Jun 1, 2015 |
Talad Liab Duan – Night Market by the Highway (ตลาดเรียบด่วนรามอินทรา)
There’s just something about the chill atmosphere of a night market in Bangkok that is so soothing. I’m not a big shopper for all sorts of knick knacks. But just walking through stalls and stalls of things that I don’t need but still love to look at is just simply – fun.
Talad Liab Duan is a very popular market for the locals because prices for clothes, toys, make up, fashion accessories and even knock off luxury items are affordable for the locals. Of all the times I’ve been there I don’t see a lot of tourists. I’m pretty much the only idiot with a camera. You can also find second hand camera equipment too.
Be prepared for the crowds of locals on weekends…
Talad Liab Duan in Thai ตลาดเรียบด่วนรามอินทรา means night market by the highway or expressway. As you’d guessed it, this particular night market get its name from the adjacent highway.
This very popular local hotspot is open every day but doesn’t start to get busy during the evening times and closes around or after midnight. Because every vendor inside pretty much make up their own hours. If a certain stall is quiet with no customers they’ll close early. If a restaurant runs out of main ingredients they’ll close early as well.
Highway Steak & Pasta – A decent restaurant for pork chops but haven’t tried their beef steaks yet…
Speaking about food – and when is it not a good time to talk about food? All the restaurants are located under one aluminum roof covered building. You can find all sorts of Thai classics from egg or rice noodles with chicken feet in a spicy broth to fried hot dogs and tofu skin. Barbecued squid, Chinese dim sum and buns and foods from Isaan are represented. It’s pure food bliss.
160THB for 8oz. grilled pork chop with some spaghetti and fries. Not bad at all…
For this night however we opted for some pork chops over at Highway Steak and Pasta. This place was packed full of customers too. I was salivating waiting for a seat and some poor guy who was sitting down caught me eyeing his pork chop while we waited for a table.
There are many hawker style food vendors and I even saw a small shop with a mookata setup though I don’t think they do buffet style. It looked more like an a la carte type joint.
This area also has a handful of pubs and bar establishments nearby and I’m guessing those close around 1am or perhaps later into the night. Seems like a very popular watering hole for Thai teens. There was even a pub with a live band playing.
Any time is a good time for waffles…
And yes there are loads of places to get your dessert fixes from ice cream to ice shakes to shaved ice desserts.
Prepared chicken feet ready to be served on top noodles… drools…
So what kind of stuff can you find in Talad Liab Duan night market?
They’ve got a little of almost everything. There’s even a small petting zoo with sheep. You’ll find mostly knock off items though from watches, handbags and clothes. There’s even a place selling well used heavy construction tools (hmm I wonder from where), used car stereos and used boots that are still in decent condition. I’m guessing this could be a place where thieves offload their “wares”.
In these types of outdoor markets you may find antiques. But you really have to know what you’re looking at though because today I know there are many things that are made to look older then they really are. I saw many old lamps and trinkets as well as toys. There is even a section on old movie posters and commercial signage. But I can’t tell if they were made decades ago or a few days ago. You can always ask but since I wasn’t interested I never bothered to ask. This is probably a place you want to go to find things to sell on eBay.
Otsuka Tiger Sneakers… Quite sure those aren’t genuine…
Aside from all the dubious items there are small makeshift nail salons and handmade arts and graphic t-shirts from starving artists. You’ll see that a lot of the vendors selling fashion items and accessories are young entrepreneurs, out there working under hot lights to make an honest living. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Thailand.
Hey! I made an artsy fartsy photo without realizing it…
All the restaurants at Talad Liab Duan open on weekends…
WHEN TO GO AND HOW TO GET THERE
As one of Bangkok’s most popular night market, it is open daily, though things don’t start becoming lively around 6pm or 7pm. Because most of the vendors probably have day jobs elsewhere or finished with school for the day. Also it’s cooler in the evenings when the sun starts going down.
Talad Liab Duan night market is most likely not anywhere near where your hotel is. There are no MRT or BTS stations nearby. Not even close. So the best way to get there is by taxi. I don’t recommend going there even if you’ve rented a car. There is no parking at all unless you arrive there early on. My wife and I always take a taxi.
And don’t worry there are plenty of taxis in the area waiting in the area or passing by. So you’re not going to have a problem at all getting back to your hotel.
My wife slapped me when she saw me take this photo. I swear it was completely innocent…
I estimate that it will cost roughly around 150THB by taxi (with no traffic) if you’re staying at a hotel in the Sukhumvit/Pratunam area. Show the driver this ตลาดเรียบด่วนรามอินทรา or the map above. Talad Liab Duan is one of the most famous night markets in Bangkok so any taxi driver should be able to find it without no problems.
