Mae Klong Railway Market

After the visit to the Damnoen Saduak floating market I thought that I would be returning to Bangkok however Uncle Sam, my driver, told me that we were on the way to see them take down the umbrellas for the train. I hadn't the faintest idea what he was talking about!  We backtracked along our route, due to the way they drive and the complete absence of rules of the road it is difficult to find anything on a map. At one point we were heading into a wall of traffic coming in the opposite direction, I am sure that we were going the wrong way up a slip road but Uncle Sam continues as if he had right of way.  We arrived at a busy town and found a parking spot then walked back to the main street looking for somewhere to eat.



Sam discarded several street side vendors until one satisfied his eye, personally I couldn't tell the difference, they were all similar and all very busy feeding the local lunch crowd.  In passing Sam pointed out the local market, myriad stalls selling everything from fruit and veg to soap and household wares not to mention the usual tourist souvenirs and a rail track somewhere underneath the crush. After dining on noodles and pork with a local beer we returned to the market as the train arrived at 14:00 hours.

The road barrier was descending as we approached but this deterred neither pedestrian nor scooter riders.  I began to see what Sam had meant, a flurry of activity prompted by the presence of the Station Master and the whistle (or horn, whistle sounds more evocotive some how) of an approaching train. The stall holders were clearing their wares back from the track and "collapsing their umbrellas" so that the train would pass within inches through a wall of canopies and a crowd of spectators.  The train arrived, on time, at Mae Klong railway station whist the market reassembled itself behind.

I walked through the crowd onto the platform and watched as a throng of local people disgorged from the train whist others jockeyed to board.  I discovered that seating is of a premium on these trains with much strap hanging reminiscent of the London underground.  At first glance the carriages are covered in graffiti however this is official artwork, in this case probably advertising the local floating market. A wander around the station revealed the refreshment stalls where hot food is dispensed either to eat on the platform or take on board.

The station bell, the ticket office and waiting room reminiscent of a bygone era contrasted with the projected images along the rear wall of the station. These depicted the history of the railway in Mae Kong and showed an excellent view of the train passing through the market.  By this time the tourists had taken their 'selfies' and departed, the crowd and consequent traffic had thinned out and all was relatively peaceful as we walked back to the car. But this is Thailand and you never know what is around the corner!

We returned to the car and headed off back to the city passing colourful trucks, roadside statues and as we passed over the working river magnificent views of the Bangkok skyline with large ships in its midst.  Reaching the centre of Bankok we would then be off in search of a 'Golden Buddha' weighing 5.5 tonnes!

View my 'Maeklong Railway Market' photo album