The Floating Market

When told we would be going to the Floating Market I thought it was like a farmers market on a barge and you arrived by some kind of boat. I was very surprised by the reality. The Market is about 2 hours outside of Bangkok and is due West.

Ten and our driver pulled up to some speed boats that were parked in a canal. They are more like a gondola that you would see in Italy except with an extended motor and the driver and is not on a raised platform but rather on your level. You sit single file and move through some man made canals. Here is a picture of them parked before we jumped in and headed up river.

We spent 30 minutes navigating the various turns, looking at the locals hang out at their houses. Since these people don't have a Target or Costco ,The Market is the place to be to socialize and hang out.

When shopping it is all about the haggling. Whatever the stated price, the rule of thumb is to cut it in half. Having shopped a bit in Bangkok markets you get a sense of the going prices and how much they are trying to take advantage of you. It becomes part of the fun if you don't take it personally.