended up find this spot on Soi 11, choc full of restaurants and a few pubs

I ate at Shalimar Sharma’s (pictured above) simply because I had reached that stage when I missed Indian masala. It had a North Indian thali which cost ฿250. Feeling full, I then began my day by going to Siam Center.

Siam Center stage setup Bangkok — I had seen a huge billboard stating Psy would be appearing on stage here today

Psy press conference stage Bangkok — Even though I was officially sick of the song, I thought why not just get a glimpse of the guy in person at this press conference

Psy press conference Bangkok — Being a work day, there weren’t too many fans either. Mostly press, and tourists.

Gangnam Style dance Siam Paragon Bangkok — I heard way too much “Gangnam Style” in Thailand. Like, every-freaking-day!

Elephants Gangnam style dance — “Gangnam Style”-fever reached fever pitch in Thailand, they even made elephants do the dance

Gangnam Style Psy in Bangkok — Psy was finally in the building!

Bangkok passengers Siam BTS station — Even passengers waiting for the train were looking at what was going on

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