Bangkok Day 1: Floating Market - Amphawa

As our 2 kids have really only been to modern supermarkets and restaurants, I wanted them to see a ‘traditional’ market in Thailand. The floating or ‘klong’ markets were the perfect opportunity: they are well-preserved and give a realistic glimpse into daily life in a very different setting.

Amphawa was a great recommendation by our friend Lilian. Located in Samut Songkhram, the market is about 1.5 hours away from Bangkok. We hired a big taxi for 3000baht as there were six of us. The atmosphere at the market is cosy and authentic (as it is mostly frequented by local Thais), quite unlike the commercial craziness of other touristy floating markets. It’s also different from most floating markets as it opens only in the afternoon. 

We got there around 4pm and the place was abuzz. Street vendors were in full swing along the Soi leading to the canal. You can’t miss the constant chatter from all the buying and selling, and the smells of raw, barbequed and fried foods. 

We were fascinated to see the many different things that were being sold. The kids were wowed by the floating boats, complete with their mini-kitchens and fresh ingredients – all sorts of noodles, seafood and vegetables, as well as sellers with a wide variety of tropical fruits and flowers. People sat on the side of the canal bank to eat while vendors cooked in the boats and used a very ingenious pulley-and-basket contraption to pass them the food! 

 

The 2 kids peered curiously into every house along the canal – most of them have shops and restaurants in the front. People there are friendly, they usually wave and greet us. The kids asked several times: “Are these *really* people’s houses?” 

We indulged in some riverside snacking – local ice-cream & rainbow-coloured keropok :) 

But drew the line at Horseshoe Crabs – Anthony was just amazed at the sight of the creatures and their bountiful roe:

Very steep pedestrian bridges linked both sides of the canal…

There was just so much to see!

It was dusk by the time we left and the place was getting  to be really, really packed. Next trip, we will have to try some cooked food from the vendors and hire a long-tail boat to see fireflies at night….

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