Amphawa Floating Markets
The Amphawa Floating Markets make for a popular day trip out of Bangkok on the weekends. While the drawcard is the floating market and long tail boat trips to various Wats, the ‘non-floating’ part of the market makes up the largest proportion of this bustling bazaar. As with all Thai markets, one can get virtually anything and everything.
The Floating Market is 90 kilometres south west of Bangkok and takes about an hour and 45 minutes by road although that travel time should be reduced considerably once the massive roadworks covering many kilometres are completed.
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- A side water of the Mae Klong River.
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- The Amphawa Floating Markets are based on this side stretch of the Mae Klong River.
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- Lots of river traffic.
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- A well sheltered elderly lady providing authentic cuisine cooked as you watch was the centrepiece of the ‘floating’ part of the markets.
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- Surprisingly, or perhaps not, they weren’t very busy. Cannabis decriminalised in June 2022
Cha-Am Beach
One hundred kilometre further south is the delightful Cha-Am Beach, a favourite with Thai families and pretty much undiscovered by Farangs.
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- Cha-Am Beach streches for more than five kilometres.
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- Packed on weekenfds.
The beach stretches for more than five kilometres with a sealed road, resorts, restaurants and shops lining the entire length. And a 7-11 every 500 metres.
Hua Hin
We ventured to the Hua Hin Floating Market. A big disappointment. Run down, depressing and as devoid of soul as it was of customers.
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- Spectacular Khao Takiab overlooking Hua Don Beach.
Hua Hin is a major tourist centre and a magnet for Farangs., Condos abound. Beaches, restaurants and nightlife appear to be the main drawcard but whatever it is, it seems to be self fulfilling.
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- The fishing boat jetty at Hua Hin serves to transfer the catch from local fisherman to larger transport vessels.
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- Hotels and condos line the coast.
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- Charoenpotchana Seafood Restaurant at Hua Hin.
Coastal Drive
On the return from Hua Hin we elected to again visit Cha-Am and from there travel along the coastal roads to where we joined Highway 35 just south-west of Amphawa.
Lots of resorts and condos although the swimming beaches give way to mangroves as one travels north.
Petchaburi Salt Farms
The coast road at Petchaburi opens a whole new world rarely visited by tourists. Families in the Petchaburi district have operated massive salt farms on the flats between the city and the sea for many generations.
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- One of the many salt farms on the Petchaburi flats.
The 50 plus kilometres of roadworks from east of Samut Sakhon to the start of the Sukhumvit 62 Expressway made for a tough drive.
© Kim Epton 2022-2024
470 words, 16 photographs.
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