Before I could leave Thailand, I had to visit the markets that everyone sees in NatGeo magazines and documentaries. So, I took a day trip to the two most famous markets near Bangkok: Maeklong Train Market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
We arrived at Maeklong Train Market at about 7:30 am. To get to the actual market on the train tracks requires shuffling through a few narrow alleyways. Once you reach the tracks, the market seems surprisingly authentic, despite the mass of tourists. Although its still difficult to get a photo without other farangs (Thai for western foreigners) blocking the sites, there are no elephant pants or refrigerator magnets at the market. Instead, its full of fruits, vegetables, spices, and headless fish. Every hour when the bell rings, all the stands quickly fold their tents in to make room for the train that passes through the market with inches to spare on either side.
The first automated popsicle chiller I’ve seen. 
Closing up the stalls before the train comes. 
The train is coming! 
I touched the train. 
Just your average grocery trip in Thailand. 
I was too tall for the market and kept hitting my head on wooden beams.
After the Train Market, we drove another half hour to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, the largest and most well known floating market near Bangkok. For 150 baht, tourists can hitch a ride around the market on a paddle boat. Although floating around to shops along the river and stopping to buy fruit from a longboat (or not buy fruit from a longboat because it was incredibly overpriced) was cool, the market is completely different from the bustling local market it once was. Now, all of the shops are filled with souvenirs and the whole market is aimed at selling things to tourists. While it was a colorful and interesting experience, I probably won’t be going back again.
See the paintings in the background? 
I’m real proud of this photo and the blocking of other photos I did to get it. 
Fruuuuuuuuuit
Very cool 😀