Chatuchak is triplets
Most tourists will know the Chatuchak weekend market in Bangkok, the country's largest open-air market, where 8.000 stands sell everything you can think of: handicrafts, fashion, furniture, paintings, pets, garden tools, second-hand books and souvenirs .
Less known is that there are two other equally interesting markets in the immediate vicinity: the Or Tor Kor fresh market and the Rot Fai weekend market. In addition, the Chatuchak Weekend Market is open for wholesalers on Friday evenings, selling clothes in bulk and on Wednesdays and Thursdays, the merchandise consists of flowers and plants.
Or Tor Kor versmark
The Or Tor Kor fresh market is open daily from 6 a.m. to 18 p.m. The market, which is operated by the Marketing Organization for Farmers, is a model fresh market: spacious, well managed and well monitored for food safety. Vegetables, fruit, meat and seafood are offered for sale in 600 stands, as well as ready-to-eat meals and desserts.
Rotfai weekend market
The Rotfai weekend market is open on Saturday evenings. Retro cars, such as the Volkswagen van and the Beetle, large American pickups and wagons from the XNUMXs and XNUMXs take over a site at an old State Railway warehouse or Thailand. The antique cars are interesting to look at, but even more interesting are the products that are sold, such as ornaments, furniture, car parts: all dating back to the last century and not for sale in most markets.
Those who want to relax after all this market visit can choose from three parks: Chatuchak Public park, Wachirabenchatat park and Queen Sirikit park. The Chatuchak park with its large pond is ideal for rest. Those who still have energy can practice various sports in the adjacent Wachirabenchatat park, such as football, basketball, badminton, swimming, kayaking and aerobics. The park also has a 3,2-mile trail for bikers. Queen Sirikit Park is located on the west side of Chatuchak Public Park. It houses various types of botanical plants, such as 50 species of lotus and rare tree species.
Chatuchak can be reached by sky train (terminus Mo Chit and get off there). If you then walk through the park at Chatuchak (on weekends), you can make a short cut to the entrance of the market. You cannot make that abbreviation during the week, then it is open, but the gate on the Chatuchak side is closed.
Once you are in front of the market and you start walking to the right, all the way to the end of the market and then go to the left again, a part starts where you can buy everything for aquariums and ponds. Very busy on weekends but more choice.
During the week (I was there on a Monday), many shops are closed, but a large number are still open and it is much quieter.
So if you are looking for some nice fish, material for your pond or aquarium, water plants, live food, etc. you can go there every day.
You can also buy Koi in all shapes and sizes. A real Koi dealer would advise against this, because you never know what kind of fish you will get in the pond, but if you - like me - are not that specialized and do not participate in competitions, you can get very nice animals.