The first place I went after arriving in Bangkok was China Town as I didn’t make it there last time I visited. This place is bustling with activity from early morning until well past midnight. The food shops open in force around 7 pm or a bit earlier and there is a wide variety of food to choose from. I stopped on several occasions and tried the duck with rice, pork stir-fry and fried chicken. It was all quite tasty which is not what a typical westerner would probably expect as the sanitation would not stand up to a health inspection in the west. Nevertheless, I’ve learned to go with the flow and observe some simple rules to avoid getting sick. Be sure it is fried, baked, or somehow heated to kill the bacteria and as for liquids, if I didn’t unscrew the lid, I don’t drink it. I made the mistake of eating a salad a few years ago and regretted it
I wandered around the entire place, up and down alleys, into stores, restaurants, temples, you name it. Two of the places I'll mention here are
Talat Kao
Some markets in Bangkok can be a bit tacky markets seen elsewhere but Talat Kao is a more sensual market and a great way to experience the more authentic side of Chinatown. Just like Talat Mai, it is mostly a food market with lots of fresh meat, fish, vegetables and fruits for sale. There are a variety of Chinese delicacies available and you can easily find dried abalone (shellfish), fried puffed up fish stomachs and steamed bird’s nests. If you’re inclined you can also purchase non-food products like ant-killer chalk, Chinese medicines and ginseng roots. Its name means Old Market, and is not an understatement, as it has been up and running since the late 18th century. Get up early as it closes down before the afternoon kicks in.
Wat Traimit
As I was wandering around China Town the first thing I passed was Wat Traimit or Temple Of Golden Buddha. It’s easy to enter the walled compound and get a close up of the structure but entering the facility requires the purchase of one or more tickets depending on what it is you wish to see.
Located at the end of Chinatown’s Yaowarat Road, near Hua lamphong Railway Station, Wat Traimit houses the world’s largest massive gold seated Buddha measuring nearly five meters in height and weighing five and a half tons. In the past, artisans crafted the Buddhas in gold and disguised them from invading armies by a covering of stucco and plaster
Wizard of Where
