BANGKOK TRAVEL ITINERARY 2015 - MAEKLONG RAILWAY MARKET AND AMPHAWA FLOATING MARKET [PART 3]

CONTINUATION OF BANGKOK TRAVEL ITINERARY 2015 - PART 1 AND 2

DAY 4 [SUNDAY - 15/3/15]

- VISIT [1]

MAEKLONG TRAIN/RAILWAY MARKET

[MARKET PLACE WITH A RAILWAY TRACK THROUGH IT] AT SAMUT SONGKHRAM 

WHICH IS 37 MILES WEST OF BANGKOK. 

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IT LOOKS LIKE ANY OTHER OPEN-AIR MARKETS OF ASIA.  THE CROWD WEAVES THEIR WAY AROUND IN BETWEEN VENDORS. THE MARKET COMES TO A STANDSTILL WHEN THE TRAIN PASSES THROUGH.  ONCE THE TRAIN IS GONE, THE VENDORS PUSH BACK THEIR STALLS AND BUSINESS IS AS USUAL.  THE THAIS CALL THIS PLACE 'TALAD ROM HOOP MARKET' WHICH MEANS 'MARKET UMBRELLA PULLDOWN'.

HOW TO GET THERE: TAKE BTS TO VICTORY MONUMENT, GET DOWN TO MINIVAN STATION NEARBY AT SUZUKI MOTOR COMPANY JUST BELOW THE BTS STATION.  THEY HAVE REGULAR VAN TRIPS TO MAEKLONG.  THE FARE IS 70 BAHTS PER PERSON.  JOURNEY IS ABOUT 1 HOUR.  

- VISIT [2]

AMPHAWA FLOATING MARKET

 [OPENS SAT/SUNDAY AT 3PM].

THIS FLOATING MARKET IS VISITED MOSTLY BY LOCALS AND NOT AS MANY TOURISTS AS DAMOON SADUAK FLOATING MARKET WHICH FURTHER FROM MAEKLONG TRAIN MARKET PLACE.  READ MORE >>

- TAKE BOAT CRUISE ALONG AMPHAWA CANAL - FROM FLOATING MARKET, THERE IS A BOAT CRUISE SERVICE AVAILABLE AT 50 BAHTS PER PERSON.  IT TAKES YOU TO CRUISE ALONG THE RIVER AND MAKE ABOUT 7 STOPS FOR YOU TO SEE SEVERAL WATS.  THE CRUISE TAKES ABOUT 1-2 HOURS.  A VERY WORTHY CRUISE YOU SHOULDN'T MISS.

HOW TO GET THERE: FROM MAEKLONG MARKET PLACE, TAKE A TUK-TUK.  FARE IS 8 BAHTS PER PERSON.  TO GET BACK TO BANGKOK, YOU CAN TAKE THE MINIVAN FROM AMPHAWA FLOATING MARKET AT 80 BAHTS PER PERSON.

- VISIT BANGKOK BOAT NOODLE ALLEY 

AT VICTORY MONUMENT.

HOW TO GET THERE: THE MINIVAN FROM MAEKLONG RAILWAY MARKET WITH STOP OR DROP OFF PASSENGERS BENEATH THE VICTORY MONUMENT BTS STATION NEARBY TO BOAT NOODLE ALLEY.  THERE ARE SEVERAL OUTLETS SELLING BOAT NOODLES. THE PRICE PER BOWL IS 12 BAHTS.  THE PORTION IS SO SMALL THAT ONE BOWL ISN'T ENOUGH.  THERE IS A VARIETY OF NOODLES TO CHOOSE WHICH COMES DRY OR IN SOUPS.  THE CRISPY PORK LARD IS WORTH TRYING.  THE PANDAN COCONUT MILK CUSTARD IS ALSO YUMMY, VERY FRAGRANT AND NOT TOO SWEET,  FRESHLY STEAMED IN SMALL SHALLOW CUPS.

- DINNER IS FREE AND EASY AROUND SUTTHISAN MRT STATION.  THERE ARE NUMEROUS FOOD  STALLS  SELLING LOCAL THAI FOOD AROUND THE AREA AT VERY REASONABLE PRICES.