Sweet serendipity: Treasures found in Bangkok's Chatuchak Market

“Luck affects everything; let your hook always be cast; in the stream where you least expect it, there will be a fish.” -- Ovid

At just over one-square kilometer, and with upwards of a half-million visitors each weekend, Chatuchak Market may seem beyond belief. But for those who are looking for a shopping adventure, Bangkok’s infamous weekend market offers more than just nice gifts. In rare cases, some might be fortunate enough to stumble upon a priceless find. 

During a dinnertime conversation I had not too long ago, a good friend of mine (older and gracefully wiser) told me that all the things he was most thankful for in his life were primarily the result of chance encounters; being in the right place at the right time. His words appealed to me and though the idea of attaining such pleasure without much control can be unsettling I truly believe such an outlook applies to Chatuchak market.

Shopper's luck

By acknowledging luck as a major role-player in what yields memorable experiences, those who venture to Chatuchak will discover that its wealth of culture provides for good opportunities to make wonderful finds. At the weekend market I had one such experience of shopper’s luck.

Like a sea of infinite possibilities, I navigated my way through Chatuchak’s army of stalls, observing the medley of items that were around me. The sight of something special here or there slowly pulled me through the market and by midday I was dehydrated.

Weaving through the crowd, stall owners around me were helpful with pointing me in the right direction. The stalls varied in size but were rarely no larger than a 4x4 meter cube with one wall completely open to the alleyways that were usually no wider than a couple of meters.

With everything from ostrich eggs to hidden camera-pens for sale that day the crowded market soon turned into an organized yet chaotic center of wonder. I gestured with my hands the pouring of a beverage into my mouth and one nearby storeowner responded by pointing to the stall at the far end of the alley.

Spiritual thirst

Once there my thirst for water quickly disappeared as I realized that the storeowner, who had pointed me in my direction, had interpreted my gesture to locate water as a gesture to locate fine and exotic spirits. Instead of buying a bottle of water I purchased a 1952 bottle of Hennessey X.O. to celebrate New Years in style.

A year later, in an attempt to return to the same store I had bought the cognac from, I discovered that the owner no longer practiced his business there. I also learned that such happenings were commonplace at Chatuchak. Businesses came and went depending on the opportunity provided by the times thereby adding another variable to the shopper’s quest for the perfect buys.

For the rest of the day I went searching for an item similar to my bottle of vintage cognac and was unfortunate not to find anything. Perhaps, in hindsight, I should have kept on searching because Chatuchak truly does have something to offer everyone. And with something to offer everyone the only question remaining is whether you are fortunate enough to stumble across your own little treasure.

But that is a matter left to luck and in order to increase your chances of finding such luck you have to be willing to put yourself out there.

Getting to Chatuchak Market

Take the skytrain (BTS) to Mo Chit station, exit down the right-hand stairs and follow the crowd for five-minute walk. Or take the subway (MRT) to Chatuchak Park station, and follow the signs.

Open: 8am-6pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Some plant shops  open Wednesday and Thursday

Chatujak Market office tel. +66 (0)2 272 5382 3