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If you love shopping for books, clothes, shoes, handicrafts, fish, flower, furniture or even antiques, Bangkok Chatuchak Weekend Market is the place to be. We were lucky that our one week stay in Bangkok conincided with a weekend. The Thais called it Talaat JJ ('talaat' in Thai means market).
I heard that JJ Market is a gathering areana for most traders from all or other provinces of Thailand. Here, you can see almost everything that is available in every Thai market or even more. This is the reason why Chatuchak Market is so special. If you ever go to Bangkok, do not miss it. A must visit place though you are not planning to buy anything. You could be stunned by the Thai's innovation and creativity. Open market officially runs from 9am - 6pm on Saturday and Sunday. Within the vicinity, there is JJ Mall - an air-conditioned shopping place that have a bit of everything though not all and the price is higher than the open market.
To get there, hop on a BTS Skytrain and get down at Mo Chit station. Alternatively, board on MRT subway and get off at Kampheng Phet station.
Some tips for shopping at Chatuchak Market:
1. If possible, get a good map of Chatuchak Market. Nancy Chandlers's Map of Bangkok offers great tips to explore it.
2. Allocate at least 5-6 hours or a full day for this visit. Even a local told me that they could hardly finish strolling the whole JJ Market in a weekend. Perhaps will take 4-6 weekends.
3. Once you have reached, identify the entrance or meeting point as this market is really huge - trust me, the stalls and corners look exactly the same. The only different is to look up for the Gate number plate. That will save you!
4. If you see something you love, just bargain and buy as you may not be coming back or seeing it again.
5. For bargain hunters or if you are worried to be slaughtered, aim for the price tagged shops/stalls. You could be shocked with the price offered (though not all)!
6. Keep yourself hydrated. Put on hat and sun-block. It is really hot especially in the afternoon.
7. If you are cautious about food, please go to JJ Mall. Food court is available at level 2F and it opens daily from 9am-5pm. And at the same time, enjoying the cooler environment inside.
Happy hunting and Happy shopping! PS: If a day of shopping isn't enough :p (and it never is enough!) and you want to stay in Bangkok for a while, this site may provide some Bangkok Hotels selection.
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Bangkok Chatuchak (JJ) Weekend Market
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