FINALLY, the day to visit Chatuchak market has arrived.
I was very excited over my first visit to Bangkok's mammoth market as it was the main objective of my trip.
From BTS Nana station, I took a skytrain and alighted at BTS Mo Chit station - the last station of the line.
A stretch of stalls by the road could be seen once visitors got down from the station.
Just walk along the traders, and you would be able to find the entrance to the market.
Since it was early morning, the crowd there was still very small.
"Let the shopping begins. And I will find that a pair of rugged shoes and sling bag," I said to myself.
I walked into almost every secondhand footwear shop I passed to find my dream shoes.
I found some interesting ones but they were too huge for my feet. Few pairs of canvas shoes that caught my attention were also slightly too heavy.
Suddenly, I found a shop selling sling bags sewn in pieces of gunny cloths of irregular sizes!
I bought one immediately, for 160 baht.
I noticed many local designers rented shops there to sell their own label. This is why I did not bargain too much with the designers. I just feel the need to support their enthusiasm in their artistic creations.
I was supposed to give Mei Yi a call at noon because they would only be there at noon. But since I couldn't find any public phone booth around the market, there was nothing I could do.
Out of a sudden, I saw two familiar faces shopping for clothes.
"Xia Hui! Xiao Yun!" I shouted. I was so surprised to bump into them. How often does a coincidence like this happen in the 35-acre Chatuchak market!
"Where is Mei Yi?" I asked.
"He went shopping alone," they said.
"I see. Hey, what shirts are you all looking at?" I asked. They showed me the clothes.
"Are these secondhand shirts?" I asked the guy who was tending the shop.
"I designed them!" said the agitated man, who was about to spear me in my head.
What. They looked used.
Fine. I was a little embarrassed. I called Mei Yi using Xia Hui's phone and made my way to Section 23.
Unfortunately, I did not see him.
I continued shopping and walked to the pet section. That was where I got lost. The section at the other side of the market is like a maze! I think I took more than 45 minutes to find my way out. I was so tired of walking and felt like slapping all the noisy animals no matter how adorable they were.
The camera I brought along was really a burden. I didn't use it to any picture of the market at all. I just wanted to shop in peace.
Somehow I found my way back to the market.
However, finding the exit to the skytrain station also took me another 20 minutes. More and more people are flocking into the market.
At the station, I gave Mei Yi a call. We bade farewell, exchanged contact details and promised to keep in touch.
I went back and took a nap.
Later in the evening, I took a stroll in different soi (lanes) branched out from the main Sukhumvit Road, and took the opportunity to check out some menus in Indian restaurants there.
I was shocked that some of them charged 200baht for just a bowl of curry chicken.
After being continuously pestered by men who showed me flyers of bikini girls and "massage" offers, I finally found a shelter that sells Thai food beneath it.
"Please, please serve me good Thai food. I need that," I closed my eyes and prayed silently.
The pad thai sucks. Why can't I find good pad thai like those that I have tasted in Hatyai two years ago!
To be honest, I got really tired of being surrounded by ladyboys, strip-dancers and hookers there.
I needed a place that can give me peaceful and quiet moment so that I can break away from the chaos in the red light district.
So Starbuck was my choice. With a cup of lovely coffee and a plate of dessert, I spent the entire night reading Bangkok Post and Time magazines in the shop.
Ends
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