A short 4D3N shopping and eating trip to our favourite city – Bangkok, trip post-Covid-19. As the trip was essentially a “mommy and girls’ shopping trip, my personal plan was to do a solo exploration of some famed eateries around Bangkok. But the summer oppressive heat and humidity (33°C but feels like 44°C) melted my plan, resulting in much-reduced activities. Likewise, our accommodation in the heart of Pratunam meant that most of our Grab bookings were canceled by the drivers as they were unable to access the crowded lanes leading to our hotel. But scaled down as it was, no trips to Bangkok are bad. I adapted and enjoyed the experience in other ways, with photography as my constant companion.
Chatuchak – Hub of Bangkok street shopping
Our 1st stop was the Chatuchak Weekend Market after depositing our luggage at the Patra Boutique Hotel in Pratunam. Our Grab driver let us alight at an area we have never seen before, in all our previous trips here. We even thought the market was renovated. But it was just the fringe of the huge market where the pet section was.
Fanta Drinks having a roadshow promoting their new range of beverages. Fanta beverages are popular beverages among Thais. Are you aware more Fanta is now sold in Thailand than in the US or China?An ornamental fish shop staff setting up the bags of fish for sale.All the ornamental fishes are packed in oxygenated plastic bags. The pet fish section stretches for hundreds of meters!Coconut Ice cream right from our favourite stall, so much nicer than other places. I believe this shop added special sea salt to enhance their gorgeous ice cream.I always liked the presentation at the mugs and glassware shop. Their range of kitchen crockeries is pretty nice too.The cut-up grilled squid is drenched with green chili sauce, perfect for squid lovers.The passport case customisation shop. Good time to change mine as the fake leather has already worn out.Ice soda slushies are a godsend in the extreme summer heat. Just 40bht (S$1.50) per mug.The bags section. The perfect ladies’ trap area in the market.In the handbags section, my elder daughter is happy at last.My wife at a dilemma, where should she turn? left or right? in the Chatuchak labyrinth.
Wattana Panich – 50-year Beef Broth
After we completed our shopping at Chatuchak, we took a Grab to our next location, the 1st food stop for the trip – Wattana Panich Beef Broth. A 3rd Generation 50yo beef broth in the making.
It is certainly worth the Grab ride here just for their famed special dish.The signature combo – Beef balls, braised beef, and tendons were superb, enough said.Their Khao kha moo (stewed pork trotter) is equally stellar. Ah Roi Mak Khrub!The beef wok rim edge is a thickened broth cake, made from generations of spilled beef broth layering.3rd generation owner and staff preparing for the next batch of beef continuously. The beef broth stock must keep on simmering continuously.
Yaowarat – Bangkok’s Foodies Chinatown
After a short afternoon nap back at our hotel, we catch a Grab ride to Yaowarat as the following day, Monday, will be less vibrant. We were blissfully unaware there was an event ongoing.
It was a great experience shooting this cultural event. The funny thing is that I’m not motivated to shoot such events in Singapore. The long dragon train created a massive traffic jam at Yaowarat. Strange that a major event does not warrant a road closure.Hordes of motorists waiting for the dragon contingent to move and clear the road ahead.An event performer in traditional garb looking out of sync.After the dragon contingent passed, the lion dance and big-headed dolls came. Big head dolls are lion dance members that wore a big head mask with a smiling face and holding a Chinese fan, playing a role of a clown to create some atmosphere in the event.
Street photography @ Pratunamand Ratchaprarop
Day 2 morning saw me failing to wake up at 5.30 am to head to Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen as planned. But I managed to crawl out of bed at 8.30 am, wash, and geared up for my solo pic adventure, while my family was still sound asleep. I started my photo adventure by shooting the street scene at Pratunam.A Moo Ping (Thai-styled Pork Skewer) vendor at the corner junction of Pratunam. Looking at the grease and soot-encrusted fan blowing at the BBQ tray, she must have been in business for a long time.Maybe this fruit vendor saw me shooting her?Cars, trucks, tuk-tuks, scooters, and humans compete for the right to use the cramped, narrow lanes of Pratunam. This pic showed relatively free-flow traffic still.Street hawker tending to his packed food. Locals buy these packed items to eat with their rice.In June 2022, the Thai government legalised medical marijuana for medical and culinary uses. But according to the Central Narcotics Bureau in Singapore, it is against the law to supply or import products with hemp derivatives as an ingredient, such as CNB oil. Cannabis and its derivatives are classified as Class ‘A’ controlled drugs in the First Schedule of the Misuse of Drugs Act.A hawker caught a rat in a cage and his fellow stall friend’s pet dog seems interested in the rodent.Vegetable shopping Pratunam style. Quick and convenient.Tuk Tuk driver waiting to pick up passengers. But he can only wait for a few seconds before being chased off by security guards.Spotted a monk stationing himself at one of the lanes at Pratunam. I believe he is a regular “fixture” in the area, handing blessings to locals who approached him for “emotional release.Thai Lottery tickets vendor taking a rest. The official national lottery is administered by The Government Lottery Office. The lottery is drawn on the 1st and the 16th of every month. It is 1 of only 2 forms of legalised gambling permitted in Thailand, the other being horse racing in Bangkok.A cute Terrier and its owner going for a ride.A Chang Beer consignment on delivery? Interesting motorized tricycle mode.Spotted a London cab.. this is CABB – Premium taxis in Bangkok. This is the one and only dark blue taxi in Thailand. The fare starts at ฿60 for the first kilometre, ฿6 – ฿8 for the next, ฿2.5/minute during a jam, and ฿50 additional prices if visiting airports. CABB promotes a cashless society by ensuring payments can be made only via mobile banking, credit card, and debit card.Looking at the bulk, I worry about the delivery guy and the goods.
