Top floating markets, should be in your Thailand Itinerary

Every country has something unique to call their own. If it’s not the crowds of India, it’s the ritual of a siesta in Spain or the street food of China. Thailand too has one such unique aspect- the floating markets- that are so looked forward to by both tourists and locals alike. A floating market is nothing but vendors occupying places by a canal in their canoes where they sell fresh produce as well as ready-to-eat delicacies. A favorite past time on the weekends, plan your Thailand trip itinerary keeping the floating markets in mind.

Experts Suggestion :- A list of well optimized Thailand Trip Itineraries

1. Amphawa:

The Amphawa floating market is particularly popular amongst the local folks. A short ride from Bangkok, scores of localities flock to the village of Amphawa to shop for the week. The biggest floating market of the country, it’s not as frequented by tourists as the other markets in Bangkok; if you want to experience some local culture, head over to the Amphawa floating market. Whilst you’re there, treat your taste buds to some exquisite barbequed seafood frying on many-a-boats. Open all day long; check the bus schedule before you leave.

Amphawa Floating Market

2. Damnoen Saduak:

Open only from 9 am to noon, the Damnoen Saduak floating market is perpetually thronged by tourists and is fast becoming one of the least preferred floating markets of Thailand. Unless you’re pressed for time or have no interest in actually delving into the know-how of the floating markets, you could skip the Damnoen Saduak altogether. Owing to the huge tourist influx it sees, this floating market is presented better with exorbitant prices; don’t bother haggling! The best time to visit the Damnoen Saduak floating market is in the morning before both the heat and crowd sets in.

Damnoen Saduak floating market

3. Khlong Lat Mayom:

From the sheer volume of floating markets, your confusion of which ones to visit is understandable. If you’re looking for something authentic and closer to the local life, the Khlong Lat Mayom floating market is where you should go. One of the most laid back floating markets of Thailand, there’s a sense of serenity here which will put you at ease and allow you to amble about at your own pace with vendors and artists that don’t pressurize you into buying anything if you don’t want to.

Khlong Lat Mayom floating markets

4. Taling Chan:

If food is what you desire, the Taling Chan floating market is your answer that God exists. When the delicious smells of freshly grilled food coming wafting and beckon you, you’ll know you’re heading in the right direction. Catering primarily to the appetite of its visitors, the Taling Chan floating market also sells fresh food along with cooked delicacies- should you want to carry back some edibles with you! The best way to enjoy some local food would be sit yourself down by the canal; there are plastic chairs and tables available if you don’t want to sit on the ground.

Taling Chan floating markets

5. Bang Nam Phueng:

The latest addition to the list of floating markets in Thailand, the Bang Nam Phueng floating market is not known in the tourist circle but is quite popular among the Thai. The region of Bang Nam Phueng is rich in agriculture and the produce sold in this floating market is all cultivated in this area. For all of you who are eco-friendly, one aspect of the Bang Nam Phueng floating market might particularly appeal to you- instead of using plastic plates and bags, the vendors opt for banana leaves and coconut husks.

Bang Nam Phueng floating markets

Suffice to say, if your Thailand itinerary doesn’t include a visit to any of these floating markets, you’re missing out on some premiere travel experience!

Guest Post : A Filipino Wandering in Kuala Lumpur

I’m a freelance writer based in the Philippines and recently, I was fortunate enough to be invited by a client to meet up in Kuala Lumpur. Friends who’ve been to the city said it’s possible to spend a weekend in KL under RM500, and so, I also took that as a challenge to see if it’s true—me being always on the lookout for budget travel opportunities. It turned out itwas, and I discovered too, that KL is very similar to Manila, the city in which I grew up in, in more ways than I initially thought.

 

As a traveler, I’ve made it a point to experience the wonder that’s the human potential in each and every one of my trips. I know that sounds a bit too heavy, but once you meet various people from different cultures and have stood on the ground and walked the path that countless people of different origins, each with a story to tell, have also walked on—you realize that what matters most in travel is not the photos you take or the sights you see, but the emotions you feel, being somewhere new yet inherently familiar. Walking in the streets of Kuala Lumpur produced that kind of for me in a tremendously positive way.

From the moment the sun set on that first night in KL, I knew that my decision to roam the local nightlife scene was a good decision. My home country boasts of some amazing nightclubs, but compared to KL, where the lights seemed brighter, the music louder, and the atmosphere somewhat warmer, I felt no amount of home sickness that night. I’m not much of the drinker, but being there, smack dab in the middle of Kuala Lumpur’s hottest club district, watching the people happily walking past me with the unmistakable smiles of glee on their faces, made me feel as if I’m back home in Manila.

 

Daytime in Kuala Lumpur provides as much splendor as nighttime as the city is just, and this is without any stretch of embellishment, simply majestic. Looking at the Petronas Twin Towers is simply inspiring, and the Sultan Abdul Samad Building gives off a heightened sense of spirituality, no matter what faith you may subscribe to. Just like Makati’s Central Business District, the streets of KL at daytime can be both busy and calm at the same time, and I couldn’t describe my impression about it with any other word but serene.

As a Filipino, I see a lot of similarities between Kuala Lumpur and a few distinct cities from my homeland. These similarities made me feel really at home during my trip to this foreign land, while the glaring differences instills in me a sense of growth that many seasoned travelers would understand. In all of the cities around the world that I’ve visited, I feel KL has embraced me as tightly as I embraced it during my short but memorable stay.

“This guest blog post is written by Mr. Jep Barroga about his Kuala Lumpur traveling experience. You can check out his other articles at this blog; for any inquiries you can directly contact him at jepbarroga@gmail.com.”