For those who are unfortunate enough to never have visited Chatuchak, it is probably the world's largest outdoor market and one of my Top 10 sites to see in Bangkok. It spans 27 acres with >15,000 vendors. It's absolutely HUGE! And I'm sure is quite overwhelming for most people on their first visit. I'm certainly no Chatuchak virgin, but I still am only good for about 2 hours within the crowded sois before I start to get claustrophobic and have to emerge into the daylight and find water and food. Most of the 27 acres are filled with clothes - new, used, fashion, ethnic, you name it. Clothes and shoes - those sections are endless and filled with the ubiquitous Chang, Red Bull, "Addidogs" and "Starfucks" t-shirts, used Converse, enough army clothing to outfit your own platoon, and fake silk sarongs. The rest of the market contains the more interesting items - antiques, housewares, pets (including a whole section dedicated to roosters and Siamese fighting fish), art, carvings, jewelry, leather goods, etc. If you think you need it, you can find it here. I try and avoid the clothing section and head for the antiques and other odd things. Today I did find some hand-drawn charcoal drawings of Muay Thai techniques which were pretty cool (200 baht each, $8). I also found a 60 year old water buffalo bell in an antique stall but they wanted 3000 baht for it ($100) and I couldn't justify it right then. If I have extra cash at the end of my trip, I'll go back and haggle for it. I collect animal bells. I know, it's a bit of a strange thing to collect, but c'est la vie. I have bells from Nepal, France, Switzerland, Burma and Cambodia. From yaks, cows, sheep, and buffalo.
The picture to the left was taken at one of the food stalls in Chatuchak. The menu was pretty easy to read, but the large sign above my head is a perfect example in how bad a translation into English from Thai can go!!
This evening I decided to treat myself to a more 'expensive' Thai supper at Lemongrass. It's located on Sukhumvit Soi 24. I read quite a few reviews before deciding to try it - mixed opinions from excellent to 'farang Thai'. I was actually quite pleased. Yes, it's more expensive than what you would get on the street, but it was quite good. I had Mieng Gai to start, which is minced chicken cooked with ginger and chillis. You eat it like a wrap in lettuce, cabbage and betel leaves (betel leaves are AWESOME by the way!!). I also had the Yam Som-O which is pomelo salad, one of my all-time favorites at any time. It contains pomelo, shrimp, toasted coconut, peanuts and chillis. So refreshing and flavorful. Awesome. For my main course I had beef marinated in a "black sauce", dried and then fried with garlic and chilli and basil leaves. I forget the Thai name. This was the only dish I wasn't 100% happy with, simply because I asked if it was hot and my waiter said yes, but it wasn't. Not for me anyway. Anyway, I give Lemongrass a 8/10. I would go there again. And probably will!!
Following supper, given that my feet were aching from 5 hours of shopping, I decided a foot massage was in order, so stopped along Soi 24. I have a love/hate relationship with foot massages. My hate/fear of them stems from the fact that every time they massage the muscles on the outside of my shins and my IT band, it makes me want to scream!! But afterwards it feels so good. I also have found that my calves get repeatedly poked and prodded and commented on whenever I get a massage here - yes, they are big! I can't help it! This time, I learned a bit of Thai from Lee, my masseuse, and shared info on our sak-yant (tattoos) as she has a gao yord as well. She also pointed at my breasts and said "you give me some?"!! Sure!! If I could, I would! As with the large shins, they aren't a blessing but only a hindrance! You're welcome to some of them chicky!! :)
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