Under a Bangkok Moon for one more night

Day - October 26th - My Last Night in Bangkok

Thai Phrases I should have learned before I got on the MRT (Subway station):

1)Kor-toht-kha. Phom dichan kit wah phom dichan long-taang
English translation: Excuse me, I think I’m lost!

2) Kor yah gae-bpuat noi kha?
English translation: Can I have a painkiller?

What I couldn’t find the guidebook but really really really needed to know today was: “Where in the hell is the exit out of this chaotic market? I think I’m going to faint! Help!”

Ok, before I jump into my lovely shopping trip today at the famous Chatuchak market. I need to tell ya that I completely missed my flight from Phuket to Bangkok yesterday after because I, like a dumbass, read the departure time on my flight itinerary wrong! The departure time was in military time and you would think that because I do deal with military bases for work, I would have their time down pat! But oh no! Maybe it was the heat, humidity, or maybe it was that 100 year old guy racing by in his Speedo that just threw me way off! So, I got to the airport in Phuket and realized that I had just missed my flight by 30 minutes. But by the grace of Buddha….I was able to go standby on the next flight out!

So I arrived at 8 p.m. yesterday night and checked into the Pinnacle Lumphini Hotel which is right smack next to the famous Suan Lum Night Bazaar and very close to Bangkok’s subway system called the MRT. The hotel itself is pretty basic but it’s got a nice lobby and staff ….and the internet is free! So hey! No complaints from me but I know if Maita were here with me, she’d be checking herself back into the Sheraton Orchid! Haha!

So anyways my game plan today was the Chatuchak Market with is up north of this downtown area. I took the MRT (Bangkok’s Subway) this morning and I have to say its very nice and very air conditioned! The system runs just like our Bart system and they announce all the stations in Thai and English so it was easy for me to find my way to the right location. But what was above ground was another story though!

The Chatuchak Market is apparently the mother of all markets! The locals shop here as well as the farangs. The vendors sell everything! I mean there are tons and tons of food stalls, kitchen wares, furniture, paintings, jewelry, linens, purses, toys, Buddha’s and elephants! I even saw a row of new puppies for sell! It is freakin amazing! Its total chaos at this market. I, personally, have never seen anything like it…I mean there are a ton of markets I’ve been to but the amount of “stuff” here is amazing and they do have it organized and maps are available throughout the market, but just the buzz of people, smells, and a million products is what makes this place a must if you are ever in Bangkok on the weekend!

I started to get tired after 2 hours of walking up and down indoor stalls. The heat was intense and the crowds seem to multiply by the minute. After buying a few more t-shirts and a few small souvenirs I “tried” to leave. I was so lost in this huge market that I completely got turned around and it felt as if I were in an endless maze! It took about 45 minutes of me asking vendors who barely understood me how to get out of this huge market. There were no exit signs and I really started to feel annoyed and overwhelmed by everything. I finally found a very nice merchant who understood English well enough and was willing to show me where the exit was located! Section 5, ok? Section 5 near the clock tower will get you out of that chaotic maze.

If you ever get the chance to visit, I really recommend leaving early in the morning before the crowd! Drink plenty of fluids because it’s very hot inside these stalls and I also recommend your getting a map of this market so you can find yourself out of it eventually! =) Its really a great place to do some serious shopping at because I feel the prices are much lower here than other markets throughout Bangkok and even Chaing Mai. Just start early… LoL And just pace yourself when you’re walking around because it is very overwhelming with everyone bumping into you. I was reminded by at least 3 different vendors that I should watch my backpack because pick-pocketing happens all the time - so beware! If you take the MRT line - get off the Chatuchak Park station and take a right at the entrance and it’ll lead you to this market.

I eventually ended back on the MRT to Lamphini Park and my hotel. I met a very nice lady from Indonesia who was out here on a business trip with her husband. We talked the whole way and it was her first time to Thailand as well. The trip back was a relief from the heat and before I knew it…..I was napping in my hotel!

At 7 p.m. I walked over to the Suan Lum Night Bazaar which is literally right across the main street near this hotel. My legs are killing me but it is my last night and I wanted to visit a night market before I go.

Suan Lum is nice and much more laid back compared to the hustle and bustle of Chatchukak. They seem to have more trendy boutiques but you can also find everything under the sun here as well - minus the pets! LOL I really wanted to find something kid-friendly for my little cousins Vince and Drew but there wasn’t anything that I thought would interests them. I really wanted to find more bugs but I wasn’t lucky this time unlike Chaing Mai. Sorry guys! I really did try!

I was craving my favorite fruit shake (watermelon) and found this huge food court that had a live band playing along with 20 plus food stalls with vendors shouting out to you as you walk buy. It was interesting because you had to buy coupons in order to purchase your food. So I pulled out 100 bahts and got myself my favorite drink and ordered some rice and chicken with chili sauce for dinner. Hey, not bad for a $3.00 meal! Ya gotta love Thailand!

I’m back in my room and my legs and feet are totally killing me. I way overdid it today with the walking and the heat. I went ahead and booked a spa treatment tomorrow at 10 a.m. and that’ll be my final splurge before I go back to reality in 2 days. I am so dreading the emails and voice messages at work… in fact, I haven’t thought about work for the past 2 weeks! This really has been a vacation! Haha!

Ok, till I blog again… I’ll be gazing at this moon over Bangkok! I don’t wanna leave! =(

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