Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Oct 10th, 2003, 08:19 PM
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Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
I want to spend serious photographic time at the Damnoen Saduak floating market without having to leave Bangkok at an ungodly hour of the morning. My plan is to take the train there the night before. So, recommendations about the following are appreciated ...
Apparently there are three floating markets at Damnoen Saduak -- Ton Khem, Hia Kui, and Khum Pithak. I've read that Ton Khem is the most active and that some people take a long-tail boat from there to get to Hia Kui. Any recommendations?
What's more convenient, taking the train or bus from Bangkok? (Price doesn't matter since both are relatively inexpensiver.)
If I take the train, do I leave from the Hua Lampong Terminal?
What station do I get off at?
Please suggest a clean, comfortable hotel, though nothing luxurious since we'll be arriving fairly late and will only make use of a bed for the night. (I found a list of Ratchaburi hotels but haven't found any description of them or Internet sites that offer reservations for them.)
Other suggestions?
Apparently there are three floating markets at Damnoen Saduak -- Ton Khem, Hia Kui, and Khum Pithak. I've read that Ton Khem is the most active and that some people take a long-tail boat from there to get to Hia Kui. Any recommendations?
What's more convenient, taking the train or bus from Bangkok? (Price doesn't matter since both are relatively inexpensiver.)
If I take the train, do I leave from the Hua Lampong Terminal?
What station do I get off at?
Please suggest a clean, comfortable hotel, though nothing luxurious since we'll be arriving fairly late and will only make use of a bed for the night. (I found a list of Ratchaburi hotels but haven't found any description of them or Internet sites that offer reservations for them.)
Other suggestions?
Oct 11th, 2003, 03:52 AM
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Ratchaburi is a very small town and although I am sure Mike you are reasonably adventurous you might find yourself a bit 'lost'.
My suggestion would be to certainly go ( I will find out about accommodation from friends ) the night before if you wish but take a car+driver, I would also make a deal with the driver to stay also so that he can be up early and get you to all the right spots at the right time, it will no doubt be of immense help having a Thai person with you so you might as well get 1 guy with a car to take you, stay, take you around and then get you back to Bangkok.
You would be well 'out on your own' in Ratchaburi!
I will find out where is best to stay but inadvance that might be Phetchaburi, but if you are into Photogtaphy Phechaburi offers great potential with the hilltop old Palace (Illuminated at night).It's probably 1 hour from there to the markets ( with a Thai driver very early).
JamesA
My suggestion would be to certainly go ( I will find out about accommodation from friends ) the night before if you wish but take a car+driver, I would also make a deal with the driver to stay also so that he can be up early and get you to all the right spots at the right time, it will no doubt be of immense help having a Thai person with you so you might as well get 1 guy with a car to take you, stay, take you around and then get you back to Bangkok.
You would be well 'out on your own' in Ratchaburi!
I will find out where is best to stay but inadvance that might be Phetchaburi, but if you are into Photogtaphy Phechaburi offers great potential with the hilltop old Palace (Illuminated at night).It's probably 1 hour from there to the markets ( with a Thai driver very early).
JamesA
Oct 11th, 2003, 05:49 AM
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James, thanks much for your recommendations and time. If you don't mind, your ideas prompt some questions.
If Phetchaburi is an hour away from the market, does going to Phetchaburi accomplish my goal of saving time in the morning? (My wife HATES getting up really early.)
You're right that we have no problem being very adventurous when the need arises. (We travelled along the edge of the Sahara in Morocco on our own with no hotel reservations.) Our thinking is that we would keep our Bangkok hotel room while at Ratchaburi, take a change of clothes and find a hotel close to the market. My list of 35 hotels includes a few that cost 1000 - 3000 baht per night, making me think that those more expensive ones will be clean and comfortable at the very least and that people working at the desk might speak a little English. I have addresses for the hotels but they're meaningless to me, of course. I had hoped someone at the Bangkok hotel could give us some advice and make reservations for us. The list of hotels is at http://www.sawadeethailand.com/provi...uri/accom.html
I understand that it takes a little over two hours to go to Ratchaburi by train and that it will take longer going by car because of the traffic in Bangkok. True? If that's the case, taking a car will require time.
