Mar 15, 2013 |
Hua Hin – One of our favorite beaches in Thailand…
The last time I visited Hua Hin was about 4 years ago with my wife and her younger sister. So my wife and I was thinking its about time to go back and check out one of Thailand’s fast growing seaside resort. We went to Cha Am last week where I made a review of Puktien Cabana Beach Hotel too and since I have just a week to go before I head back to the NYC why not enjoy the first reason why I came to Thailand the first place, its wonderful beaches.
But this time we wanted to invite her best friend and two kids who were on school vacation. It’s the very first time we had young rambunctious kids in our car on a 4 hour drive. So we’ll take this chance as a practice run for our own kids.
We decided to book the same hotel we stayed in 4 years ago. Its called Casa Del Mare Hua Hin (Update 2018 – Casa Del Mare is now called Escape Hotel Hua Hin) and the hotel is located right on the main road and about a short 5 minute walk to the beach accessible by the hotel’s beach entrance.
When were first stayed at the Casa back then it was newly renovated. And quiet too. We felt like we were the only a few handful of guests. On this latest visit we noticed a big difference. Lots of local and foreign guests this time.
We booked 2 rooms that were next to each other and when into our rooms on the ground floor with a terrific view of the pool. The rooms were in great condition, neat and clean and quite spacious. Everything was in perfect working order.
Though 4 years ago when I booked 2 rooms next to each other, we were given rooms on the second floor and the balconies had a door to join both rooms. Which is great for families so everyone can hang out in one large space right on the balcony with comfortable seating area.
Our room…
Our room…
Our room…
Our room’s porch…
There’s no joining door on all of the rooms on the ground floor
However, all of the rooms on the ground floor have porches that swing open and locked with a simple wooden latch. So guests on the ground floor have quick access to the pool.
That’s one of the best things of all I like about Casa Del Mare. All of their 46 rooms have a view of the beautiful pool and garden. There’s no need to pay extra just to have a room to sleep in with a view of the pool like you would have to in most other hotels. I paid about $110 USD a night which includes a buffet breakfast coupons for everyone.
Compared to other hotels in the area where we stay by Hua Hin’s beach a room at the Casa is an absolute bargain. It’s peak season rates now and a superior room with breakfast will set you back about $140USD which was the rate I found on the hotel’s website.
However I found discount rates for Casa Del Mare’s superior rooms with breakfast included through Agoda.com that were about $30USD lower than booking through the hotel’s directly. With taxes and all I ended paying $110USD per room.
Literally right next door is the 5 star Intercontinental on the same beach and staying there would cost 3 to 5 times as much. So the Casa Del Mare is a 3 star shining gem in a patch of diamonds and I highly recommend staying there.
Speaking of the pool the kids couldn’t wait to jump in. Barely 10 minutes after check in, I heard the kids out in the pool squealing and splashing around. And I gladly joined in too. My wife and her best friend didn’t join because they didn’t want to tanned because it’ll darken their skin. So you’re wondering why bother going to a pool or beach if one is afraid of getting dark? Don’t bother asking, it’s just a Thai thing. I’ve learned to stopped asking questions a long time ago.
After an hour in the pool the sun was coming down a bit so we all decided to take that short stroll to the beach. When the ladies parked themselves on the beach chairs the kids and I went over to the beach. It was loads of fun. And it reminded me of the times my dad used to take my brother and I to Coney Island. In hindsight sure Coney Island’s beach and water couldn’t hold a stick to Hua Hin. But being with my dad made a world of difference.
The kids and I had a blast in the water as we we’re getting tossed around by the rolling waves as the surf came.
And I was amazed that they were not afraid of going deeper even though the water to me was shallow to them it was quite high and getting higher with each successive wave. Just an hour ago the little girl name Mew didn’t believe his brother Dew when he told her the kiddy pool was shallow. Both were getting bolder while the waves were coming in more frequently so I decided to call it a day so for safety. We stayed at the beach for a t
But the timing went down perfectly because the weather got a little cool and everyone was starting to getting hungry. There was one place to go where everyone else headed at night and that’s the Hua Hin Night Market right in the center of the city.
