Maeklong Railway Market & Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

So, this trip to Bangkok and surrounding provinces brought me to some new places as well as some of which I had been to in the past including Wat Pho, Wat Arun and Erawan Shrine in Bangkok as well as Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in Samut Songkhram province. My recent travel to Chonburi province in which Pattaya and Ko Larn of which the two fun and exciting beach and island holiday retreat has to offer brought me to another new place, Ko Si Chang which was a trip that helped to understand a little piece of the past history of Thailand under the rule of King Chulalongkorn while in Samut Songkhram, previous visit to Damnoen Saduak did not include the railway track fresh market known as Maeklong Railway Market. And this recent trip provide opportunity to access and see for myself how this market be so different or possibly unseen elsewhere in the world. The Maeklong Railway Market obtained such a name because the fresh market, which has vendors or traders that deal in all kinds of daily food necessities including varieties of vegetables, fruits, fish, meat, seafood produce, as well as dry foodstuff and packaged food items operated from both sides of the railway track that runs from the not far away Maeklong Railway station about 100 metres distance from each side between the market and the railway station. Both the fresh market and the Maeklong station were separated from each other by the road that cuts through the railway tracks which required manual closure by railway staff when the train passes through. One side of the market was actually the rear of row of shops that involved in range of other business activities other than fresh market items. So, while walking along the railway market which stretched about few hundred metres along the railway track for tour before arrival of the train, you can get out from the market through those shop back alleys and stroll along the shops instead just for short kind of exploration of the surrounding area within the market. Both sides of the market with the traders having their items being place just inches away from the railway track and apart from their own trading space, they also set up the market stall covers that shelter the rain and sun which would require to be temporarily taken down when the train passes through the railway track. People who wanted to witness this amazing and unseen market would get themselves prepared by choosing the best spots along both sides of the market and having their camera ready to snap the best shots. The first train that arrived at Maeklong Railway station is 0945 and people could be seen descended to the market an hour before that in which the market would get crowded by then with the spectators. The surrounding of the Maeklong Railway market itself was also interesting and a walk around the town brought my attention to some nice old shops that occupied some parts of Maeklong town. Since I arrived early before most tourists get to the railway market, I get to indulge in a simple yet satisfying dish, the "khao man gai" or chicken rice, which consisted of a plate of greasy rice cooked from the chicken fats topped with several chopped steamed chicken and cucumber, which was simply delicious. The chicken rice treat was completed with aromatic traditional thai coffee or "gafae boran" finishing off with a refreshing thai tea. The chicken rice shop at this Maeklong Railway Market occupy one of the edge of the old shops not far from the railway station. Some distance away from Maeklong Railway market is where Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is located. I had been to this market prior to this Maeklong trip, but decided to experience it once again after few years lapsed as my main objective was to try out some of the food I missed there such as the special boat noodle. The market just never stop getting busy with boats jammed up the canal at the main pier where passengers board the boat to start their boat tour. Over at this main pier of the canal, there were boats that docked along some spots on the pier which also have restaurants with the kitchen operated from the docked boat, most notably the one that sells boat noodles. So, if you had done the boat tour before and found yourself yet again for second time at this canal market, your best option if not to do the boating tour for second time is to grab a seat at one of the restaurant in particular the one beside the pier and canal and order a bowl of noodles from the boat to fill-up your crave, which I did. Another special food that should be considered is the sticky rice with mango, which is one of the best Thai dessert. Other shops operated on the pier include souvenirs and range of other consumer products. Most of the vendors who paddle on the canal at Damnoen Saduak canal involve fruits traders while there were also those involve in food trading including the boat noodle and other Thai food. As you cruise along the canal, there were houses along the canal that also involve in trading of variety of items including souvenirs and range of other products which associated to the province of Samut Songkhram or just any items that can be special or distinctive.

SOME OLD SHOPS AROUND THE MAEKLONG RAILWAY MARKET

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The road that separated the fresh market (on the left) & the Maeklong Railway Station (on the right). Notice the manual gate barrier which required to be pulled down to block traffic when the train pass through

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The Maeklong Railway Station

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A coffee and coconut vendor at the edge of the railway gate within the Maeklong Railway Station

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The entrance to the Maeklong Railway Market

FRESH MARKET TRADERS ON BOTH SIDE OF THE RAILWAY TRACK @ MAEKLONG RAILWAY MARKET

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FRESH FOOD AND OTHER MARKET ITEMS @ MAEKLONG RAILWAY MARKET

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Chicken rice, coffee and tea for breakfast at an old shop @ Maeklong Railway Market

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A view of row of old shops from the shop where I had chicken rice and coffee for breakfast @ Maeklong Railway Market

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The Maeklong Railway Station ticket booth

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A sign post at Maeklong Railway Station

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The market stall covers set up by the vendors at Maeklong Railway Market to shelter from hot sun and rain

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Vendors pulling down the market cover preparing for the on-coming train that passes through the Maeklong Railway market

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Everyone gets ready for the on-coming train at Maeklong Railway Market

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The train approaching at the Maeklong Railway Market

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The emerging train at Maeklong Railway Market

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The train just inches away from me at Maeklong Railway Market

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The train after passed through me at Maeklong Railway Market

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Vendors re-set up the market cover after the train passed through @ Maeklong Railway Market

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A welcome arch at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

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The busy canal at the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market main pier

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Boat vendors at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

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A souvenir and art vendor at the pier of Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

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Some of the shops/house along the canal of Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

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Tourists enjoying themselves at Damnoen Saduak FLoating Market

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A bowl of boat noodle at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

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Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Samut Songkhram, Thailand