I've been to markets in quite a few countries now: flea markets, food markets, craft markets and more. None of that really prepared me for the scale and sights of Bangkok's weekly market on steroids; a quick glance at the images above gives only a hint.
The Chatuchak Weekend Market Is not only the largest market in Thailand, it's been proclaimed the world's largest and most diversified weekend market, and I can't imagine there are too many close contenders. An average weekend crowd is over 200,000 visitors.
At points as I walked through the market, they all seemed to be in the same space I was, although there are also less-crowded parts of the market, which has over 35 acres, 15,000 market stalls and more than 11,000 vendors at last count.
All of that is organized, at least in theory, into 26 sections, each with multiple aisles that run into each other without much ceremony. There's even a map and list of what's sold in which section, but that seems to be only the most general sort of guide.
A good part of the charm is seeing something different whichever way you turn; if they really stuck to the chart you might get tired of seeing the same sort of merchandise on every stall. And since there was no clear 'this is where' for the cheap and sharp kitchen knives that were my goal, I got to see lots of everything, as the pictures indicate.
Ironically, when I finally found a cutlery vendor with the right sort of knives, I got so deep into examining all his different lines and types that it was only after I had bought my four knives and wandered far into other sections that I realized I hadn't taken a photo of his stall. But no way back; I'm not sure I could have found him again if I tried.
Food at Chatuchak falls into two categories: packaged goods including spices, coffee and more, and small restaurants and cafes sprinkled through the market because with that much to see and buy, you'll need a break!
The market has been at its present location, not far from the city's new main rail station, but well away from its central core, since 1983. When it started in 1942, it was in an open field next to the Grand Palace in a very central area. A few months later, it was moved to another location nearby, and then in 1958 back to the original site, which is now a public park.
The market's most visible feature, the clock tower, was added in 1987 to celebrate the 60th birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60th birthday.
The name 'weekend' market is actually a bit of a misnomer; the sections selling plants are also open on Wednesday and Thursday, and there's a Friday night opening that's only for wholesale buyers.
And just for variety, we'll go out with a few unusual items: an old portable typewriter for sale 'under the counter' at a T-shirt shop, a store featuring shirts for dogs, and shoelaces in more colors than I could ever have imagined.
In a few more lifetimes... perhaps I could have explored the entire market!
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