Hi Loves!
Legal and Abroad™️ is back with another Bangkok adventure! Let’s dive into some more keys and gems of things to do while in Bangkok!
Maeklong Railway
While this first stop is not exactly within the Bangkok city limits, the extraordinary and renown Maeklong Market is an excellent place to visit. This is the only railway market in the entire country. The Maeklong Market opened in 1905, primarily established as a goods line. This railway line functioned as a vital transportation link, serving the purpose of transporting produce from fishing ports to the Bangkok markets. The railway is one of the slowest in Thailand, with no signals on the line.
Situated on active railway tracks, the bustling and vibrant market draws thousands of visitors daily, creating a lively atmosphere for tourists in its tight quarters. While navigating the narrow strip between the pop-up stalls on both sides, visitors will find themselves walking directly on train tracks.
With uneven spots and the occasional dips, it is important to wear comfortable shoes during this experience. Maeklong Market has a variety of hand-crafted souvenirs, fresh seafood, succulent meats, beautiful flowers, and farm-fresh produce.
🔑: To make the most of your visit, it is best to arrive at the markets bright and early. Crowds begin to swell mid-morning before the peak rush. My local driver picked me up from my hotel right before 7 AM since the journey to the markets was about an hour and a half.
Y’all… you know we keep it real when giving the tea on the keys and gems! I would be remiss if I did not mention… prepare your nose! Visitors will smell intense whiffs of raw meat and seafood that may not be everyone’s cup of tea. If these robust smells bother you, move quickly and strategically to your desired destination. It is an acquiring and pungent smell that is apart of this unique experience at Maeklong Market. It is important to note that markets play a crucial role in Thailand’s daily life where locals sell a variety of goods.
Thrilling Train Experience
The most exhilarating moment at Maeklong Market is the arrival of the train! The distant sound of the train whistle builds up anticipation for visitors as it comes chugging down the tracks. As the train approaches, visitors witness shop owners scurrying to secure their goods. In a synchronized fashion, the shops quickly fold up, drawing back the awnings, and the background appears empty as the train takes center stage. Visitors are captivated and whisk out their cell phones in anticipation for the train to pass by. The proximity of the train is truly jaw dropping. The narrow streets mean that the train gets EXTREMELY close to you. Please heed caution and be careful! As the train inches by, visitors often exchange hi-fives with tourists on board who are sticking their hands and heads out of the windows.
Just as the train was approaching to make its grand entrance, my tour guide threw out a wild and thrilling idea- capturing a moment of hopping in front of the oncoming train from a distance.
Now Loves, I’m not even gon’ hold you, at first I was like…
Then after he explained to me that this is his “signature” for his tour and showed me several pictures he has done on past tours, I felt a little at ease. I decided to partake in this spontaneous adventure.
This was not the average photo op, as it is the kind of memory that adds an extra layer of excitement to the Maeklong Market experience.
Disclaimer: My videos will show the immensely SLOW speed of this train. No woman solo traveler was hurt or in danger during this experience. My tour guide ensured and prioritized my safety as I followed his guidance. Y’all please do not go hopping in front of trains!
As the train makes its departure, the market comes back to life as shop owners hastily place their items back on display for guests to resume their explorations and make their purchases. The shop owners have this well-synchronized experience down to a science, ensuring a seamless experience since the train maneuvers through the market about eight times a day.
Timing is everything during the train experience. It is essential to know the train’s schedule. To ensure optimal views and picture-perfect moments, my guide ensured we were strategically positioned at the perfect vantage point for stunning photographs and to witness the market’s transformation as the train approached.
💎: When aiming for the ultimate train-watching experience, scouting shops with prime views is key.
Make sure to arrive at the selected shop at least 30 minutes before the train’s scheduled appearance to secure a front-row seat for optimal views. This is also a great opportunity to make a purchase and support the local businesses. Shop owners allow paying customers to stay and watch the train approach from the optimal views.
I observed a few eager visitors try to access the coveted views without making a purchase, only to be told non-paying customers are not permitted and to be escorted away. Another great thing is, that it usually starts to get warm in the early morning, so the refreshing drink is helpful as you stand and watch the train come by.
After the train passed by, I continued through the markets and purchased a few souvenirs for my family.
Bonus 💎 (especially for solo travelers): The tour guide is usually more than happy to take pictures of you. Do not be afraid to ask! Most times, they will offer to take pictures for you. My guide loved photography and offered to take all my photos and send them to me via WhatsApp! I am grateful that during this experience I left with a collection of personal and professionally captured memories!
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Following the Maeklong Market experience, I took a 20-minute ride with my guide to reach my next destination, the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
Upon arrival, it was a captivating sight watching the market unfold beneath me. My excitement soon turned into a surprise as I looked over the bridge.
Beneath me were pythons casually coiled and accompanied by some locals. It turns out that visitors can share a hands-on experience with the serpents for a small fee.
While I am an adventure traveler who will try almost anything once, this was a particular adventure I gladly opted to skip.
