One of my favourite travel activities is wandering around food markets. I don’t cook, and I wouldn’t know what to do with half the stuff that is sold anyway, yet I still love to see food on display. Neatly stacked food in piles is an artform in itself, and I tend to head to a market over a museum in any new place I visit.
Even though I am a serious coffee fiend, I know better than to be drinking coffee all day. I do enjoy good tea as well, usually in the afternoon after I’ve hit my coffee limit. Seeing this tea on display at the Spice Market in Istanbul made me want to buy a little tea pot and fire up a brew.
Street Market, Hong Kong SAR – China
Bowrington Road market, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong SAR – China.
Cakranegara Market, Mataram Lombok – Indonesia
Cakranegara Market, Mataram Lombok – Indonesia.
Maeklong Market Railway, Thailand – The Train That Goes Through a Market
One of the more interesting train journeys I’ve had is riding through the Maeklong market railway in Thailand.
Even if you’ve never heard of the town, you’ve probably seen a youtube video of a train going through a tightly packed market, where market stalls are set up on the rails. The train barely fits through the market, and once the train passes through the market stalls occupy the railway line almost immediately.
I took a day trip from Bangkok out to Maeklong, and sure enough this crazy market wasn’t just a figment of my youtube imagination, it really exists.
I always like walking around markets in Thailand, so to have one with its own railway was an added bonus.
Thai markets are like English TV cooking shows. I never cook, but I love watching those shows. It’s the same with the markets. I’m never going to buy and cook any of this stuff, but I love looking at the piles of sea creatures I hitherto didn’t know exist, and piles of neatly stacked vegetables that I rarely eat.
This train has become famous around the world so there were many people in the market taking photos. The market operators seemed to be used to visitors and pointed out a few spots that were best for taking pictures.
More videos at youtube.com/nomadicnotestv
How To Get To Maeklong
Maeklong is under 70km from Bangkok, but getting the train there will make it feel longer. The journey involves two train trips, punctuated by a ferry ride.
From Bangkok the train departs from Wong Wian Yai. This station is near the King Taksin Statue on the non-touristic side of the river in Thonburi. The nearest BTS Station is Wangwan Yai, which is about 20 minutes walk.
The station itself only has one track that runs along the side of a small street, so it is not an obvious station to find. From here you get the train to the end of the line at Mahachai.
This train takes about an hour. At Mahachai, exit left of the train, then turn right into the market street. It’s a fishing port so you will see seafood everywhere. Walk to the end of the street and on your left you will see the river and the ferry terminal.
You now catch the ferry across the river to Ban Laem. At Ban Laem walk through the market and at the street entrance, turn right. Keeping walking down this street for about 10 minutes and you will get to the station. Once again it is a one track station, so the station is not that obvious. This is the train that will take you to Maeklong.
This train also takes 1 hour, and the trip through the market is right at the end, just before the station. It takes about 2 minutes to get through the market. You should start seeing the outer urban area of Maeklong at about 55 minutes, so that would be the time to get ready if you are going to take photos.
I also noticed that a tour group got on the train at the station before Maeklong. They would have been part of a bus tour going somewhere else, and it would certainly be a less time consuming way to do the trip. I haven’t seen this advertised anywhere though.
Planning Your Trip
There are only 4 trains a day to Maeklong, so you really need to plan your day here. This is the timetable from Ban Laem to Maeklong.
From Ban Laem and from Maeklong
If you get the 13.30 train to Maeklong, then you won’t see the train going through the market as you will be back on it as the last train to Bangkok.
The best timing is the following schedule:
8.40 Dep Bangkok Wong Wian Yai
9.30 Arr Mahachai
—Ferry River Crossing—-
10.10 Dep Ban Laem
11.10 Arr Maeklong
At Maeklong the station is at the end of the market. You now have 20 minutes to walk through the market and find a good spot to watch the train come through.
11.30 Train departs Maeklong and goes through the market.
You now have 3 hours in Maeklong until the next train arrives. Seafood is a specialty here, so you could look for a nice seafood lunch. That will take up about 41 minutes. After that there’s not alot else to do in Maeklong, but hey, you are an intrepid traveller, I’m sure you will make your own adventures.