Khao Moo Daeng Si Morakot – 50yo Roast Pork Rice
My 1st food stop on my own, was the Khao Moo Daeng Si Morakot. You can find this dish at all food courts and abundantly at street food stalls throughout Bangkok. But the only problem is, there are a lot of bad versions of it.
So was honoured the shop’s senior staff invited me to go close to shoot the uncle cutting the meat.This is one of the legendary restaurants, having served the dish for well over 50 years now. I ordered a plate that came with red BBQ pork, crispy pork belly, Chinese sausage, and a hard-boiled egg on the side, all lathered in their famous red-brown sauce. Plus a bottle of mineral water cost me 160bht (S$6.30).Their signature 3-in-1 is the combo to order. I didn’t try their boiled duck soup as I don’t think I can finish it all in 1 go. Check out the wooden glass meat cabinet, a beautiful antique.It’s one of those shops that I am sure looks exactly the same as it did when it opened 50 years ago. The signboard read “Morakot” or Emerald colour in Thai. Khao Moo Daeng Si Morakot means Khao (rice) Moo (pork) Daeng (red) Si (colour) Morakot (Emerald). That explains the shop facade colour.
Wat Paknam Charoen Bhasicharoen
Stunning view of Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen shot from Tha Phra Metro Station level 3, with a 200mm lens for the compressed view.Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen is a 32,000 square meters (7.9 acres) temple complex, with a large number of buildings.Managed to include a visitor at the corner right for a sense of the size.An abstract angle of the Buddha statue with the moon in the skies on a scorching hot cloudless afternoon.This compressed shot of the Buddha gives a sense of scale immediately.The Hands in the Cosmic Mudra meditation posture. The Cosmic Mudra is the hand gesture that is used for Zazen (seated meditation) in Zen Buddhism. (source – Unify Cosmo)A stunning quantity of Buddha relics on display at the huge stupa at the temple, named Maharatchamongkhon” Prayer hall at the Maharatchamongkhon. The usage of quality teak wood at the temple adds to the sense of longevity and timelessness.The 80 meters high stupa has a twelve-sided polygon shape with five floors in it, including another 8-meter glass stupa, a room with relics, Buddha images, and images of respected monks, including that of Luang Pu Sodh.The temple became popular thanks to the meditation master Luang Pu Sodh Candasaro, who was its abbot during the first half of the 20th century. Mostly known to Thais, it has become more popular with tourists from social media postings of the giant Buddha.Volunteer arts students put on the layers of colours stroke by stroke. Will take years to complete the winter project.The roof of the Phrarathchamongkhon Stupa in Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen. This is housed in the 5-story 12-sided polygon stupa’s highest floor with an 8m emerald glass stupa containing numerous Buddha relics.
Erawan Shrine – 4-Faced Buddha
We also managed to get at Grab to the Erawan Shrine after we canceled a few drivers as their estimated arrival time kept fluctuating and then got canceled by a few as they could not enter Pratunam.You can select 2, 4, or 8 dancers, and there are fixed fees for each category. An official receipt will be given in your name and the revenue goes to the Foundation which manages the Shrine.A House Sparrow having a happy time rummaging through the floral offerings, hoping for the occasional worm.Supplicants at the Erawan Shrine, offering at each side of the 4-faced Buddha.Always buy ONLY the offerings from within the shrine. Those floral vendors at the shrine perimeter sell the same packages at a 200-300% markup.
IconSiam
After a superb lunch at Siam Paragon, we catch a train ride from Siam BTS to BTS Saphan Taksin, to access Sathon Pier for a free 10min ferry ride to Icon Siam, just across the Chao Phraya.
The IconSiam complimentary ferry ride at the Sathorn Pier.Finally, a family shot for my girls on the trip. Still more shopping ahead, It’s our last day in Bangkok as we are flying off early next morning.Raptor on the prowl at IconSiam. You know it’s just for fun, but when it comes near you, it feels quite scary. I pity the person within the Raptor skin, it’s like 44’C heat with 90% humidity.
A final picture of my family as they rushed off for shopping after this.The dining section, Sook Siam at the IconSiam is amazing. A must revisit again in the future.The glitzy mall above the food court.There must be 2 football fields of Thai food stalls. Simply amazing.Indeed a very vibrant food mall and I have yet to explore the rest of the huge mall.
Conclusion
I like to think of this Bangkok trip post Covid-19 vacation as a great “restart” venue after more than two years of the pandemic international borders closure. Although it was my 8th visit to Bangkok, it still felt like one can never get enough of the vibrant city. Exotic yet familiar, it was certainly an ideal destination for anyone thinking of resuming travel again. Do plan a visit to Bangkok soon.
Thanks for coming along with my pixels journey. For other travel inspiration please check out my other travelogues here. The Facebook link to the trip photo album can be referred here.
P.S. – All pictures used in this blog are all rights reserved and copyrighted to Jensen Chua Photography.