There are plenty of night markets in Bangkok that is probably closer to where ever you’re staying. But if you want to roam around some place where you can count the amount of tourists on your hands then Talad Liab Duan will satisfy your adventurous instinct.
Many fashion accessories geared towards the ladies…
Be prepared, the ground where the vendors make shop are not paved so there’s plenty of sand and gravel. And there are public toilets but you’d have to pay a couple of Baht to use them.
If you’re a frequent visitor to Bangkok and have already been to a lot of night markets but seeking something different – Talad Liab Duan is a must visit.
Feb 11, 2014 |
These sets of pics were taken at A La Natu Bed And Bakery at night. It’s a clear beautiful February night and the moon is full, out and bright. At the time I was on a beach chair just lounging around after a fantastic seafood dinner. The beach was just a short stroll away so the sounds of soothing waves going back and forth was so gentle. It truly felt like a magical night.
I like the photo below more because you can see movement of the palm leaves. It wasn’t windy at all. I rotated my camera clockwise slowly to make that effect. Looks kinda cool to me.
La A Natu Bed and Bakery is one of our favorite places to stay, located in an area called Pranburi which is about a 45 minute drive north to Hua Hin. And the magnificent mountains of Sam Roi Yad which is about 30 minutes away south of La A Natu.
This area is largely undeveloped. For now that is. We saw a lot of signs advertising resorts and other sorts of development in the near future. Which would be sad since there’s so much natural beauty in the region.
Sep 9, 2013 |
Not too many people in the office at the time…
Is a pulse and a measly 20THB. As you all may know by now the wifey and I opened up a small cafe. We got our lease/contract from our landlord so we made our merry way to the local Thai government business registry office. It’s a big office building but totally nondescript because it’s down a soi. Taxi drivers seem to not have a problem locating it because it’s such a well known government office.
Anyways getting our cafe registered took less than 10 minutes. And it only cost 20THB, less than a $1US. Well if you count the photo copies I had to make of the contract and my wife’s Thai ID card the cost is actually a little over $1US.
I remember about 5 years ago it cost me $200US just to register and incorporate a business. And I had to wait about a week.
Not that I was rushing at the time.
But it’s a bit amazing to me on how fast we could open up shop. Hell, we didn’t even have our legal papers the day we opened up until now. Back in the good ol’ USA that just wouldn’t fly with the authorities including Mr. Taxman.
Speaking of taxes, since we’re a small business we don’t even have to pay any taxes. I’m not knocking the US. I love my country. But sometimes the rules and regulations for the little guys can be overwhelming.
I remember a good buddy of mine who opened a bakery forgot to renew his business registration. The penalty for that tiny mistake was a little over a $1000US. That’s just plain nuts. And business was a little slow at the time for him so it was a big hefty chunk of change to hand over.
So far business for us is picking up slowly. We have our up and down days.
Part of my big challenge here in Bangkok is the bakery. I’m experimenting on a lot of different recipes and learning along the way that Thai people like their desserts to be soft.
What does that mean? Well, they don’t like chewy foods especially chewy desserts. So I’m looking into recipes for soft cakes and breads. Maybe they’ll like puddings too?
I’ll put up a pic of my shop after I pick up the painting we paid a painter to paint. I also want to buy some paper mach cats. But it cost about $35US for a big one and the smaller ones cost about $10US each. They’ll look good in my shop but man paying that much for paper art is not easy.
Jun 13, 2013 |
Kaminarimon Gate at Asakusa
A big reason why I love traveling to Japan is because they are one of the few countries in Asia that keep a priority on maintaining their culture and traditions. The Asakusa district is one perfect example and I went there last year around March. The temperature was still a bit chilly that time but it was still an awesome day!
Normally I stay at the Shinjuku district but if you’re looking for affordable hotels in Asakusa also it’s not a bad choice. There are plenty of train stations in the area and no shortage of good restaurants.
The main attraction in Asakusa is the Sensoji Temple. Followed by the street stalls and shops called Nakamise that line the way up to the temple. And surrounding Asakusa are many traditional styled shops selling food, snacks and of course a whole lot of souvenirs. Pricey souvenirs too especially the hand made items. I didn’t buy any thing because I’m not a real big shopper. I typically buy souvenirs at Narita airports duty free shops to take back as gifts. This way there’s no need to lug extra stuff to the airport.
