Floating Markets & Thai Food

An unique glimpse into a bygone era where the pace of life was slower would be to visit one of the floating markets around Bangkok. No we are not talking about that tourist monstrosity called Damoen Saduak located at Ratchaburi province. Not too far away from central Bangkok would be Taling Chan floating market located at nearby Samutphrakan province or visit the island of Koh Kret in the middle of the Chaopraya River in the suburbs of northern Bangkok. Sample local food, snap a few pictures and buy the local handicrafts & delicacies.

Day trips can be arranged but available only on Sunday mornings. Advisable to reach there by 9am before the local day trippers arrive. 

We all are very familiar with Thai food. You can get it everywhere in the world though authenticity is debatable. Top on anyone's minds would be tom yam goong, pad thai and papaya salad. Other more common Thai food but not that popular outside the country would be something like kanom jeen. 

Tom Yam Goong - sour, spicy prawn soup

Kanom Jeen literally means "Chinese snack" are white sticky noodles made from fermented rice flour. Eaten on its own or served with broth or curry. On the table will be containers of raw vegetables, boiled eggs, fish sauce, preserved salty vegetable all of which you can add as much of or little into your dish.

Kanom Jeen

Another favorite would be gai yang (roasted chicken) from the North Eastern part of Thailand commonly known as Isaan. Most sit down restaurants will serve it with 2 kinds of chilli dipping sauces, naam jim (water dip), one sweet, one savory and accompanied by that Isaan staple - sticky rice (kaao neow). Usually a plate of raw long beans & cabbage accompany too.

Gai yang & kaao neow

Food tours can be arranged for foodie who wants a taste of what Bangkok has to offer. Eat where the locals eat. Just let us know what you have in mind and we'll draw up a program for you.