If you’re in Bangkok on a weekend, don’t miss the Weekend Market adjacent to the Mo Chit BTS stop at the northern terminus of the skytrain. Chatuchak covers a vast area with rows of stalls selling everything — souvenirs, “antiques,” fresh and dried seafood, vegetables and condiments, blue and white pottery, pets of every sort (from guppies to Rotweilers), orchids and other exotic plants, clothing, and a host of strange exotic items on top of the usual array of T-shirts, trinkets and souvenirs.
It’s a great way to introduce yourself to the exotic sights, flavors, and colors of Thai life. It’s a great way to get all of those souvenirs you didn’t buy yet. The market looks like chaos, but there is some organization going on with similar shops forming small clusters (Nancy Chandler’s illustrated Market Map has a color-coded insert) but it’s a fun place to get lost (and you will). Open on Saturdays and Sundays. Try to get there early in the morning before the heat. Hint: Hop off the skytrain at Saphan Kwai and walk the one stop to the main market area, staying on the left (or west) side of the train. All along here you’ll find some great antique and jewelry stalls.