Exploring the Market
Exploring the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is a popular experience. This market stands as the biggest and most renowned floating market in Thailand. Navigating the waterways in wooden boats, visitors will encounter an array of vibrant colorful stalls filled with clothes, souvenirs, food, and fresh produce. While this was an incredibly great experience, in recent years, the market has a reputation for being a tourist trap.
Floating Boat Experience
Tourists can choose between a paddle boat and a motor-operated boat. I rode on a paddle-operated boat.
🔑: Ensure your boat is equipped with an umbrella, as the sun in Thailand can be scorching. Additionally, the umbrella provides protection in case of rain. Not all boats will come with an umbrella.
As the boat navigates the different stalls, you can purchase snacks, grilled food, and Pad Thai as you meander through the market. As soon as I spied with my little eye the delicious mango sticky rice, I could not resist!
I did a slight happy dance in the boat (I did not want to make any exaggerated movements) while I indulged in this sweet delicacy.
The boat guide navigates you to each stall, where haggling occurs to encourage purchases. Despite my lack of interest in shopping at this point, there were a couple of things that eventually caught my eye. Negotiating is key in the floating market since prices are severely inflated. I do not recommend making significant purchases here. In comparison to other places around Bangkok, the floating market is notoriously overpriced. Most items can be found around Bangkok at a cheaper rate and without unnecessary bartering. I managed to purchase two items at a considerably low price. The seller humorously asked my guide in their native tongue whether my guide told me what price to bargain. I just like to say my negotiating skills honed from my legal acumen came in handy lol.
💎: Many Thai guides will negotiate on your behalf to a certain extent. At that point, it is essential to directly bargain with the seller and have a translator. Preferential treatment is not given to locals. While the guides will ensure that you get a fair price, making a lower offer directly to the seller is more likely to be accepted than if originally offered by your Thai guide.
As I approached the end of the floating market, I passed by homes elevated on stilts. This part of the journey offers a serene and quieter atmosphere compared to the bustling and congested markets.
🔑: I cannot stress this enough- ARRIVE EARLY. ARRIVE EARLY. ARRIVE EARLY. Optimally, before 10ish AM. Boat traffic is REAL! After leaving Maeklong Market, my guide and I wasted no time driving 20 minutes to the floating markets to beat the inevitable congestion. At the end of my floating market journey, I witnessed an overload of boat traffic, thankful we did not get caught up in the congested madness. Additionally, the heat intensifies as the day progresses.
While this experience, was interesting and memorable, I have no desire to visit another floating market in Bangkok. Equally, I encourage you all to experience it and create your travel memories, Loves.
Following a busy morning, it was time to take a break and indulge in some delicious Thai cuisine. Seated at communal-style tables, I was excited to dig into my meal with Thai spicy heat. If I could eat authentic Thai cuisine weekly, I would be a very happy woman! It is soooo good!
Wat Samphran: Thailand’s Dragon Temple
**In a gesture of respect for Thai culture, I have chosen not to share certain pictures from this experience on the blog. Some moments are best kept private, allowing for a more personal connection with the journey.**
Exploring diverse cultures, beliefs, and traditions are a sweet and cherished aspect of my global travels. I consider myself a wanderlust student. I am always fascinated with the world and eager to learn while immersing myself in new environments. The journey to Wat Samphran surpassed my expectations. I prefer to visit places that are not overrun with bustling crowds and this experience perfectly aligned with my preference for more intimate explorations.
How To Get There
Traveling to Wat Samphran can present logistical challenges since public transportation options directly to the temple are limited. A convenient (and most expensive) choice is a GRAB taxi, costing travelers around $20 USD for a round trip. For travelers with an adventurous spirit, motorbike rentals are popular option for around $8 USD. Another alternative and the most cost-effective choice involves taking public transportation via BTS to Bang Wa Station for $1 USD. This is the lengthiest route due to Bangkok’s notorious traffic congestion. Additionally, upon arrival travelers will still need to take a GRAB taxi to the temple. Each option has its own pros and cons, offering flexibility tailored to preference and travel style.
Best Time to Visit
Wat Saphram welcomes visitors daily, operating from 9 AM to 5 PM on weekdays and from 6 AM to 6 PM on weekends.
💎: For a more comfortable experience, I strongly advise visiting the temple towards the end of the day. The weather in Thailand gets hot and strolling through the hollow tunnel in the temple can be warm and humid.
Temple Experience
Registered in 1985, the Chinese-Thai-designed temple is located in Nakhon Pathom Province’s Amphoe Sam Phran, just over an hour’s drive from Bangkok. The temple’s founder, inspired after a profound seven-day meditation and fast, envisioned the temple as a place for monks to study and meditate. Unfortunately, it was never completed for that purpose. Presently, the temple serves as a sanctuary for prayer and worship, filled with a tranquil and peaceful ambiance.
