![Traveling](/images/icons/icon_traveling.gif)
![Parting of the Maeklong Railway Market with a Passing Train](/2018/sep/maeklong_trainmarket/thumbnails/maeklong_trainmarket.jpg)
Parting of the Maeklong Railway Market with a Passing Train
Location: Google Maps
Global Sensation
Maeklong Market is unique. You've seen it in several travel shows - even National Geographic and Discovery Chanel. There is a crowded wet market along a train railway. When the train comes, the vendors unhurriedly collapse their huge umbrellas and move their awnings giving way to the slow-passing train. They move everything back after the train has passed. This scene is so unique it has become a Mecca for global travelers visiting Bangkok - which is a good 81 kms away! Now, with Chai, Mar, Christina and Mayet (I fondly refer to as the Amphawa Crew), I get to see it first-hand!
History
The railway line is 67kms long and originally consisted of 2 stages that merged at the Tha Chin River in 1907 to transport produce from the fishing ports of Samut Sakhon and Samut Songkram to the Bangkok markets. A bus station has since been incorporated to the railway stop to ease traffic congestion coming from Bangkok. This is perhaps Thailand's slowest trains with an average speed of 30km/hr. If you plan to commute on this train from Bangkok to Maeklong, best to be prepared for the long haul. 17 trains pass in each direction daily.
Here Comes the Train
The coming train could be heard long before it comes. It is nothing less ceremonious than an arriving rock star. Visitors ready-up their phones, cameras and videos to catch the moment as they line-up along the tracks. Some stay on the tracks and move out at the last instance. All attention is focused on the train. And with its arrival, it's like a zipper opening up the market as it comes. Some travelers stay so close to the tracks it's almost like their nose is grazed by the slow-moving train. And as you see the train moving away, you also see the tracks being transformed into a market as vendors open-up their umbrellas and spread their awnings back.
Maeklong Railway Market by Renegade Travels
Market Scene
Aside from the parting of the market, the market itself is also something to experience. It is one of Thailand's biggest fresh seafood markets with its center right along the tracks. Walking along the tracks allows you to see goods offered at the market but it's also worthwhile exploring the inner sections for a more diverse seafood offering.
![Parting of the Maeklong Railway Market with a Passing Train](/2018/sep/maeklong_trainmarket/images/maeklong_trainmarket.jpg)
Philippine Version
We have a Philippine version of this scene but it's not for the faint-hearted tourist. It's not at all for the benefit of any tourist. A market is spawned in the middle of a squatter's area - it's rough and it's tough. When the train passes, goods are moved away just like Maeklong. But this place is chaotic, dirty and perhaps even unsafe.
To put an even interesting spin, garbage is thrown by the squaters on the train tops. Why? Because they are squatters (illegal settlers), there is no government service in place - not even garbage collection. So, how do the squatters dispose of their garbage? By throwing them on the roof of the passing trains. So, when the train arrives at its destination, usually Bicol, there is a cleaning team prepared to haul out the piles of garbage collected from different parts of the Philippines along the train route.
Philippine Version of Maeklong Railway Market
Ending Thoughts
To travelers from first world countries where you see public outrage when high-tech bullet trains run 1 minute late, the Maeklong spectacle is indeed a mind-blower which requires video evidence to convince a disbeliever.
Thank you Chai, Mar, Christina and Mayet for sharing your pictures!
--- TheLoneRider
YOGA by Gigit
|
Learn English
|
Travel like a Nomad
|
Donation Bank
pictures courtesy of Chai, Mayet, Mar and Christina
![Facebook Users](/images/fb_users.gif)
Next stop:: Exploring the Tree-Engulfed Wat Bang Kung Temple
Bangkok Blogs by TheLoneRider
- Bangkok in Pictures Mar 17-21, 2021
- Bangkok for Passport Renewal Mar 17-21, 2021
- Bangkok with $19 Dec 8-11, 2018
- 30 Days - Goodbye Bangkok Nov 8, 2018
- Revolving Peoplescape of Bangkok Oct 8 - Nov 8, 2018
- Food and Friendship at Dalad Vietnamese Oct 8 - Nov 8, 2018
- Movie Review: First Reformed (2017) Nov 6, 2018
- Doing Online Work at The Work Loft Nov 5, 2018
- Window Seat [His Precious] Nov 1, 2018
- Surreal Odyssey at Bangkok Float Center Oct 29/31, 2018
- Bangkok Halloween with Rinna and Steve Oct 27, 2018
- Push-Ups Oct 22/24, 2018
- Pad Thai at Thip Samai, Bangkok Oct 16, 2018
- Birthday Walkabout Oct 16, 2018
- Coming to Terms with Donations Oct 14, 2018