We decided to hire a taxi which in Hua Hin is basically the common 3 wheeled tuk tuk with no meters. The drivers quote a rate which is usually based on distance. But the average is around 100THB. Casa Del Mare provides a one way complimentary shuttle service too but the service ends around 7pm. So we were too late to take advantage of the free service and we didn’t want to drive either since we were worried we couldn’t find parking. So we just hired a taxi who charged us 120THB.
After walking around a bit at the Hua Hin night market we picked the same restaurant we ate in 4 years ago. Somewhere along the way, the restaurant’s food quality went downhill. Or it could’ve been the head chefs night off. The fish we ordered wasn’t fresh. And the large plate of khao put buu had only a few pieces of crab.
The biggest mistake was ordering the steamed whole crabs. We’ve never ordered crabs there in the past so we had no clue that the crabs were going to be terrible.
They steamed the crabs not to order but have it cooked way beforehand. Fresh cooked crab won’t have a strong fishy taste and a shell that literally tears apart like paper. Well we learn something new every day. And that is to avoid any restaurant that displays precooked crabs out in front of a restaurant.
Afterwards we did another quick stroll and ended up at the 7 Eleven where we bought a bunch of ice creams and then roti from a stand to drown out our dinner disappointment. It was getting a bit late and the kids had to get some rest as well as the grown ups from the long day so we took a taxi back to our hotel.
The kids wanted to stay in our room and play with our iPhones but we told them it was late and time to get some sleep. And besides, my wife’s best friend is deftly afraid of ghost. To make a long story short, Thais probably believe in evil spirits more than others and the prospect of someone committing suicide or a murder in the exact same room she was staying at is a high probability. Lucky the kids didn’t put up much resistance and went back to their mother’s room.
One thing certain about at any room in any Thai resort is that you will come across mosquitoes. Housekeeping staff keeps the doors wide open so there is plenty of chance for the blood sucking invaders to enter the room. There is nothing more in this world that hate more than mosquitoes who seem to have a personal vendetta against me.
After squashing as much as I could before sleep there were a few hidden away in Ninja mode. As soon as the lights go off they come out and sucked some blood from my knuckle. Doesn’t it feel worse when they bite you anywhere near a bone joint? So in the middle of the night I turned on the lights and waking my wife up from her restful sleep. It always happens, mosquitoes never bite her but go straight for me, what’s up with that?
So she tells me there’s a mosquito zapper in the closet. She only noticed it when she opened it to get the hair dryer. I’ve never used a mosquito zapper which basically shocks the little bastards. It’s shaped like a small tennis racket and is battery powered with a light beaming out to spot the suckers easier.
It took about a good 30 minutes to find the Ninja mosquito and when I did, I used the zapper. I lined up the electric net, pressed the button to activate and tapped the sucker. It fell right on my bed where I crushed disposed of it. There was no more after that so it was the last. Sweet victory.
This mosquito zapper is awesome…
Casa Del Mare gets major kudos for keeping these mosquito zappers around. It has made it’s way to my Top 10 most important inventions of the world behind toilet paper. I even made note of it on their comment cards in which now someone from the hotel is looking at and thinking I’m an idiot.
When morning rolled in we were woken up by the kids knocking on our porch door. It was breakfast time and they were hungry and ready to storm the breakfast buffet. And there was much improvement on the variety of food choices compared to 4 years ago. They have french toast, pancakes and of course eggs cooked to order. Fruits, yogurts, breads and Thai food were also available.
After breakfast, what else was there to do? The kids knew, they were already in their bathing suits and right after eating they went straight to the pool. Forget about waiting after eating and swimming. Check out time at the Case Del Mare is 12pm so they had a few hours to play before we headed back to our rooms at around 11pm to pack up and head back to Bangkok.
