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Monday, September 16, 2013 @ 10:55 PM PERMALINK





Chatuchak Weekend Market ( also commonly spelt at Jatujak and abbreviated as JJ) is an institution in its own right.

It is MASSIVE. Wikipedia says covers 35 acres and is home to 15,000 stalls and I believe that.

The atmosphere at Chatuchak is electrifying. At JJ, tourists and Bangkokians browse stalls shoulder to shoulder, it isn't just another tourist trap where stalls exist only for tourists. Between shopping and browsing, it is the best place to observe the easy-going and friendly demeanor of the Thais.

I'm sure you have already heard about how JJ sells almost everything. People aren't exaggerating; Vintage collectables, second hand clothes, scrap booking materials, aromatherapy items, pets, homeware, furniture, plants, electronics and toys are just some of the things you can purchase at JJ.

On the wearables front, you'd be wrong to assume that because it is called a market, it only sells the usual run of the mill products with shoddy workmanship. It doesn't matter if you are looking to buy trendy clothes or looking to take a peek into Bangkok's independent designer scene, everything can all be found at JJ market.

Many people suggest getting to JJ as early as possible to avoid the heat that comes with the afternoon sun. We got there at 11 or so when the market was in full swing and it was fine. Personally, I don't think there is a point dragging yourself up early if you aren't a morning person. It is just easier to expect a hot and sticky day, bring lots of water and just roll with it.



There is supposed to be a system to the beautiful chaos that is Chatuchuk. Sections are numbered and labeled to tell you what is being sold there. If you can get a hold of one of the area maps, you will be able to find out which sections you'd rather skip or skip to, provided you can locate the section numbers before you enter the section itself. Bear in mind that these are loose definitions and sometimes the best way to get a sense of the area is actually to get in there and take a look.



There are many entrances you can enter the market by. We had ducked into a side entrance that led us into a clothes section that seemed to sell mostly be second hand items/vintage (term used loosely) items.
There are stalls selling racks and racks of clothes for 100 Baht (less than $5). If you are into thrifting, it is like being in a HUGE thrift store chockful of marvelous items waiting to be found.

If second-hand/vintage clothing isn't your thing, you'll be better off entering by the main entrance (pictured at the top of this post). The areas selling the usual fashionable clothing are located closer to that area. Clothes here are cheap too, I bought 3 pairs of shorts at 100 baht each.

With some exploring you'll also be able to come across stalls selling self designed accessories and carefully curated clothes.







This is the FORTH time I've been to Chatuchak and I've actually still haven't come across that famed Pets Section.  Although, this time round we did come across a tiny pets section that sold all these adorable pet clothes. One step closer I guess, maybe during my next trip there then.





After hours of walking and shopping, we decided that we really ought to take a break to fill our stomaches.

The food section is also humongous. Thais who frequent JJ know which are the best food stalls and where to find them. We didn't, but as luck would have it, we chanced upon this chicken noodle stall with available seats.  The stall only sells one dish - chicken noodles; And with good reason - the noodles were phenomenal. 





I know this is a very badly taken photograph but if you happen to come across this stall, HAVE A BOWL OF NOODLES, you won't regret it.



Stomaches filled and feet rested, we carried on shopping until about 6pm.

We actually had quite a lucky day. The weather wasn't scorching hot and a short drizzle helped cool down the area during what would have been the hottest part of the day.

After a second break, we decided we were done for the day and we took the BTS down to Siam.





We ended up visiting the Magnam pop up store. It was its last day and EVERYTHING was sold out. So we ended up having a sprite, a cup of tea and a cocktail. Turns out, it was its last day in Bangkok because it was headed to Singapore..Pfft





We also stopped at Naraya to buy all the items friends and family requested.

To be honest, the Siam area definitely needs more than the 3 hours we allocated to it. While I'm not particularly a fan of the big expensive malls like Siam Discovery and Siam Centre, Siam Square is pretty fun to explore and I've still to visit Scala Cinema - although I saw it from the outside this time.

We had wanted to try and locate Somtam Nua but with only the street address, we didn't have any idea how to go about finding it.

In the end, we made the decision to jump into a tuk-tuk and head back to our hotel.



The streets in front of the hotel is always bustling and turns into a food market at night. While Abby rested her feet, Ale and I went downstairs and indulged in a rapid fire food buying frenzy.







Here's my Chatuchak haul. I suppose I went a little crazy with the bottoms.



We'd set out to cram all our shopping into two days so the next day we were off to Platinum Mall.

Rising prices aside, I still love shopping at Platinum Mall. A close second would have to be Pratunam clothes market although I didn't get to explore that much this time round.

I had worried that the rest would get tired of shopping so had only allocated the afternoon to shopping and had planned to head to Asiatique for dinner. As it turns out, all three of us have a little shopoholic in us and we ended up staying the entire day at Platinum instead.

I'd like to show you more photos but I was too busy shopping. Ale was way more attentive to her camera so you'll probably be better off looking for photos of our Platinum shopping day at her blog

I can only provide you with 4 photos. All my shopping from Platinum, beef noodles from Platinum's food court (a must eat each time I visit), a Thai Tea Latte from Black Canyon and my part of my dinner, pork flavoured cup noodles and pork balls.









Even though we spent two solid days shopping, Bangkok promises so much more and I'll be back with another update that is less shopping-centric.

Til next time kittens!

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- With Chatuchak, the trick is all in your mindset. It will get hot, sticky and crowded and you shouldn't go there expecting anything less than that. Bring along water or be prepared to buy numerous bottles, take frequent breaks (there are many cafes and stalls around for that very reason) and take along a healthy sense of adventure.

 - As it is with most crowded places, keep an eye on your belongings. Chatuchak has claimed a phone from me (I had left it in a shop after paying for something) and Jasmine's Blackberry fell victim to pickpockets the last time we were there.

- You can take a cab to Chatuchak but if you are located near a BTS, just take the train. You'll save money but more importantly (I feel) won't get stuck in patience trying traffic jams. Trust me, if you aren't used to the heat or the crowd, you'll be needing that patience later on in the day.

If you are wary about public transport in Bangkok, don't be. This is what a BTS station looks like. Clean, fast and affordable, what else could you ask for?



If you come from the same neck of the woods as me, it is almost exactly the same as our MRT system.
You'll be looking to get off at Mo Chit Station. Just follow the crowd and you'll find Chatuchuk with no problem at all.

The tokens used are a little different. For the orange ones, just tap them on the scanners at the barriers to get the gates open. As for the card, if you are as old as me, they work exactly the same way ours used to. Put them into the slots at the barriers and the gantry will open up. Easy peasy




































- I've had problems getting a taxi to bring me out of JJ because of the traffic. A win-win situation I've found is to do what we did and take the BTS down to Siam station. At Siam, you can enjoy the air conditioned comfort of the malls and even get a spot of dinner there. If you aren't too bushed, there is also more shopping to be done at Siam Square

- Siam Square sounds like it may be a self contained building but it isn't. It's a name given collectively to a series of buildings and roads so do bear in mind that if you are looking for a specific place, you'd either have to ask many people for directions or have them on hand. Or well, try and use Google Maps.

- Always tell the tuk-tuk driver where you are going and agree on a price before getting in. Once inside, hold on for dear life. Tuk-tuk drivers are known to regard traffic rules as mere suggestions. This, while nerve wrecking for some does make it so much faster for them to get you to your destination.

Labels: bangkok, chatuchak, jj market, Platinum mall, Thailand, travel

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