So I’m not a shopper. But I am an eater. There’s certainly no shortage of Japanese styled sweets and snacks to enjoy on a beautiful day. The temperature was in the low 70’s and I remember that the days before was rainy with light snow throughout the day. But that day in Asakusa was absolutely marvelous.
Though there were many foreign visitors in the area it’s a very special temple for the Japanese. Matter of fact there were more locals than tourists. Because Sensoji is a really popular Buddhist temple. Shintoism is the main national religion of Japan. Buddhism is the second most popular belief in the country. I didn’t know that little fact until I visited Asakusa. See, it’s still possible to learn something new everyday!
Agemanju shop…
So there’s a lot of sweets that I easily recognized from other Asian cultures. Like sweet dough with sweeter bean paste. I was hunkering for something unique. Something Japanese. I came across this little shop and heard the gentle murmurings of fryers going on. Anything that’s fried can’t be bad!
Just $1.50USD for this yummy fried morsel, surprisingly it’s not so greasy…
Plus the place had a line of locals waiting. Which is an even better sign. It’s a shop selling Agemanju with a good variety of flavors and fillings. It’s basically a fried battered soft cake filled with your choice of fillings. Though there were a lot unique flavors, I just went ahead and bought myself a green tea agemanju with green tea infused bean paste. I found a seat nearby and just sat my ass down and scarfed every morsel with the warming sun on my back.
The steps to the entrance of Sensoji Temple…
I really can’t stress how nice the day really was. There were lot’s of people all around enjoying the day too. And they come to Sensoji Temple to make prayers in hopes that their wishes come true. And though the temple is mainly Buddhist there is a touch of Shintoism which involves cleansing. So you’ll find an area where people can cleanse their hands.
Cleansing with incense…
And you’ll find an area right in front of the temple where they can “wash” themselves with incense. It’s a deeply religious site with many devote followers and you get this wonderful sense of peace and joy.
After wandering around the temple area I made my way back down Nakamise to take more photos. It was late afternoon by then and there were still a lot of people streaming in. Asakusa and Sensoji Temple is definitely a must not miss visit when you’re in Tokyo!
This shopping street called Nakamise leads all the way up to the entrance of Sensoji Temple…
May 16, 2013 |
It was a gloomy day while I was there but still a nice place…
From my experiences, there are not a lot of Asian countries that take care of their environment. I know that has a lot to do with social-economic situations of every Asian country. A rich nation though doesn’t guarantee a green environment however. Case in point China.
South Korea’s got cash too. And they’re doing right by making their cities as clean, green and friendly.
Seoul’s Cheonggyecheon Stream is a prime example. It’s a long river that cuts through most parts of central Seoul, connected the Han River. Before 2005 Cheonggyecheon Stream was covered up with a highway overpass and after that for around 50 years the stream ran dry.
Lots of shops and offices on both sides of the stream…
So the government pumped $900 million bucks to bring the stream back to life and it was a colossal urban renewal project. Water had to be pumped back into the stream and since the highway was removed traffic had to be directed elsewhere. With that huge dollar amount you can bet there were a lot of complaints. So was it worth it?
From this traveler’s opinion. Yes. I have no clue if there are anymore complaints from the locals but I am sure that millions of South Koreans and tourists from around the world are enjoying Cheonggyecheon Stream. It’s a great place to chill out. If I had a job in Seoul near the stream I would certainly eat lunch there every afternoon with my shoes off and feet dangling in the cool, crisp clean water. It’s a great area to jog around too and I know South Koreans love to keep fit. Plus festivals are held by the stream which many Koreans go to experience and enjoy with families.
And the cool running water cutting across the city helps keep the temperature down when the weather gets hot. It’s environmental friendly and pleasing to the eye.
Geez I’ve got some chubby cheeks…
Cheonggyecheon Stream is 6km long, about 4 miles which is long. I’ve never tried walking the entire extent but I will be in Seoul on in July for another 13 hour layover. Now I’m deciding if I should try to walk the entire length of the stream or try and visit 5 major palaces in Seoul instead. So much to do in Seoul. So little time. God I love this city! I mean even the name of the city sounds so cool!
But since July is supposedly a hot and rainy month I’m just going to have to play it by ear. Until then, I can’t wait. I do love Seoul and can’t say it enough.
May 11, 2013 |
Smiling cause I was glad I was out of the tunnel…
I’ve been to Vietnam a few times. Mostly traveling on my own on to do a Visa run. Last year though I made a trip over to Ho Chi Minh City with a few friends from Bangkok. And one of them suggested going on a half day tour of Cu Chi Tunnel. I don’t normally take tours but this was the type of place that looked really interesting on the brochure. I was born a year after the Vietnam War ended when the city of Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh. And since I watched a lot of Vietnam War movies I though it would be interesting to see a part of the war’s history.
