The since-demolished train market near Jatujak Market was popular among locals and towards its demise, among tourists too. I was unfortunately unaware of its popularity and missed the chance to visit in my past few vacations in Bangkok.
There's a reason why i chose to come on a Thursday; the expectation of a less crowd since Ratchada Train Market is conveniently located next to a MRT station while the other train market was a lot more cumbersome to travel to. I visited both this time and would give an update on Srinakarin train market soon.
The market has a mixed of permanent and pop-up shop spaces; unlike Asiatique the Riverfront which focused on the former and featured a lot more upmarket stuff.
Food zone; should have satisfied our dinner here! If you have been following my travelogue, my dinner was at Sukhumvit Soi 38 Food Street.
This would likely a possible purchase if Rubee is still alive. For those who have yet to read about my first and only dog, click here.
Karen Au would sure love to get her hands on these! Ms Au, you should seriously consider making your passport and making a trip to Bangkok! Bring more money though.
Personally, there were loads to see in the train market and i was in a rush to go through everything as it was already quite late when we arrived and i was suffering from a lack of sleep!
Anyone from my era (by the way, i am borne in the 1980s) still remember any of these tin toys?! Sadly, although i do reminisce the good old days, it's the future i am more excited of.
What the hell do i want a motor fuel tank for?! Maybe not in Singapore where petrol stations are not likely to sell you a huge amount of fuel for placement at home.
Can consider having a spotlight instead to illuminate your precious collection. Not for poor chaps like me who have to be in debt for the next twenty five years to service a 67 square meters apartment.
So mesmerising; instead of the conventional filament tube, this had the shape and colour of a stalk of flowers! So nice right?!
Vintage wares - there were a few places in Singapore that you can get your hands on stuff like the above; i could not comment on the pricing but if you are interested, you can consider China Square or at Chinatown.
Shoes; i don't buy shoes in night markets no matter how cheap or how nice they are. Comfort for the feet is way more important than just the price and style.
Dolls from the past - subject of many a horror films nowadays (for example, Annabelle), i am wondering how many kids would actually like this kind of dolls.
More of the wall displays; some of them have sentences that are so me! Guess i have to make another trip to Bangkok soon!
Don't think i would get the vintage furniture though even though i have always preferred the wooden theme. They feel more natural and in my opinion, much more durable.
For people like me who don't know who is playing for which football team. Oh well, i do recognise the guy for spiderman; a guy with the surname garfield or something.
Starting from one end of the zone, the layout was like the physical queue system which means i would cover all the stalls! However, tiredness had set in by then and i can only show you photographs rather than details for most of the stalls.
Sandals - essential in Bangkok for any tourists as the weather is forever so hot and humid and there is so much walking! Poor me opted for covered shoes and needless to say, i complained like siao!
Bags and briefcases - in the style that is in vogue recently. Like shoes, i am not keen to buy bags in makeshift stalls; an experience in KL taught me a lot about the quality for most of them. Having said that, i have friends who bought bags and shoes in this kind of market and the products lasted for a long time!
Other things that you can find in the train market; no additional description would be added unless really necessary. Would love to get my hands on the shades though; after i correct my short sighted-ness.
It came in close to 20 different fragrances and aside from using it in a car, you can also place it in the closet / restroom / kitchen etc!
The same kind of popular bags but in mini form for the kids! Imagine a father and son combination which would be so cute!
Coin banks with no way to take out your money unless you break them!!! I was looking for a pig one to add to my stash but could not find any. Anyway, i first saw them back in Krabi at the Krabi Town Night Market, in 2011!
At this point, only me and Alex were together and we had separated from the original twenty-person group! Quite hard to shop in a big group and we had already indicated from the start; own time own target and if you could not find anyone; hope onto a cab to get back to Lemontea hotel!
Lego figurines; i know our dear Dr Don Goh TC would likely be drawn by them. I love Lego but their high prices mean i am only given hands-me-down when i was a kid.
I could not get any piggie banks although i did manage to see these super adorable piggy stuffed toys! They are characters from the Line app?
The alphabet tees - you would be able to purchase one with the starting letter of your name. Cheap at only 100 Thai baht (less than S$5) apiece!
Adorable animal-themed tote bags! If i am of the fairer sex, i would likely buy the one with the Boston Terrier or the one that had a Siberian Husky!
I am quite a rebel in my teens and have about 8 earrings on my left ear lobe before the army came calling and i was too lazy to pull in the plastic sticks to prevent the holes from closing! All closed except for one; as i believed until i bought three from this stall and could not get any of them through the ear when i was back in the hotel! :(
However, hats off for their creativity to create a head that's different from the usual mannequins which, by the way, can look disturbing sometimes.
Alex checking out the tee shirts; there were so many designs to choose from and i think he bought like 10-20 of them in this trip.
Plushies of characters from Pokemon! I used to be quite obsessed with the game when i had my Nintendo DS; thank god i have outgrown it! If not, i would be blogging a lot lesser; for better or for worse.
Bangkok is another paradise for those with kids; they have such adorable shirts for young kids at affordable pricing and even i could not resist buying a few pieces for Jovyn and Jerald.
Ladies boxers i think since i don't expect a man to wear them unless they have a undesirable fetish with wearing woman clothes.
I recently saw someone having the same design except it was tattooed on his back instead of being printed on a cotton shirt to be worn on!
Another shop with vintage furnishing. I wonder how much it would cost to ship one back to Singapore.... Hm.... just wondering.
Food zone again which means we were nearing the main entrance of the train market. No supper as i didn't manage to lose enough weight before the trip!
Those who still have the energy to expend can consider chilling out in the many alfresco pubs and listening to the performances from live bands. Me? I am dying to go back to Lemontea hotel for a rest!
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Location
Ratcadaphisek Road (behind Esplanade Shopping Mall)
Nearest MRT Station
Thailand Cultural Center (Exit 4)
Map
How to Get There
Upon exit from exit 4 of Thailand Cultural Centre MRT station, turn right and walk straight until you get to the Esplanade Shopping Mall (as above).
Once you are inside, cut across the mall and you would reach Ratchada Train Market (Talad Rot Fai) in no time. Navigation wise, it is directly behind the shopping centre.
Opening Hours
Thursdays to Sundays - 5pm to midnight
For the itinerary of my recent 4 days Bangkok trip, click here.