HYPE & LIFE of ChatuChak

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Chatuchak pronounce as Jatujak; aka JJ – a weekend market in Bangkok is the largest market in Thailand. Akin to KapaliCarsi or Grand Bazaar in Turkey, covers over 35 acres (1.13 km²) and contains upwards of 5,000 stalls. It is estimated that the market receives between 200,000 visitors each day. Most stalls only open on Saturdays and Sundays though Jatujak Plaza, the western section is open daily. In the North West corner is the J.J. Mall, with three floors of assorted oddments as well as eateries.
The market offers a wide variety of products including household items, clothing, Thai handicrafts, religious artifacts, collectibles, foods, and live animals. For tourists, there are a number of onsite companies who will send purchases abroad. Beware of Pick-pocket though, one important thing that one must have when shopping at the bazaar is negotiation or bargaining skill.
Chatuchak Market owes its origin to Field Marshal Plaek Phibulsongkram, the late prime minister of Thailand, who came up with the idea of setting up a flea market in every town. As a result, the first flea market in Bangkok was held at Sanam Luang and was called Sanam Luang flea Market.
However, there was time when the place was needed for other special functions and the flea market was then relocated to Saranrom Palace and settled there for 8 years.
After that, it was moved again to Sanam Chai. But because of the limited space, it had to be moved back to Sanam Luang. Really, walking through the narrow alley was quite interesting: in some lanes, one could here melodious sound (in Thai) of the vendors luring customers to their shops. Rest assured, you will never get lost with all good signage that guide you to one sections to another and the warmth hospitality of the Thais will make you feel at home, despite their meagerness of conversing in English. The market map or rather guide was abundantly available (FOC) from most of shops and tourist information centers.
In the above photo, a street vendor traditionally blending and mixing the famous hot mango based salad. Amazed with her patience and perseverance, I’ve asked her permission via body language capturing her ingenious nifty moment. And, below are her customers. Awesome!!
In the same year, the government issued a policy to turn Sanam Luang into a public park for citizens of Bangkok and to be the venue to celebrate 200-year-anniversary of Bangkok, which would be held in 1982. Thus, it was decided that the flea market would be held at the Phahonyothin area from then on and it is later called Chatuchak Market after the nearby park. Until about 1995 the walkways were open to the sky and also to the rain. They then covered the walkways which stopped the rain in the rainy season, but also made the walkways hotter than before. However, in some sections, are equip with air-conditioning or wall fans.
In recent years the market has gained considerable notice among conservationists and the World Wildlife Fund; Chatuchak has become a notorious hub for trafficking illegal and endangered species, notably in the North West corner of the market which is all but isolated from the rest of the market. This activity was covered on CNN's "Planet in Peril" series. Despite publicity, Thai law is rarely able to pursue a course of action in preventing the illegal trade as it would just go underground elsewhere.
The market is adjacent to the Kamphaengphet station of the MRT Bangkok Metro Blue Line, or about a 5-minute walk from the Mo Chit station of the BTS Skytrain Sukhumvit Line and another MRT station, Suan Chatuchak (Chatuchak Park). It only cost me about RM6 from Nana Station (very near to the Landmark Hotel) and took me about 20 minutes by the BTS Skytrain to the Mo Chit station.

1 comments:

Aretha said...

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