2.30 Train goes through market again, arrives at Maeklong Station.
3.30 Train leaves Maeklong. Last train to Bangkok. Make sure you’re on it.
This schedule will allow you to see the train going in and out of the station, while you are in the market. If you are a professional photographer – or a train spotter – you could get the 7.30 train from Ban Laem, which would give you another two times to see the market run. That would mean a really early start from Bangkok, which is above and beyond the call of duty really.
As you will see from the videos, I was able to film from beside the drivers window when going through the market. The driver and conductor were quite accommodating to passengers who were riding just to see the market. By the way, there were just as many Thai tourists taking photos on the train as there were western tourists, so you wont feel like a total dork.
The train back will get you back to bangkok at around 6pm, making it a full day out day trip.
Even if you’ve never heard of the town, you’ve probably seen a youtube video of a train going through a tightly packed market, where market stalls are set up on the rails. The train barely fits through the market, and once the train passes through the market stalls occupy the railway line almost immediately.
I took a day trip from Bangkok out to Maeklong, and sure enough this crazy market wasn’t just a figment of my youtube imagination, it really exists.
I always like walking around markets in Thailand, so to have one with its own railway was an added bonus.
Thai markets are like English TV cooking shows. I never cook, but I love watching those shows. It’s the same with the markets. I’m never going to buy and cook any of this stuff, but I love looking at the piles of sea creatures I hitherto didn’t know exist, and piles of neatly stacked vegetables that I rarely eat.
This train has become famous around the world so there were many people in the market taking photos. The market operators seemed to be used to visitors and pointed out a few spots that were best for taking pictures.
More videos at youtube.com/nomadicnotestv
How To Get To Maeklong
Maeklong is under 70km from Bangkok, but getting the train there will make it feel longer. The journey involves two train trips, punctuated by a ferry ride.
From Bangkok the train departs from Wong Wian Yai. This station is near the King Taksin Statue on the non-touristic side of the river in Thonburi. The nearest BTS Station is Wangwan Yai, which is about 20 minutes walk.
The station itself only has one track that runs along the side of a small street, so it is not an obvious station to find. From here you get the train to the end of the line at Mahachai.
This train takes about an hour. At Mahachai, exit left of the train, then turn right into the market street. It’s a fishing port so you will see seafood everywhere. Walk to the end of the street and on your left you will see the river and the ferry terminal.
You now catch the ferry across the river to Ban Laem. At Ban Laem walk through the market and at the street entrance, turn right. Keeping walking down this street for about 10 minutes and you will get to the station. Once again it is a one track station, so the station is not that obvious. This is the train that will take you to Maeklong.
This train also takes 1 hour, and the trip through the market is right at the end, just before the station. It takes about 2 minutes to get through the market. You should start seeing the outer urban area of Maeklong at about 55 minutes, so that would be the time to get ready if you are going to take photos.
I also noticed that a tour group got on the train at the station before Maeklong. They would have been part of a bus tour going somewhere else, and it would certainly be a less time consuming way to do the trip. I haven’t seen this advertised anywhere though.
Planning Your Trip
There are only 4 trains a day to Maeklong, so you really need to plan your day here. This is the timetable from Ban Laem to Maeklong.
From Ban Laem and from Maeklong
If you get the 13.30 train to Maeklong, then you won’t see the train going through the market as you will be back on it as the last train to Bangkok.
The best timing is the following schedule:
8.40 Dep Bangkok Wong Wian Yai
9.30 Arr Mahachai
—Ferry River Crossing—-
10.10 Dep Ban Laem
11.10 Arr Maeklong
At Maeklong the station is at the end of the market. You now have 20 minutes to walk through the market and find a good spot to watch the train come through.
11.30 Train departs Maeklong and goes through the market.
You now have 3 hours in Maeklong until the next train arrives. Seafood is a specialty here, so you could look for a nice seafood lunch. That will take up about 41 minutes. After that there’s not alot else to do in Maeklong, but hey, you are an intrepid traveller, I’m sure you will make your own adventures.
2.30 Train goes through market again, arrives at Maeklong Station.
3.30 Train leaves Maeklong. Last train to Bangkok. Make sure you’re on it.
This schedule will allow you to see the train going in and out of the station, while you are in the market. If you are a professional photographer – or a train spotter – you could get the 7.30 train from Ban Laem, which would give you another two times to see the market run. That would mean a really early start from Bangkok, which is above and beyond the call of duty really.
