Welcome to Kloeng Toei wet market!
“Wet market! I need to find a wet market. The supermarkets are way expensive to shop at.”
That’s one of the first things I blurted out when I arrived in Bangkok. I was staying at a friend's place for 3 weeks and I wanted the cheaper alternative than to spend good money on good local produce in a supermarket. Besides, you get to know a place better when you get down to the core, the market place.
That’s one of the first things I blurted out when I arrived in Bangkok. I was staying at a friend's place for 3 weeks and I wanted the cheaper alternative than to spend good money on good local produce in a supermarket. Besides, you get to know a place better when you get down to the core, the market place.
Fresh Seafood!
As far as Bangkok goes, I was there to not only visit the city but also do my work. So 3 weeks in a working suburban area was perfect. Close to the BTS, I was just a train ride away from everything. Almost everything…
Now getting to Kloeng Toei was a bit of a challenge as it’s not on the main BTS line. So I had to make an exchange to get on a MRT and get to the Kloeng Toei station.
“ermm…how do I get to Kloeng Toei wet market?”
“Exit 2, yoouu walk back 300 hunlet meter”, this was fully said with hand gestures telling me to walk back from the exit I get out.
So that means I get out, turn right and right again and it’s 300 hundred meters. Since I’m not sure I asked again and a kind motorist told me to walk towards the traffic light. There is a lot of traffic lights but what he forgot to mention was walk towards the main intersection and the market is just across this intersection on your right. It’s a good 5 minutes walk.
In short:
“ermm…how do I get to Kloeng Toei wet market?”
“Exit 2, yoouu walk back 300 hunlet meter”, this was fully said with hand gestures telling me to walk back from the exit I get out.
So that means I get out, turn right and right again and it’s 300 hundred meters. Since I’m not sure I asked again and a kind motorist told me to walk towards the traffic light. There is a lot of traffic lights but what he forgot to mention was walk towards the main intersection and the market is just across this intersection on your right. It’s a good 5 minutes walk.
In short:
- Take MRT to Kloeng Toei.
- Take exit number 2 at the station.
- Walk back 300m to the main traffic intersection.
- Markets are across the road on your right.
- Pedestrian crossing is advisable and available too!
Nothing goes to waste.
The first thing that caught my attention was the smell. And walking into the meat section of the market isn’t such a good idea on a full stomach. Plus a mask wouldn’t have been such bad idea either but I’m sure it would have been rude.
 | Well equipped with a camera and closed toed shoes, I braved the dimly lit meat section. With the rising morning sun, the smell of meat was over whelming given that the space was an enclosure. The dripping of water mixed with blood, combined with the noise of the chopper slicing meat and the people talking, I knew it was going to be an interesting morning. In the midst of the meat butchery section I noticed a women selling vegetables and having breakfast at the same time. I suppose if you are used to these smells, it wouldn’t bother you but I could some how feel my breakfast about to land on my feet if I stood any longer in one place. I had to move and get to an opening of some kind soon. |
Internal organ salad, anyone??
Along the way I was spoken to in Thai, greeted with lots of smiles, as I doubt they get very many tourist walking around the market with a camera. Plus looking pan Asian and being mistaken for Thai is an icebreaker for conversations.
I admire how this little guy was enjoying his breakfast sitting in the midst of fresh seafood with all the 'aromas' of a market place combined into one.
A few meters into my journey the market opened up and soon it was fresh seafood! Ahh, the smell is definitely better than the meat enclosure and it was such a feast for sight. Along the seafood aisles, was again meat but the innards were on display, followed by green vegetables, fruits and dried food. Some sold desserts on the side while selling pig liver, spine, brain and everything else in a pig up front; and in between all this some made salads (which looks like a mix of innards with herbs and spices) right next to fresh poultry. It was clearly a mix of everything and anything in one place. Health and safety was clearly not an issue and this place is seriously great for a photographer!
Fresh packed Tom Yam soup bundles.
Did I mention that this is by far the largest wet market in Bangkok? Yes it is. It’s the Chatuchak version of a market place. Easy to get lost or disoriented in at least.
They sell everything too. From pots and pans, to spices, sweet treats, fresh produce and meats. It’s a one-stop shop for everything, if you knew where to look for it that is.
They sell everything too. From pots and pans, to spices, sweet treats, fresh produce and meats. It’s a one-stop shop for everything, if you knew where to look for it that is.
Fresh hot food! Don't worry, this was sold far away from the raw meats and seafood.
An hour or two into my adventure, I’ve had enough. The midday sun was starting to kick in and I haven’t even covered the other side of the market, which is across the main road.
The other side however had the same sort of stalls but mostly centered around cooked food. Fresh fruits were along side bakeries and cooked food. It was such a relief to smell Thai spices along with fresh baked bread in a market place, especially this one. There are also toy stores with various toys for kids. Talk about a one-stop shopping center!
The other side however had the same sort of stalls but mostly centered around cooked food. Fresh fruits were along side bakeries and cooked food. It was such a relief to smell Thai spices along with fresh baked bread in a market place, especially this one. There are also toy stores with various toys for kids. Talk about a one-stop shopping center!
Its strange to find a bakery in a market place!
I can imagine shopping here every day, if you live close, this place would be great! You could get everything for cheap and it’s fresh. I can assure you that as people buy in the bulk load here. I’ve seen a few carting off with sacks full of coconuts and mangoes, while others with vegetable and seafood. I’m assuming it’s for their cafés or restaurants.
But for me, its just too far. It takes about 40 minutes just to get here from where I am so I have to look for something close by, but this certain was an adventure. And true to its nature, is one heck of a wet market all right.
I got home and smelt like it too!
View gallery for more photographs.
I got home and smelt like it too!
View gallery for more photographs.
"Now how shall we cook this little thing…?"
RSS Feed