Cu Chi Tunnel in a way was a North Vietnamese Army (NVA) stronghold against the US military and their allies. The NVA lived, hid , and planned in the tunnels. It’s possibly one of the main reasons why they could outlast the Americans in the Vietnam War. And surviving in the tunnels was not a walk in the park for the NVA. So it would be interesting to learn what they had to go through.
Anyways the price for a half day tour to Cu Chi Tunnel was really reasonable. As I recall it was around $15USD which the hotel arranged to have a van with a driver and tour guide pick us up at the hotel. We stayed at the T. Espoir Saigon Hotel (formerly Truong Hai Hotel) by the way, which is near the popular Ben Thanh Market in central HCMC.
After getting picked up by the van on schedule the driver made several stops at different hotels to pick up more tourists. After that the drive to Cu Chi Tunnel was on the way. But a stop was made to some sort of lacquer factory where artworks were hand made by locals. Yes, it’s the type of joint where the tour guide and most likely the driver makes a commission. But who cares, it’s not expensive and supposedly the proceeds from sales goes to training locals and giving them jobs. I bought two pieces of art and it only cost about $20USD.
On the job training at a handcraft workshop…
This is where they add a layer of lacquer to give the pieces that shiny coat…
All handmade with duck eggshells…
After spending about 45 minutes inside the factory, every one was back in the van and on off to our real destination, the Cu Chi Tunnel.
Our tour guide giving us a preview of a tunnel…
He’s the actual guide that takes tourists into a tunnel…
I’m inside the tunnel trying to be cool…
So before entering the tunnel our tour guide would give everyone a short history of how the NVA survived in the tunnels even though conditions were bad. They had to deal with all kinds of diseases inside the tunnels as well as fight battles. What he didn’t tell everyone was that we were actually going inside of one. Granted the tunnel system we entered was fixed up with some lighting and fumigated to get rid of all the insects and rats. What he didn’t mention is that the tunnel is small and you’d have to either crawl or crab walk through. It’s probably fine for people with small frames and around 5′ and a half feet. But if you’re taller with a bigger frame like me you’re a bit shit out of luck. The NVA were smaller in stature and suited their needs.
Luckily I was directly behind the park ranger who led our whole tour group through a sissified tunnel system. I followed him as close as I could. Because he was moving fast. At least he was nice enough to stop ever so often and take a few pics for me. Lucky I didn’t crack my camera because I was hand holding it the entire time. I have to admit, I was getting scared and looking forward to getting out. I could hear my friends behind asking where was I. Somehow they fell behind along with the rest of the group.
Anyways the park ranger kept going and I believe we crawled through 50 yards until and exit came up. The width of the tunnel was about 3 feet across and 4 feet high. Some points of the tunnel was a few inches smaller. Even though it’s only a few inches, in a space so small already, it was a big difference. Once I was back out the park ranger went back in to get everyone else out. And I was sweating like a pig by then. I’ll tell you, this kind of tour is not for those who are claustrophobic or have a physical disability. The rest of the group along with my friends came back out in about 3 minutes. I had to admit, I was a bit worried for my friends.
We were getting a lesson on how the NVA concealed themselves…
So what else was there besides crawling through a tunnel and getting the wits scared out of you? There’s a shooting range where you can fire off a bunch of bullets on Vietnam war era weapons and you’d have to pay for that separately. I didn’t try it out though but it was kind of unnerving to hear the loud sounds of rounds going off just a few yards away.
Visiting Cu Chi tunnel was a nice little side trip. And I got a chance to glimpse the area just outside of Ho Chi Minh City. One thing that might irk a lot of travelers who join tours is that often most tour companies include stops at a local souvenir shop. Yes, that’s where the tour guide or driver makes some extra cash when someone buys something because the places they bring you to have expensive souvenirs.
I saw quite a few people in our tour group have a “WTF” look on their faces. Sure, I understand, nobody paid to go to a souvenir shop. But that’s just the ways things are with Asian tour companies. I’ve even had tour guides sell stuff on a tour bus while in Japan. Which is why I don’t usually go on tours. At least you don’t have to buy anything. I say just go with the flow. After a short 30 minute stay the guide started dropping off everyone to their hotels.
I had a good time at Cu Chi tunnel. It was a good learning experience about a controversial times in history that I’ve seen so much on television and movies. So I’m glad I went to check it out.
What’s at the end of every tour attraction? A souvenir shop of course!