So, I look forward to your always helpful insights. I'll ultimately have to make a decision regarding the best use of our time while ensuring that we'll be able to get around with absolutely no Thai language skills in such a small community.
If Phetchaburi is an hour away from the market, does going to Phetchaburi accomplish my goal of saving time in the morning? (My wife HATES getting up really early.)
You're right that we have no problem being very adventurous when the need arises. (We travelled along the edge of the Sahara in Morocco on our own with no hotel reservations.) Our thinking is that we would keep our Bangkok hotel room while at Ratchaburi, take a change of clothes and find a hotel close to the market. My list of 35 hotels includes a few that cost 1000 - 3000 baht per night, making me think that those more expensive ones will be clean and comfortable at the very least and that people working at the desk might speak a little English. I have addresses for the hotels but they're meaningless to me, of course. I had hoped someone at the Bangkok hotel could give us some advice and make reservations for us. The list of hotels is at http://www.sawadeethailand.com/provi...uri/accom.html
I understand that it takes a little over two hours to go to Ratchaburi by train and that it will take longer going by car because of the traffic in Bangkok. True? If that's the case, taking a car will require time.
So, I look forward to your always helpful insights. I'll ultimately have to make a decision regarding the best use of our time while ensuring that we'll be able to get around with absolutely no Thai language skills in such a small community.
Oct 11th, 2003, 08:04 AM
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Honestly I would forget the train.
My personal suggestion would be this:
1> Tell the concierge at your BKK hotel what you want, a decent hotel plus a car and driver, they will certainly have someone who has taken people before.
2> Tell them you want a clean hotel ( in such places B 1,000 is more than enough ).
3> Leave around 3 pm to avoid the traffic. Have a shower/change at the hotel and then get the driver to take you to a restaurant, 'use him', tell him what you need and he will take care of everything. Early night. He is up and ready to get you straight to the best places and can take you where you need to go, remember the hotel could be quite a way from the Floating Market and unlikely any local guy would speak more than a 'ello' in English. After you have done the market he can stop somewhere for lunch and then back to BKK.
In Ratchaburi you can get 'best room/suite' for max B 1,500 and get the driver the basic B 500 room.
That is all a great deal easier than booking rail seats ahead, then taxi to the station, boring train journey, getting transport to a hotel, and then having to get someone to get you where you want to go. A BKK driver will be more 'geared to taking care of you' than any local driver you might find, also you may well get ripped-off and not see what you want. Those car+drivers are usually relations or close friends of the Concierge and known by the hotel and you can be sure you won't get xxxx around. He is your driver, guide and 'anti hassle agent' rolled into 1!
That's what I'd do.
My personal suggestion would be this:
1> Tell the concierge at your BKK hotel what you want, a decent hotel plus a car and driver, they will certainly have someone who has taken people before.
2> Tell them you want a clean hotel ( in such places B 1,000 is more than enough ).
3> Leave around 3 pm to avoid the traffic. Have a shower/change at the hotel and then get the driver to take you to a restaurant, 'use him', tell him what you need and he will take care of everything. Early night. He is up and ready to get you straight to the best places and can take you where you need to go, remember the hotel could be quite a way from the Floating Market and unlikely any local guy would speak more than a 'ello' in English. After you have done the market he can stop somewhere for lunch and then back to BKK.
In Ratchaburi you can get 'best room/suite' for max B 1,500 and get the driver the basic B 500 room.
That is all a great deal easier than booking rail seats ahead, then taxi to the station, boring train journey, getting transport to a hotel, and then having to get someone to get you where you want to go. A BKK driver will be more 'geared to taking care of you' than any local driver you might find, also you may well get ripped-off and not see what you want. Those car+drivers are usually relations or close friends of the Concierge and known by the hotel and you can be sure you won't get xxxx around. He is your driver, guide and 'anti hassle agent' rolled into 1!