Sign leading to the Casa Del Mare on 25/2 Petchkasem Road…
Recommended by Agoda and Tripadvisor…
I like this hotel and I’m quite the creature of habit so whenever my wife and I visit Hua Hin we’re definitely going to stay at Casa Del Mare Hotel again. They provide free wi-fi internet access too I have to add. And the connections are quite good. There is a spa which we’ve never tried though on arrival we were given 20% off vouchers. Maybe next time. Casa Del Mare has a lot of great reviews coming not only from me but from Agoda customers and tripadvisor. And their kudos are well deserved.
Through the years Hua Hin’s beaches and slow pace has not only attracted the attention of Thai middle class but many foreigners who have chosen to run out their clocks and retire in Thailand. There’s a decent hospital plus plenty of sun and affordable condos and houses. I can see why one would choose to uproot themselves from whence they came and decided to plop themselves down in Hua Hin’s sunshine and surf. I can see why one would want to buy a second home there. I’m tempted too. But maybe sometime down in the near future.
Mar 13, 2013 |
It’s only 50THB a ticket, can’t hurt to check it out…
Returning from our little trip to Cha Am’s Puktien Beach which I wrote about on my last post my wife did a bit of searching on what’s new and happening in the area.
A quick search though google we saw some news about a new zoo/farm near Cha Am called Swiss Sheep Farm 2012. Not quite sure why the ‘2012’ has to be there but I guess it’s significant to the owner. Anyways it’s about 7 kilometers from where were staying in Cha Am and on highway route #4. We were headed that ways to get back to Bangkok so it wouldn’t hurt to check it out.
When we got there the parking lot was jam packed. It’s a Saturday after all and there were a lot of people armed with cameras and iPhones. The biggest attraction in the farm are obviously the sheep. Particularly the baby ones which everyone, not just the kids, including me were fawning over.
Tickets for adults cost 50THB. For kids it’s either 20THB or 30THB, I can’t remember at the moment. You also get a handful of long grass to feed the sheep, mini-horses and baby cows. Surprisingly there is not a whole lot of poop with all the animals eating constantly so I guess they’ve got staff picking up frequently.
You can also buy bottles of milk or a pack of carrots which cost 50THB each. One word of warning, the cows go nuts when they see a bottle of milk and the sheeps go ape s**t when the see carrots. I was getting surrounded by sheep and a few stood up to try and grab the carrots in my hand. A couple of front hooves touched the bottom of my shirt and jeans and and left some s**t on my clothes. Yes, I was not happy.
There is also a small archery range but you’d have to pay 100THB separately for a dozen arrows. Not worth the money if you ask me. But there are quite a few things for children to do like kiddie rides. There’s also a small section with bazaar games. Though it’s 40THB to play a game and take your chances of winning as stuffed animal.
We bought 3 tickets. Of all the games to play there, play the one where you get 5 small plastic balls and the objective is to throw it into a small wooden board with hole about the size of a softball. Trick is to push the ball and not throw it overhand. It worked for me and it should work for you with just a little luck. It’s much easier than playing the game where you try to pop 7 balloons with 10 darts.
There is a restaurant at the center of the farm but something tells me not a lot of locals go there to eat. It’s basically one giant place for people to come and take pictures upfront with animals and the scenery.
Swiss Sheep Farm is about 7 km from Puktien Beach where we were staying. It’s right on highway route #4 heading southbound. So you can’t miss it.
Swiss Sheep Farm is just one of the many new attractions in the Cha Am and Hua Hin section of Thailand becoming more popular with families looking for a place to go on a quick weekend holiday. I’ve been there twice and most recently just a few days ago. It’s definitely a whole lot more crowded on weekends so I would try to avoid visiting then especially since it can be difficult to find parking.
A big hill at the back of the farm…
Mar 10, 2013 |
A lot of people say that Cha Am’s beaches are not the most beautiful nor cleanest in Thailand. I agree with that statement to a certain point.
Cha Am is not that far off away from Bangkok, which is just north west, about 2 hours and 45 minutes by car. So a lot of “the stuff” will still make its way to the waters of Cha Am. So you won’t find that crystal clear Listerine blue you’d find in Phuket and Samui.
That said, I still like heading down to Cha Am for a little beach getaway. Sometimes Bangkok can get a little crowded, so it’s always a treat to go somewhere and just chill out in peace.
