Your Favourite Spots In Bangkok & Reason(s)?

[yy]

Bangkok has time after time been listed as the most popular city in the world, edging out even big-shots like New York and Melbourne. So there must be a certain charm to it to be able to cater to all of the many different likes of such a diverse global human population

What's your favourite spot in BKK and why do you love it so?

For me:

1) Huatake Market
I really have David to thank for this opportunity to discover this beautiful little local market, 20mins walk away from Silver Garden Hotel which he had recommended when I did my first ever solo trip last Feb. At that time, the hotel had boasted on its website about its proximity to this Huatake Market, which got me interested in what it's all about but back then, NOTHING at all could be found online about the market. When I finally went there, it turned out to be a mini Klong Toey sort of Market. But its specialness, to me, lies in the fact that this market is located right along the river, so I get to see locals going to and from their marketing the traditional way when BKK was still a maze of canals and waterways - by rowing their own little boats; empty when newly arrived but later loaded with bags of uncooked food and ready to row back home again. I love local wet markets so markets always do the thing for me. Moreover, the stalls and stalls of fragrant vegetables and wriggling live animals mean I can look forward to tasting some exotic spices or making some convenient tham-boon by tossing a bag of water snails (we call them gong-gong or zhu-zhu in SG/Malaysia) into its natural habitat of the river right next door.

Furthermore, the fact that the neigbourhood is cosily nestled away from the tourisy areas of BKK means that I can wander directionlessly around and take my time to discover new things about the authentic Thai way of life. Unfortunately I have not much time to do that previously as was in a hurry that trip, but I will certainly stay in Silver Garden again and do all these.

2) Paklong TalatI fell in love with this wholesale flower market the very first time I went to BKK and have remained in love with it since. Unless my baggage allowance is almost full, I can't resist lugging home bags and bags of fresh flowers - purchased on my last night in BKK. These flowers will then find their ways onto the altars of my extended families and/or SG Buddhist temples when I'm back in SG

3) Wat Pho and the stretch of shops selling massage oils (behind Wat Pho's back exit)
Lovely temple. Wonderful massage most of the time. Historically meaningful place too! And did I say I just love the smell of the Thai herbs cooking in the hot pot?

Now your turn, what's yours? Please share, so that everyone can know more about BKK's hidden secrets! And I bet ours will be better than TAT's 555!

[David_Loves_Ubonwan]

I don't like Bangkok...

David

[Betti]

Kinokuniya bookshop in Siam Paragon and the Scholastic bookshop in Soi Convent. :-) we don't have proper bookshops in Chiang Mai.

[yy]

N there's the Bookazine too in BKK. Have you tried that one too? I have not been to it, though. Only happen to know of it during the book fair when it happened to have a booth in Oct 2009. Have only been to Kino once and found it very expensive. Many books cost just as much, and sometimes slightly more, than in SG :( Eng books in Thailand seem more expensive. Probably the lack of readership I guess.

David, there's nothing at all you like about BKK? Not even the 7-11? hahaha

[Jasonkoh82]

I don't like Bangkok...

David

...Or could it be that you had a unpleasantness experience?

[Betti]

I don't know about book prices in SG so I can't compare. definitely cheaper than at home. but I guess yes import is expensive. the exchange rate also has an effect. I find the prices reasonable, new paperbacks for 250-300-400, and they have 20% of for new bestsellers. I don't pay more than 400 for anything, I wait for those to appear in the second-hand bookshops, which are only slightly cheaper anyway in recent years.

[yy]

definitely cheaper than at home.

Then it will be more worthwhile to buy it here in BKK than for you to do so when you are back home for holiday in Europe.

I may try out the other bookshop you mentioned the next time I am in BKK.

[Betti]

I haven't been back to Europe for 5 years. back home means Europe. sorry. Scholastic is for children's books and educational stuff.
sorry, I will shut up now. so difficult sometimes, always something to answer, and I derail the thread without meaning to :-(

[yy]

I haven't been back to Europe for 5 years. back home means Europe. sorry. Scholastic is for children's books and educational stuff.
sorry, I will shut up now. so difficult sometimes, always something to answer, and I derail the thread without meaning to :-(

????Derail????? Not at all, actually!

[yy]

Some unimpressive photos of Huatake Market which scarcely does justice to its quaint, ordinary beauty and the place it holds in my heart!

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