As you will see from the videos, I was able to film from beside the drivers window when going through the market. The driver and conductor were quite accommodating to passengers who were riding just to see the market. By the way, there were just as many Thai tourists taking photos on the train as there were western tourists, so you wont feel like a total dork.
The train back will get you back to bangkok at around 6pm, making it a full day out day trip.
Wat Mungmuang Market, Chiang Rai – Thailand
Food market at Wat Mungmuang, Chiang Rai – Thailand.
6 things to see in Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta in central Java makes for a handy base to explore the surrounding region. The city is nearby to the world heritage sites of Borobudur and Prambanan temples, as well as the smoking Gunung Merapi volcano.
It’s also a great place to just hang out for a few days. There are plenty of interesting sites, and the city is well set up for travellers. Here are some highlights of Yogyakarta.
Kraton
The Kraton is a walled royal enclave in the heart of Yogyakarta. It is a city in itself with residences within the walls as well as palaces, museums, temples and the home of the Sultan.
[Kraton Entrance]
Jalan Malioboro
JL Malioboro is the main thouroughfare of Yogyakarta. Here you’ll find street stalls and cheap souvenir shops sitting beside air conditioned shopping malls. A great place to find Indonesian products such as batik art, topeng masks and wayang golek puppets.
[Jalan Malioboro]
Taman Sari
Taman Sari (Water Castle) is a complex that can be found within the Kraton. The area was a system of palaces, pools and canals, which is mostly ruins today.
[Water Castle Area]
Pasar Ngasem
Walk around the lanes of Pasar Ngasem (Bird Market) to see thusands of birds as well as exotic and domestic animals for sale.
[Bird Market]
Pasar Beringharjo
Pasar Beringharjo is the main market of Yogyakarta. Wander through the food and spice markets, check out the antiques and curios, or shop for batik or other souvenir items.
[Pasah Beringharjo]
Dutch Yogya
There are still building that remain from the era of Dutch colonial rule in Yogya. The most notable are public buildings, such as the post office, and bank offices.
[Post Office]
[Old Amsterdam]
It’s also a great place to just hang out for a few days. There are plenty of interesting sites, and the city is well set up for travellers. Here are some highlights of Yogyakarta.
Kraton
The Kraton is a walled royal enclave in the heart of Yogyakarta. It is a city in itself with residences within the walls as well as palaces, museums, temples and the home of the Sultan.
[Kraton Entrance]
Jalan Malioboro
JL Malioboro is the main thouroughfare of Yogyakarta. Here you’ll find street stalls and cheap souvenir shops sitting beside air conditioned shopping malls. A great place to find Indonesian products such as batik art, topeng masks and wayang golek puppets.
[Jalan Malioboro]
Taman Sari
Taman Sari (Water Castle) is a complex that can be found within the Kraton. The area was a system of palaces, pools and canals, which is mostly ruins today.
[Water Castle Area]
Pasar Ngasem
Walk around the lanes of Pasar Ngasem (Bird Market) to see thusands of birds as well as exotic and domestic animals for sale.
[Bird Market]
Pasar Beringharjo
Pasar Beringharjo is the main market of Yogyakarta. Wander through the food and spice markets, check out the antiques and curios, or shop for batik or other souvenir items.
[Pasah Beringharjo]
Dutch Yogya
There are still building that remain from the era of Dutch colonial rule in Yogya. The most notable are public buildings, such as the post office, and bank offices.
[Post Office]
[Old Amsterdam]
Yogyakarta Resources
Tourism Indonesia: Visit Indonesia.
Grand Quality Hotel Yogyakarta: Hotel in Yogyakarta.
Tourism Indonesia: Visit Indonesia.
Grand Quality Hotel Yogyakarta: Hotel in Yogyakarta.
The Cultural Bazaar of Kuala Lumpur
My favourite market in Kuala Lumpur is the Cultural Bazaar, located between China Town and the Colonial District. While there are plenty of markets that are bigger, this market is a managable size in a heritage building, which is worth visiting for the building alone.
[Cultural Bazaar Entrance]
The side of the market is bordered by Jalan Hang Kasturi, a pedestrian street landscaped with tall palm trees.
