5 December 2015 - Chatuchak Market pilgrimage

On the top of our weekend To Do List was the Chatuchak Market to buy a few things at the tail end of our trip that we didn't buy last time and didn't have to carry around the world with us!  As it happens the market is at the end of our local BTS line so it was an easy trip to get to Mo Chit and a short walk from there to the market.

The spelling changes often - lost in translation!

Lots of copies: Space Fighters instead of Star Wars!

It was crowded as expected, hot as expected, smelly as expected, tiring as expected and most enjoyable, also expected!  I, for one, LOVE the buzz of markets and the sniff of a bargain and bargain we did in a restrained sort of Keesman way!  We had our lists, and pretty much stuck to them knowing that we do have to pack and transport anything we buy next Thursday and moving days, even for our homeward journey, are never fun and always exhausting.

Crocodile - formerly alive!

Not sure that Australian customs would let us through with this one!

By the end of our expedition through the hot and narrow alleyways we had bought Thai Boxing shorts for Tim, elephants for Annika, insects in resin for Luke and a handbag for me and a few other items and we felt most pleased with our purchases.

Hot, just waiting for a drink.

The kids' absolute favourite food from Thailand.

Lunch was also part of the market experience which was Pad Thai and spring rolls and various Thai versions of cooling drinks and a special coffee prepared by a man with better coordination than I would ever have!

Pad Thai

Spring rolls

Deep in thought...mmm...sweet chili sauce and spring rolls - can't go wrong!

Looking rather warm!

Our gorgeous waitress, with a beautiful smile, no taller than Luke, and working, .

Coffee man dancing and pouring!

Then we hunted for the animal section which we finally found.  It is fascinating and disturbing with little respect for the poor animals in their crowded, tiny cages in the heat.  The big kids really did not want to be there but Luke could have studied each animal for ages.  Several times I was told off for taking photos of baby birds and other creatures which were probably not brought into Thailand by legal means and certainly weren't treated in a humane way.  

The sugar gliders and tree shrews and chameleons and snakes seemed quite happy in their environments as did the over-coiffed puppies.  There were hot little bunnies and poultry that clearly didn't enjoy the heat and humidity.

The humidity was so high that we could feel that rain was imminent.  It didn't actually rain while we were there but Karl said that it poured down at our accommodation, so somehow the rain cloud skirted the market. 

Dwarf hamsters don't belong in the heat.

Neither do hedgehogs

Tree shrews are happy little creatures, they don't seem to mind the heat.

More tree shrews

Baby chameleons

Macaw

 

Maggots anyone!!

Once home, we all hopped into the pool and had a refreshing and welcomed dip.

The big kids and I dashed down to the local market strip to buy some pork sticks to go with our dinner, and it was then that the big dark clouds started letting go of their load!  We ran back up the street catching only a few drops before the deluge occurred. It was tropical and fierce for half an hour and then all was clear!

After dinner we walked to Benchasuri Park to see some illuminations we'd seen advertised but there was little to see other than a nice park and a throng of people, all dressed in their celebratory yellow tee shirt, celebrating the King's birthday.  There seemed to be some kind of ceremony with singing and music.  By the time we walked home again, it was time for another shower to cool down after the sticky heat!