Floating Markets of Thailand

Finally…we made it to the Floating Market! It’s colorful, crowded, noisy, unique and interesting. In their infinite wisdom, they decided to divide the floating market – there are actually two of them. One is for the local Thai people who have come to market, to eat, to visit, to exchange gossip – to generally enjoy themselves. The other…well….it’s designed for the tourist. The boats are the traditional flat bottomed, narrow boat that is still used all over Thailand. It’s wide enough for one person, maybe two if you like living on the edge. You’ve got to be careful though – they seem to tip easily. The guide poled us down the narrow waterway, if you will, weaving us through the myriad of boats and, of course, near the sellers hawking their wares. If the boat guide doesn’t bring you in close enough, the seller will hook the boat with a long spear/hook so that you can easily see what they have for sale -and they can have a chance to convince you to buy from them! Most of the typical crafts are represented: carved and painted wood items, scarves, woven textiles, and food. It is a cool way to taste lots of different things that are typically Thai, at least the ones they think foreigners will eat. It was great to just watch the hundreds of people on both sides –sellers and buyers.

I love the way they sell to people, whether they’re on the river or the banks. They have a long pole with a basket at the end. Whatever you’ve bought is put in the basket and you put the money in for them to pull back. Works quite efficiently.