That's what I'd do.
Oct 11th, 2003, 08:11 AM
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i would bite the bullet and stay in bkk for the nite and leave real early for that ONE day....having been in that area i can't imagine that you are going to find anything that is acceptable for a hotel....it might ruin the whole experience....
jamesA is right on in suggesting a thai driver (make sure he has been there before)...mine the last time got lost twice on the way down.....
i think we left bkk at 7:30 the last time and were right in the thick of things when we got there....a driver will get you right up to the places you want to be....
we went over the bridge, walked to the left along the water in one of the sheds and went way to the back and hired a boat there and she guided us through the maze of boats....it was in november and i would not consider it to be too crowded with tourists....there were lots along the shore but not so many in the water in boats....
picture taking was fabulous...
there is a huge wat (the largest chedi, i think) in Ratchaburi
jamesA is right on in suggesting a thai driver (make sure he has been there before)...mine the last time got lost twice on the way down.....
i think we left bkk at 7:30 the last time and were right in the thick of things when we got there....a driver will get you right up to the places you want to be....
we went over the bridge, walked to the left along the water in one of the sheds and went way to the back and hired a boat there and she guided us through the maze of boats....it was in november and i would not consider it to be too crowded with tourists....there were lots along the shore but not so many in the water in boats....
picture taking was fabulous...
there is a huge wat (the largest chedi, i think) in Ratchaburi
Oct 11th, 2003, 01:38 PM
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I don't know anyone who really enjoys getting up in the dark to start the day - but this is often what happens.
We were on our way to Damneon Saduak at 6:30 am - no traffic, driving south about 40 minutes where we boarded a longail (our driver continued by land) that took us through the klong to the market.
The vendors were still setting up, so we were first customers of the day before thing were picked over.
By the time the crowds were in full force we boarded another boat and spent about an hour on the klongs, great photos, played with small children, tasted all kinds of foods.
When ready to leave, our driver was waiting and we returned to BKK, having made a few stops along the way to "shop" as if we didn't have enought "stuff" already. We were back at our hotel about 1pm (maybe 2pm) - headed right to the pool for relaxing and to catch up on sleep.
So I agree with Kathie about doing the early morning. Unless JamesA info can get you a driver/guide and hotel for a pre-overnight that you are comfortable with. Different strokes!!!
We were on our way to Damneon Saduak at 6:30 am - no traffic, driving south about 40 minutes where we boarded a longail (our driver continued by land) that took us through the klong to the market.
The vendors were still setting up, so we were first customers of the day before thing were picked over.
By the time the crowds were in full force we boarded another boat and spent about an hour on the klongs, great photos, played with small children, tasted all kinds of foods.
When ready to leave, our driver was waiting and we returned to BKK, having made a few stops along the way to "shop" as if we didn't have enought "stuff" already. We were back at our hotel about 1pm (maybe 2pm) - headed right to the pool for relaxing and to catch up on sleep.
So I agree with Kathie about doing the early morning. Unless JamesA info can get you a driver/guide and hotel for a pre-overnight that you are comfortable with. Different strokes!!!
Oct 11th, 2003, 03:11 PM
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Thanks to everyone for the great ideas. I think James's idea will fit our travel style best with one variation: Is there any reason not to leave Bangkok about 7:00 - 8:00 at night? (Is traffic going to be still so awful or is night driving so dangerous that I shouldn't do it even with a local driver?)
About going to Ayutthaya, I had planned on taking the train. James, your comments about the train make me wonder if I should use a car/driver also to Ayutthaya. (I don't want to do a bus/boat tour.) If I go by train, do I have to book the train tickets in advance or can I get them when I show up at the station?
Thanks again to everyone!
About going to Ayutthaya, I had planned on taking the train. James, your comments about the train make me wonder if I should use a car/driver also to Ayutthaya. (I don't want to do a bus/boat tour.) If I go by train, do I have to book the train tickets in advance or can I get them when I show up at the station?
Thanks again to everyone!
