Thailand – Bangkok – Floating Markets
The first “real” street in Bangkok was built in 1862. Before and long after, all transports took place almost exclusively on the river and the klongs. In the early morning, the farmers’ wives met and held floating markets with their boats. Bangkok has rightly been called the “Venice of the East”. For Europeans, it is hard to imagine. There the Thais sit in long narrow boats loaded with flowers, fruits, vegetables and many other goods and try to sell the goods.
A colorful, wild mess that amazes the strange spectators. It is by no means unusual when the goods sold to each other are already processed into a delicious meal by the new owner in his boat and resold. The ingenuity here seems to be limitless.
The photos shown here are from our trip in 1984. At that time, the floating markets in Bangkok still served to supply the population with essential things. Today, however, the original markets are no longer found in Bangkok but rather in Damnoen Sudak, about 100 km from Bangkok. This excursion can be done by taxi, bus or organized in groups. However, you should arrive there in the early hours of the morning to experience the market in its natural form, without the tourist crowds.