Wat Samphram does not have an entrance fee, as the temple operates on a donation basis. These contribution support the electricity and maintenance of the temple grounds. Throughout the temple, Thai prayer pots are placed, offering visitors the opportunity to donate Thai Baht for various wishes ranging from eternal happiness to wealth, family, career success, good luck, long-lasting friendships, and overall well-being. This cultural and spiritual practice invites visitors to contribute to their aspirations while supporting the temple’s upkeep.
Architectural Structure
At a majestic height of 80 meters (262 feet), this cylindrical 17-story temple pays homage to the 80 years of Buddha’s life. Adorned in a graceful soft pink hue, the temple is embellished with an emerald green dragon intricately coiled around it from base to summit. Serving as a place of Buddhist worship and prayer, this temple holds significant reverence for monks and Thai devotees. Architecturally, the temple has profound symbolism to the culture. The 17 floors represent the celestial realms one can attain in the afterlife, determined by the strength and quality of their past karma. Each floor serves as a spiritual journey, ascending towards higher realms in pursuit of enlightenment.
To get to the top of the temple, visitors walk through the interior of the dragon’s body- a hollow concrete tunnel that ascends to the top. Taking off my shoes, I started the journey to the top. As I walked through each level, it was very hot and humid. There are fans thoughtfully placed throughout the levels to provide cooling relief.
The Summit
Once I reached the top, I was greeted by stunning panoramic views of the city and was in awe of the breathtaking sight. While walking around, the atmosphere was serene as I witnessed individuals engaged in meditation and prayer. Nuns diligently tended to the temple grounds. The environment was one of mutual respect and kindness for all people.
Within the temple, there are designated areas for general donations and prayers. Additionally, in some prayer areas, there are different signs encouraging prayers. First, the prayers begin for one’s mother and father, followed by a prayer for the mother’s love for the father. Afterwards, one will pray for their children to harbor love and respect for their parents. This reflects the cultural familial values that are deeply ingrained in Thai traditions. The culture fosters a sense of gratitude and interconnectedness within families.
A novice woman monk warmly welcomed me, initiating a friendly encounter that led to an invitation to sit down and engage in conversation. We spent time immersed in a deep and meaningful dialogue, facilitated by my Thai translator. This was a particularly special encounter etched close to my heart. The monk, a pure and beautiful soul, generously shared her personal journey and key life principles. While I choose to keep some details private, I hold onto the gratitude for this enriching experience and valuable life lessons learned during our exchange.
Following our conversation, I explored more of the temple grounds, reveling in the beauty and serenity that surrounded me. Scattered throughout the premises are animal-shaped structures, including an elephant, turtle, and rabbit, amongst other animals that are significant in Thai culture.
Golden hour was approaching so my tour guide suggested taking the opportunity to snap a few photos lol. They were mostly candids, with a few poses.
Overall, I am so grateful for this experience and highly recommend visiting this hidden gem.
Honorable Mention: Wat Bang Kung
Situated within the remnants of an ancient military camp, Wat Bang Kung is a temple that holds a little secret- it is embedded within a colossal Banyan Tree. Literally hidden within the roots and branches of this majestic tree, the temple serves as a place of worship and also as a preservation of Thai culture and history. Local residents frequent the temple, offering their respects and participating in religious activities.
PA became a knowledgeable teacher to me during this temple visit and I learned valuable information about Thai culture. With a background in professional fighting, he delved into the rich history of Muay Thai warriors and fighters. He further provided detailed explanations of their backgrounds and the significance of each fighting method within Thai culture as they prepared for war.
Oftentimes, Thai locals rub gold leaf paper on the statues and place prayers around them.
Day Significance
The temple designates pots for donations that tie to the day of one’s birth. Each day has a unique meaning and specific color.
PA told me the following meaning of each day for individuals born on that day in Thai culture:
Sunday (Red): Respecter of people. They have power within them. They never show off.
Monday (Yellow): Stop bad people. They bless people.
Tuesday (Pink): They are a great person that is supportive, relaxed, and chill.
Wednesday (Green): This is the greatest day. People born on this day are clever and calm.
Thursday (Orange): Teacher day. People born on this day are very knowledgeable and can be a great teacher.
Friday (Blue): They are a caring person.
Saturday (Purple): Protected by the King of Snakes who promised to be a protector of Buddha.
While my time at this temple was relatively brief, it was a valuable learning experience about Buddhism and Thai culture. Visitors can comfortably explore the grounds within half an hour.
Wrap-Up
After a fulfilling day, I made it back to my accommodations. I highly recommend booking a tour with PA. He proved to be a phenomenal guide and incredibly accommodating throughout the entire journey. Given the long car rides, PA was not just a guide, he was a delightful conversationalist. We chatted about his experiences, including stories about his mom, their herd of animals, and his passion for photography. PA’s wealth of knowledge about Bangkok made the tour an incredible and enjoyable experience.
Next Up!
Stay tuned for my next “Things to Do” in Bangkok adventure coming soon! It is going to be WILD!
Until our next adventure abroad,
Stay Grateful, Love Deep, Dream BIG, and Happy Travels!
