On our way down to Hua Hin for October break we stopped by Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Maeklong Railway Market.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (ตลาดน้ำดำเนินสะดวก) was the first floating market we had been to where we as shoppers could rent a boat to visit the market stalls. Shopping from a boat was a very different experience. If one person wanted to visit a shop, we all did. Edging gently away from an aggressive seller was not an option; there was a clear line of saying to the boat paddler, “we’re done here”. It was nice to be able to wander through a market while seated. It was also one of the cooler Thai market experiences we have had. On the whole, it was an enjoyable novel experience.
Maeklong Railway Market (ตลาดร่มหุบ) offered less in the way of shopping experience, but perhaps even more in the way of novelty. Shoppers in the market walked along train tracks and vendors had their booths right up to the edge of track. When the train came, goods for sale had to be pulled back; awnings had to be folded in; and shoppers had to find someway to get behind the red line (there was a lot of pushing).
We wrapped up the day with an excellent dinner in a beautiful setting at Praça in Hua Hin. Unfortunately, I failed in my photographer duties.
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