- Feelin' Da Blues at Adhere the 13th Blues Bar Oct 12, 2018
- Visiting the Grand Palace of Thailand Oct 12, 2018
- A Web Mandate in Bangkok Oct 8, 2018
- 29 Days in Bangkok: Thank You and Goodbye Aug 27 - Sep 24, 2018
- Calling the Bangkok Police Sep 23, 2018
- Movie Review: Mindfulness and Murder (2011) Sep 22, 2018
- Yoga Inversions at Now's Fitness Gym Sep 19, 2018
- Flow Yoga with Teacher Kea at Now's Fitness Sep 18, 2018
- Movie Review: Under Construction (2015) Sep 15, 2018
- Walking Tour of Little India Sep 15, 2018
- Vinyasa Yoga with Teacher That at Now's Fitness Sep 14, 2018
- Abs Workout with Teacher San at Now's Fitness Sep 13, 2018
- Vinyasa Yoga with Teacher That at Now's Fitness Sep 14, 2018
- Abs Workout with Teacher San at Now's Fitness Sep 13, 2018
- Exercise Ball Workout with Teacher Bie at Now's Fitness Sep 11, 2018
- Exploring the Amphawa Floating Market Sep 9, 2018
- Exploring the Tree-Engulfed Wat Bang Kung Temple Sep 9, 2018
- Parting of the Maeklong Railway Market with a Passing Train Sep 9, 2018
- Exploring Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Sep 9, 2018
- Horse Racing at the The Royal Bangkok Sports Club Sep 8, 2018
- Fight Class with Teacher San at Now's Fitness Sep 7, 2018
- Exploring the Bangkok Art Book Fair 2018 Sep 6, 2018
- Circuit Training with Mild at Now's Fitness Sep 5, 2018
- Gentle Flow Yoga with Nuch at Now's Fitness, Bangkok Sep 4, 2018
- A Yogi Lost in a Modern Gym - Now's Fitness Sep 3, 2018
- Abundance at On Nut, Bangkok Aug 30-Sep 1, 2018
- Outside Looking In Aug 29, 2018
- Back in Bangkok After 5 Weeks Aug 27, 2018
- 15 Days in Bangkok July 10-24, 2018
- Peoplescape: Bangkok July 10-24, 2018
- Hatha and Yantra Yoga Fusion July 10-24, 2018
- Revisiting Terminal 21 Mall, Bangkok July 23, 2018
- Rope Skipping, 4mins Full-on July 22, 2018
- Sunday Visit to Chatuchak Weekend Market July 17, 2018
- Fork on the Road: Abundance or Poverty by Choice? July 16, 2018
- Loving Bangkok All Over Again Feb 22-26, 2016
- Hotel Review: Adventure Hostel Bangkok July 11, 2018
- Hotel Review: Riva Surya Bangkok Oct 20, 2014
- Exploring the Shopping Malls of Bangkok Oct 6-20, 2014
- Bangkok's Street Food Delight Oct 6-20, 2014
- Bangkok Revisited 3 Oct 6-20, 2014
- A First Timer in Bangkok December 31, 2005 - January 3, 2006
Bangkok Map
![Google Map](/images/google_tab.gif)
Bangkok, Thailand
![hotels in Bangkok](/images/icon/hotel.gif)
![](/images/icon/hotel10.gif)
1541 Phahonyothin Rd. Payathai
![restaurant in Bangkok](/images/icon/restaurant.gif)
![Dalad Vietnamese Restaurant](/images/icon/restaurant07.gif)
195 Soi Pradipat 19, Pradipat Road, Phayathai
![spa and wellness in Bangkok](/images/icon/spa.gif)
![Bangkok Float Center](/images/icon/massage03.gif)
99/6-9 SHOW DC Retail and Entertainment Mega Complex (4th Floor)
![gyms on On Nut, Bangkok](/images/icon/gym.gif)
![gyms on On Nut, Bangkok](/images/icon/yoga.gif)
![](/images/icon/gym08.gif)
726 Soi On Nut 14 Rd, Khwaeng Suan Luang, Khet Suan Luang, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10250
Useful Information
Bangkok Cost Index
as of Sep 4, 2018: US$1 = Baht 32 = Php 53
- Bht 60 sm, 90 big one mug draft beer
- Bht 13 1.5 liter drinking water
- Bht 220 one hour massage
- Bht 60-80 muesli breakfast
- Bht 60-80 tom yum soup in modest eatery
- Bht 25-30 coffee
- Bht 30-50 pad thai
- Bht 350 Adventure Hostel lodging
- Bht 20-30/load laundry, coin operated machine
- Bht 7 bus ride
Transport Maps of Bangkok
Bangkok to Chiang Mai by Train from Bang Sue Train Station
For more train info: Bangkok to Chiang Mai trains - departing from Hua Lamphong - MRT (Bangkok)
(I'm using Bang Sue as a starting point because I was closer to it, but you may be closer to the Hua Lamphong station)
- take the MRT train to Bang Sue Station. Take the #1 Exit to the north provincial trains
- Proceed to Counter 2. You will see an
information booth, a
train schedule chart and the
ticket counter. Choose the train and pay at the ticket counter.
- daily train schedule:
- 8:48am - #7 Train, arrive Chiang Mai 7:30pm, not sleeper, B638
- 2:06pm - #109 Train, arrive Chiang Mai 4:05am, sleeper
- 6:31pm - #9 Premium Train, arrive Chiang Mai 7:15am, sleeper, B938 upper deck, B1038 lower deck
- 7:56pm - #13 Train, arrive Chiang Mai 8:40am, sleeper, B768 upper deck, B838 lower deck
- 10:22pm - #51 Train, arrive Chiang Mai 12:10pm, sleeper, 3rd class B270 (non sleeper), 2nd class B438, B728 upper deck, B798 lower deck
Currency Converter
![](http://assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button.png)
»» next Traveling story: Exploring the Tree-Engulfed Wat Bang Kung Temple
»» back to Traveling
»» back to Homepage
ARCHIVE:
2024 |
JAN |
FEB |
MAR |
APR |
MAY |
JUN |
JUL |
AUG
1970 |
1973 |
1975 |
1976 |
1979 |
1981 |
1996 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
ALL BLOGS