This time around my wife and I drove down to Puktien Beach which is the northern section of Petchaburi province. Cha Am and Hua Hin’s beaches are so easy drive to. You don’t need a GPS because the highways have English signs. From Bangkok we hopped on the highway via toll expressway. Follow Dao Khanong which is highway route #9 to Samut Sakong which leads to highway #35. Finally connect to highway route #4 which leads down to Cha-Am and Hua Hin. Sounds like a lot but Thailand has a pretty good highway system.
When we arrived tho this part of Cha Am we noticed it’s not area that’s ready for loads of foreign tourists. You’ll mostly see locals on a short family weekend holiday instead of a family from Australia. And I prefer the less crowded touristy places with jacked up prices. So I like Puktien Beach just the way it is. But I can see perhaps in a few years the area will get to see more development.
I just heard that Fitch ratings has increased Thailand’s credit rating back to BBB+ from BBB. Not sure exactly if that’s a big whoop dee do but it can’t be bad for Thailand’s near future. So perhaps foreign investors will start pumping some cash into building up Cha Am’s tourism infrastructure.
But I hope they keep the resorts small. For this trip my wife and I stayed at a beach side resort called Puktien Cabana Beach Resort.
Entrance
Resort Reception
Beach View Cabana
A Happy Camper
Our Cabana (after a night)
Small Private Pool
There’s also the Puktien Sea View Residence Hotel which is a separate hotel just a little ways down from where we were staying all under the same owner. This hotel is in a traditional hotel style setting.
The only difference is that all of the rooms at Puktien Cabana Beach Resort are all closer to the beach and the rooms are as the name implies cabana style.
It’s not an expensive hotel as far as it goes for staying at a beach side resort. But we got these vouchers for a free night from our insurance broker. But we paid 1400THB extra to upgrade to a cabana with private pool and a can’t beat view of the beach. And it was worth it.
But either way, you can check Agoda.com to see if you can get discounts for Puktien Cabana Beach Resort.
The area surrounding both properties is quiet and you’ll find a few locals running small shops and beach side restaurants.
We chose one of the smaller restaurants which had no customers but neither did the larger restaurants. So we took a chance and dove in. Yeah, the food didn’t taste so good but at least the ambiance was nice. Wasn’t exactly cheap either though, we had a plate of fried rice, larb gai, vegetable stir fry and shrimp tom yum and the bill came out to 300THB.
Then we headed across the street to one of the few small shops to get 2 sticks of ice cream and 4 cans of Singh beer. The cost, 300THB. Yes folks, that’s pricey. No I’m not exactly complaining, because it’s a quiet area where the shops don’t make a lot of money because they’re probably only busiest during weekends.
The shop where we bought our beers and ice cream…
After dinner we dropped of our beers and ice cream back at our cabana fridge and took a stroll along Puktien beach. There were only another couple with their kids so we were basically alone. And the sun was coming down and the weather while not exactly cool it was breezy and comfortable as we watched tiny birds chase after tiny clams running for cover. I tell you, walking on a beach barefoot with the sundown on my back and holding my wife’s hand was wonderful.
A walk on the beach to end a great day…
When we got back to our cabana we plopped ourselves down on the sun chairs, popped open our cans of beer and devoured our ice cream. None of us said a word as we just chilled and watched the ocean and time past by. Life is good! No, wait… life is freaking awesome!
Mar 7, 2013 |
Thaiapartment.com website
My Tips on Finding a Comfortable Place to Live in Bangkok
I know there are a lot of people moving moving to Bangkok for long term, whether it’s for retirement or simply for an extended vacation. Apartments are very affordable and the rents are a lot more manageable compared to other major cities.
If you’re planning on moving to Bangkok your first priority is obviously find a decent area to stay in a great location. Your best bet is to stay at an apartment within the city limits. It’s probably not the best idea to think about buying a condo but you can rent, just yet to pay more. No matter how nice and affordable Bangkok condos are, until you know a life in Thailand is what you truly want. Things are going to be different after all since it is a major change in lifestyle.