[Jln Hang Kasturi]
The Cultural Bazaar was originally called the Central Market, which was constructed in 1888-89. The current building was built in 1936 in the art deco style and came close to being demolished in the 1980s. Thankfully the Malaysian Heritage Trust intervened and saved the building and it became the Cultural Bazaar in 1986.
[Central Market Shopping]
The market is filled with excellent handcrafts and gift ideas as well as other specialty stores. It’s a good place to look for souvenirs as you don’t have the piles of cheap knock off goods that you see in every other market.
[Central Market shops]
[Cultural Bazaar Entrance]
The side of the market is bordered by Jalan Hang Kasturi, a pedestrian street landscaped with tall palm trees.
[Jln Hang Kasturi]
The Cultural Bazaar was originally called the Central Market, which was constructed in 1888-89. The current building was built in 1936 in the art deco style and came close to being demolished in the 1980s. Thankfully the Malaysian Heritage Trust intervened and saved the building and it became the Cultural Bazaar in 1986.
[Central Market Shopping]
The market is filled with excellent handcrafts and gift ideas as well as other specialty stores. It’s a good place to look for souvenirs as you don’t have the piles of cheap knock off goods that you see in every other market.
[Central Market shops]
Christmas Markets of Europe
The Christmas market tradition began in Germany and Austria but markets can be found all over Europe.
The markets feature stalls that sell nativity scene pieces, Christmas tree decorations as well as hand craft items. Spending time in these markets I felt a stronger sense of the true meaning of Christmas than I feel in Australia.
[Christmas Market - Marseille France]
[Budapest Christmas Market]
[Mulled Wine - Budapest Christmas Market]
[Munich Christkindlmarkt]
[Marienplatz Christmas Market - Munich]
[Christmas Market Decorations - Munich]
[Christmas Market Gingerbreads - Munich]
[Manger Market - Munich]
The markets feature stalls that sell nativity scene pieces, Christmas tree decorations as well as hand craft items. Spending time in these markets I felt a stronger sense of the true meaning of Christmas than I feel in Australia.
[Christmas Market - Marseille France]
[Budapest Christmas Market]
[Mulled Wine - Budapest Christmas Market]
[Munich Christkindlmarkt]
[Marienplatz Christmas Market - Munich]
[Christmas Market Decorations - Munich]
[Christmas Market Gingerbreads - Munich]
[Manger Market - Munich]
Second hand teeth from the Marrakech market dentist
Medical tourism is all the rage these days. I have friends in England who swear by their dentists in Hungary and Poland. Why go to Eastern Europe though when you can go to Northern Africa.
[Marrakech Market Dentist]
This dentist at Djemaa el-Fna, the market square in Marrakech, will repair your dentures on the spot. You can mix and match from hundreds of teeth of all shapes and sizes.
[Marrakech Market Dentist]
This dentist at Djemaa el-Fna, the market square in Marrakech, will repair your dentures on the spot. You can mix and match from hundreds of teeth of all shapes and sizes.
Buying orange juice at Djemaa el-Fna Marrakech
Djemaa el-Fna in Marrakech is famous for its orange juice stands. Here you can get a freshly squeezed juice for 3 Dirham (35 cents US).
[Djemaa el-Fna orange juice stands]
Buying a juice should be a simple procedure that doesn’t need instructions, but here are some tips to be aware of.
Some of the juice guys pre squeeze the juice and add water and sugar. Adding sugar to OJ ruins the taste for me. I am not alone in the quest for 100% Orange Juice.
Also some of the stalls will try and upsell you to a blood orange. Some of the stalls have the price clearly marked, but others don’t. A guy in front of me got super-sized to a blood orange and was caught out when his 3 Dirhams didn’t cover the 15 Dirham drink.
[Djemaa el-Fna orange juice stands]
Buying a juice should be a simple procedure that doesn’t need instructions, but here are some tips to be aware of.
Some of the juice guys pre squeeze the juice and add water and sugar. Adding sugar to OJ ruins the taste for me. I am not alone in the quest for 100% Orange Juice.
Also some of the stalls will try and upsell you to a blood orange. Some of the stalls have the price clearly marked, but others don’t. A guy in front of me got super-sized to a blood orange and was caught out when his 3 Dirhams didn’t cover the 15 Dirham drink.