Following on from Eating in Bangkok – Part 1, we had booked into an all-day markets tour (Damnoen Saduak Floating Markets, and Maeklong Railway Markets) with the Klook travel company on Christmas Day. Our pick up destination was outside CentralWord shopping centre where we were given a number correlating to the mini-van that would be driving us around for the day.
Our first stop were the Damnoen Saduak Floating Markets – about an hour drive from Bangkok. The markets are raised up on stilts above the river and reached via boat. The group was split into several small boats, ours fit six people. We proceeded down the river passing by a few standalone stalls/huts raised up on bamboo stilts.
The captain of the boat was happy to steer the boat and stop at a stall if people wanted to shop for trinkets and souvenirs.
In a few minutes, we reached the main floating markets which was jam packed with more boats. The markets had been set up on land on either side of the main canal.
We were bumper to bumper on the canal but we didn’t mind as it gave us a chance to look at the hustle and bustle of the markets. It was like an assault on the senses – there was so much to see and smell, and we were surrounded by the noise of the markets and people chatting.
There were plenty of stalls selling souvenirs, clothing, bags, food and drinks.
Small boats were also drifting up and down selling snacks such as grilled pork skewers, fresh fruit, mango sticky rice, beer and other drinks.
There was plenty of fresh coconut juice on offer.
We weren’t sure whether we would be able to get to the main strip to order food, so when we passed by a stall handing out plastic menus with photos of noodles and other dishes, most of us on the boat ordered a dish. I stuck with pad thai which wasn’t the best but it was quick and hot.
We slowly drifted underneath a bridge and out to more over-water markets raised up on stilts.
The boat did allow us free time along the main market strip where we had an hour to get lunch and explore. There was one boat selling what looked like boxes filled with rice, grilled meat and vegetables.
Our tour guide mentioned the beef noodle soup at a particular stall was especially good. We weren’t that hungry after sharing the pad thai, but I noticed a boat selling mango sticky rice and couldn’t resist purchasing one for dessert. The mango was sweet and delicious, and I was very tempted to order a second serve but thought I’d wait to see if anything else caught my fancy.
Yes it was very touristy – pretty much every single other person on similar boats were busily snapping away with their cameras. But I still thought it was great to see and experience at least once. It was soon time to head back on the boat and to the mini-van to be taken to our next stop – the Maeklong Railway Markets.
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