Thai homes are an even greater value. But there is a hitch if you’re planning to go that route eventually. Foreigners are not allowed to own land which is a big problem if you want your house on top of it. So the only way for a foreigner can chill out at their own humble abode is to marry a Thai national who’s name is the landholder. But that’s a whole different topic.
So what location is the best place to stay within central Bangkok? Or how much and what are the costs involved with renting and leasing and apartment in Bangkok for a few months or years? Even though there are a lot more questions I’m sure those few are the most important.
Most apartments are furnished, meaning there’s a bed with mattress (no linens and pillows), a television with some English but mostly Thai channels, refrigerator, clothes drawers and perhaps a writing desk and chair. There’s most likely Wi-Fi internet access for free but if you want stable internet access it’s best to subscribe to an Internet service provider like True Online. Though you might want to visit one of their service centers to speak with someone because their website is not helpful. You can find a True service center in every major mall. Or ask someone at the apartment management office who should have that info at the ready.
And if it’s a newer building there might even be a pool and or small workout gym. But the most important apartment feature you must have is air condition. Well, at least it’s important for me. The city can get really hot.
The cost of water and electricity is calculated separate from rent. Though typical cost of water is 20THB per unit and cost of electricity is 8THB per unit. I’m sorry to say, to this day, I still can’t figure out what Thailand’s standard unit of measurement is for utilities.
So the best I can do is give you an example. For water, I take showers 2 to 3 times a day. Wash a few dishes and water my plants daily. At the end of the month my water bill consistently comes out to $3USD a month about 90THB.
Speaking of water, is it safe to drink it? There are locals who do drink water straight from the tap and there are those that strictly drink from bottled or treated water.
Personally, I don’t drink the local water from the tap, even though I know it has been treated with chlorine. I do brush my teeth and rinse with it so a little bit of the water does go down my gut. So I guess that’s okay. But I’d try and avoid gulping down a giant mouthful. As far as showering, Bangkok’s water does the job just fine.
My electricity bill fluctuates because the biggest cost factor is running the air condition, which is a must use when it gets hot. I’m out most of the day but I keep a fan running if I am in during the day. I mostly turn on my air con when I’m sleeping, so I have it on for about 5 or 6 hours and program a shut off afterwards.
Just a side note, if you’re really concerned about the heat, which I’m not joking does get bad, do remember to ask for any available room that doesn’t get hit with a whole lot of sun during the day. Your room will be considerably comfortable so you won’t have to suck up so much electricity.
Other appliances that use up the juice is my oven I use for baking occasionally, an electric induction stove for cooking occasionally, my refrigerator (that is on 24 hours) a room fan, television and charging my laptop and iPad. On average my electric bill is between $30USD to $40USD.
Other extra cost is if I want someone to clean my room it’ll cost me $10USD or 300THB per cleaning. My parking space cost $30USD a month.
And my base rent is 8500THB. So every month I pay around 10500THB or with today’s currency exchange rates $350USD.
Most places offer some type of package called full service which means you get a fully furnished room with room cleaning, pillows, bed linen and towels which are changed twice a week. And you’ll get a set amount of electricity included along with unlimited usage of water. Those types of packages can run a minimum of 15000THB depending on where you go.
My tips on apartment hunting in Bangkok is mostly based on my experience. I have only 2 needs which I think most people are concerned about as I am:
- Safety and Cleanliness
- Location and Convenience
Okay you can consider the above as 4 needs. I just didn’t want to complicate things.
Starting off with safety. Most neighborhoods in Bangkok are quite safe and crime is relatively low compared to other major cities with a large population. Newer apartment buildings are well lit, employ a few security guards with closed circuit cameras recording and running around the clock. And all apartment buildings have electronic key cards provided for tenants only to access the front entrance and or elevators.
You should also take a look at the building management too since they are the folks who manage the building security and cleaning staff.
Which leads me to my next point on cleanliness. Most well managed buildings will without a doubt have a dedicated cleaning crew that sweep the floors on a daily basis and mop the floors on schedule. And you can also arrange room cleaning with the same crew through the office management.
