Thailand is known for it’s markets and none are probably more well known than Bangkok’s Chatuchak market, but every town has a market…or two. Pattaya’s biggest market is most popularly known as the Tuesday/Friday market, because it is only open on Tuesday and Friday. For the majority of the week the area where the market is held is just one huge parking lot with a few tarp covered stalls at it’s edges. On the appointed days the parking lot starts coming to life in the wee hours of the morning.
Hundreds of bamboo poles and tarps turn the once muddy parking lot into a circus big top filled with everything you can imagine. While the market is home to a lot of clothes merchants you can also find household goods, tools, music, gold, small animals and all kinds of delicious Thai food. Just across the street you’ll find the other part of the market where you can find tons of used goods for sale. Great deals can be found at both markets.
The sights, sounds and smells walking through any Thai market are enough to hypnotize you. I wanted to share a walk through Pattaya’s Tuesday/Friday market with pictures and then I remembered I had video. While you won’t get the smells you will get all the sights and sounds in high definition. So now you can get the feeling of walking through a Thai market as I follow Pookie around during a market day last April just before Songkran ( Thai New Year ).
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Talen where would Thailand be without the markets?
I don’t particularly enjoy the more touristy ones but I love the market here in Prachuap, the stall holders soon get to know you and its a great place to have a joke and practice a bit of Thai.
Oh for smelly vision, because I think half of the fun of a Thai market is the smells, some of which turn my stomach, especially the “fresh” meat. If you want to be a veggie go to a Thai market!
Great idea with the videos-something I haven’t really used but a lot of potential I fancy?
.-= Mike´s last blog ..Penis Survey-Size Really Does Matter in Thailand =-.
Mike, I couldn’t imagine Thailand without the markets…I love the rural markets more myself but if there is a market I’m there.
There can be some off smells…I particularly don’t care for the dried fish sellers.
I’ve done a few videos and they do ok on youtube…nowhere near as good as the videos people post of gogo girls and such.
Now you really are singing my tune, Soi Buakhao market. I have been there so many times I’ve lost count and if I’m in Pattaya I go each time it’s open.
I always head for the bars at the back of the market and people watch whilst waiting for the one ball female juggler to turn up. One thing you didn’t mention was the absolute stifling heat that builds up in the market come mid afternoon, stifling is a gross under statement. Soi Buakhao is probably only second to Udon Thani’s night market in my top market list. Thanks for the memories.
.-= Martyn´s last blog ..Thai Bar Girls – Food, Phones and Thumbs =-.
Martyn, Mid afternoon? hell it gets boiling under those tarps by 9am.
I love to sit in the bar at the back and have a beer or two before I head out. I had video from the bar too but somehow the file got corrupted.
I really like the Tuesday/Friday market as well I always hit it when I’m in town but I would have to say overall the Mukdahan night market is the dearest to my heart.
One of the most miserable places I have been to in Pattaya was a “market” called “Made in Thailand” on second road.
It has a corrogated steel roof with fiberglass sky lights – kind of like being in “the box” in a POW camp.
Very little ventilation and really nasty when they decide to hose down the concrete floor.
Talk about a sauna.
You called that one right Chuck…Made in Thailand is a sauna. I’ve been through there twice and that’s enough to last me a few more years.
Personally, I prefer the Thepprasit market – I think it is a little bigger and held at night so it is a little cooler.
I completely forgot about Thepprasit Market…it is very nice and the evening makes it that much nicer.
Talen, very true, late morning and the market is hot as hell, late afternoon and well, a sauna might be easier on the skin. I love the Pattaya market for its people watch opportunities, young and old, drunk and sober plus those who can barely converse with each other.
There is another market about 3 clicks west of there that opens on a weekend night, the name of it escapes me but it is one big size and has one hell of a lot of goods. Definitely worth a post.
.-= Martyn´s last blog ..Thai Bar Girls – Food, Phones and Thumbs =-.
Talen, I am coming in late because I wanted to see each of your videos before commenting. And as several new network accounts have appeared at my condo, I’m thinking that my ThaiConnection is even more so than usual!
When I go to JJ’s I head for a coffee at the shi-shi bars that have appeared all over the market. And when I’m feeling particularly frisky, I do have a beer (before noon even).
But the Wednesday plant market at JJ’s is still my all time fav. I might not be able to purchase many plants (no room), but at least I can dream.
.-= Catherine´s last blog ..Thai Language Thai Culture: And the Honor goes to… =-.
Nice one Talen. I have just returned from Pattaya and the hustle and bustle of the markets brings back many happy memories. Great work