Rent Cost in Bangkok
Here are the most expensive neighborhoods in Bangkok:
- Sukhumvit
- Silom/Sathorn
- Thong Lor
- Ekkamai
For a comfortable furnished apartment with at least 30 square meters of space including a balcony you can expect to spend a minimum of 15,000THB per month for a room in the areas listed above. You might even be charged a higher rate for utilities too. Because those are prime neighborhoods with ultra convenience to the BTS Sky Train line and or MRT Subway line. You can expect to pay a bit more for an apartment near any of the train station entrances.
Here are inexpensive to medium priced neighborhoods in Bangkok:
- Phaholyothin
- Ratchoyothin
- Ladprao
- Ratchadapisek
- Victory Monument
- Phayathai
The neighborhoods listed above are where you can find the most affordable apartments. That’s not to say you won’t find expensive places to live either. As I mentioned earlier the closer you are to a train line the costlier the apartment. But it’s safe to say you can find a lot of clean and modern apartments in those parts of Bangkok in the 8000THB range. Though the further you get into a soi (lane or alley in Thai) the cheaper and perhaps the older the accommodations will be.
I want to mention that it’s best to get an apartment that isn’t too old. Most older apartments are very cheap, about $100USD or 3000THB per month. Obviously I haven’t seen every apartment in Bangkok in the $100USD price range. But I’ve seen enough to know that not all of the floors are lit. There is no hot water.
And cheap $100USD per month apartments in Bangkok typically have small cramped bathrooms where the shower is directly or adjacent to the toilet so everything including your hanging roll of toilet tissue will get wet. I guess you can fashion a shower curtain but since the bathroom is so small, you might as well not waste your time.
When my wife was 17 years old she used to live in a cheap apartment that cost $50USD a month the first day she came to Bangkok and found a job at a hotel. Yeah, she hated it. It was small and crammed with no air con plus she had to share a bathroom with tenants. Unless that’s your cup of tea these types of apartment dwellings are not listed on the Internet so you’ll have to do a bit of walking.
In general you can sign a lease for a month at a time. Though you may get a better deal on rent if you sign a lease for 6 months to a year. Laying down 2 months of rent deposit is typical too once you’ve signed the dotted line on the lease.
After looking through a few prospects you should also take a look at the area surrounding the apartments. Check if it’s close to a mall or at least within walking distance to a big supermarket. Having a little 7 Eleven convenience nearby is a bonus too. I can’t tell you how many times 7 Elevens have saved me from a mid night munchies attack. Check out my Bangkok Supermarket Guide (coming soon) for places to stock up your fridge as well as well as cost of food.
If you’re curious as to where I stay, it’s a place called Prim Place Apartments, located on Phaholyothin Road by soi 26. As of writing I’ve been keeping an apartment there for the past 4 years. It’s a clean building that is kept that way on a daily basis. Security is good with key card access and friendly security guards.
Prim Place Apartments is in a safe area but to be frank most of Bangkok is safe though crime does happen so I never place myself into any false sense of security. Plus there are coin operated washers and dryers on premise.
The area Prim Place is located on is mostly residential with a large mix of locals that work in the city. There is also an increasing frequency of foreigners in the area I am staying at too. Plus lots of foreign exchange students also choose to stay in the area because it is close to a popular university called Kasetsart where they attend international business courses.
To me it’s a convenient location because there are a handful of big shopping malls in walking distance. Union Mall is a popular shopping center for Thai teens and has a loads of restaurants to check out or chill out. Central Ladprao which is just one of a chain of famous malls with brand name popular malls are just a 15 minute walking distance or a 2 minute bus ride. Tesco a large supermarket that doubles as a mini mall is also along the same route.
The closest mall from where I live is called Major Ratchayothin. Its got a bowling center, movie theaters, restaurants, shops plus a night market. All just a short 5 minute walk. And there are loads of hawker stands from noodle joints to packed restaurants providing affordable delights from Isaan. To me, it’s a great place to stay and suits my needs perfectly.
Finally, I recommend taking a few days to look at a couple of places before you decide on where you want to make your home away from home. Book a hotel for a few nights first instead of rushing ahead and moving into an apartment straight away.
And don’t hire some kind of broker working on commission. There is simply no need to spend frivolously.
Here are 2 really helpful Thai apartment websites:
Because most apartments in Bangkok, particularly in the central neighborhoods are ready for foreign tenants. And besides, it’s really not rocket science.
If the price is right you’ll get a good vibe if the location, building quality and room is just right for you fairly quickly. When the place is clean, close to places you want to go to and meet whatever criteria you have in mind then it’s probably a good place to start a life in Bangkok.
So to summarize, it’s best to pick an apartment on the main road or as close to the main road as possible. Though rooms for rent on those areas are slightly higher, its way more convenient than far down a soi.
In my observations Bangkok apartments in the $250 to $325 price range are an excellent value. Pay anything much less than that and the location may not be so convenient and taken care of.
Feb 26, 2013 |
Just like Bangkok’s MBK Mall, everyone knows about Chatuchak Weekend Market from their basic travel research about Bangkok. CWM is supposedly the largest open air market in the world, even though a vast majority of the stalls and shops are covered with aluminum roofing or large swaths of tarp. CWM is the place to find clothes at a good price, cheap food, cheap souvenirs and many funky stuff that you probably can’t find anywhere else.
But during most times of the year, CWM is hot like hell. And it doesn’t help that you’ll be rubbing shoulders thousands of visitors and locals. With all that body heat a 100 degree weather cooped up in tiny cramped alleys it can easily feel like a 150 degrees.
So whenever I’m in Chatuchak area I always like to head over to a little mall called JJ. It’s located by the southwest corner of CWM. You can’t really miss the mall since it’s one of the tallest buildings by the market. JJ Mall is not the newest or latest but it’s AIR CONDITIONED.
The ground floor of JJ Mall…
And better yet it has CLEAN BATHROOMS. I really don’t mean to be so over dramatic but at my age those are 2 very important criteria.
There is also a big clean food court with some awesome rocking oxtail soup and curry chicken on yellow rice!
There’s only 3 floors with a lot of products similar to what you would ordinarily see at the larger weekend market. But inside the mall you will see more shops geared towards the locals. I came across a few shops selling door locks, large safes with electronic and traditional security measures to fingerprint scanners.
Loads of shops also selling furniture too on all the floors. Though I’m trying to figure out why many shops inside are selling gaudy Roman styled statues, columns and giant Greco-Roman inspired furniture. And those shops have been there for years so somewhere out there are many Thai homes decked out like Caligula’s abode.
And there are many wedding supply shops as well. A recently married friend of mine came to JJ Mall to pick up wedding trinkets to hand out to guests. Apparently many locals come to the mall to do the same for their wedding day needs.
Lots of shops selling camping equipment can be found too. Been always thinking about camping out somewhere in Thailand someday so I’ll be heading back to those shops when the need arises.
Lots of t-shirts in JJ Mall too…
Prices at JJ Mall are slightly higher but not by so much. Because shops inside still have to remain competitive with the shops on the outside. And you can still ask for discounts too. Though JJ Mall is opened everyday. I heard that the prices in the shops go up during weekdays when Chatuchak Weekend Market is closed. I honestly don’t know if that’s true. Because a lot of shops inside don’t have fixed prices so I guess shop owners’ will interpret the cost on the fly. For me, it’s just a tell tale sign to bargain a bit harder for the best deal.
View Larger Map
Getting There:
The mall opens at 10am and closes at 10pm everyday.You can easily wrap a visit to Chatuchak Weekend Market and JJ Mall in half a day. Though it’s probably better to visit the latter just to cool off. The closest MRT subway station is called Kamphaeng Phet. Make your way out to exit #2 and you’ll end up on the southern end of CWM. When you head into the market you should begin to see JJ Mall, it’s the tallest building within Chatuchak, which is about a 5 to 10 minute stroll.
You can also get there by BTS at Mo Chit Station but requires a longer walk.
