Bangkok is one of the most visited cities in the world in 2023. Some sources state it is #2, slightly behind Hong Kong and a bit higher than London. That means talking about this city's hidden gems can be helpful for many, maybe, even some Hivers plan to visit the capital of Thailand.
So, let me introduce a place not many travelers are aware of although every young Bangkokian has probably visited it. This is night Srinakarin Train Market (on Google maps); Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin in Thai.
The Name
They don't sell trains there 😄 as well as the place isn't located near the railway. As I heard, the name is related to the previous location of the market.
On Google maps, you'll see the market is called
"Srinagarindra" is just how they write the name in Thai but don't read. Nobody will understand you if you start talking about Srinagarindra. You ought to say Srinakarin instead.
Saying Srinakarin Train Market would be the best choice since the name sounds that way in Thai - Talad (Market) Rot Fai (Train) Srinakarin (in Srinakarin).
They call it a night market since it doesn't work during daylight hours. Coming at 6 pm is good, not too early, the things just start happening at this time, and there is still twilight to take blue hour images.
Weekends can probably offer the best experience.
What Is This Market About?
Srinakarin Train Market, first of all, is a place
- to hang out including dining and taking images for social media and
- to shop inexpensive clothes and accessories including the second-hand ones and including ones created by the locals.
I put "hanging out" on the 1st place since Srinakarin Train Market is a place to go out, first of all.
95% of visitors are Thais, mostly, young people.
T-shirts at Srinakarin Train Market
If you have money to buy artifacts of the past, be sure to take some with you, there are a number of great antique stores there.
Porcelain or a vintage motorbike, what to choose? 😀
There are a lot of cool retro objects at the market with which visitors love to photograph. Thanks to the shops which don't mind people taking images.
This and that, an old phone booth, road signs, an old gas station equipment, even an old airplane there, many things... But the most significant decoration of the market are retro cars.
Retro Cars
You come across them here and there during the walk at the market.
No stupid illumination and pedestals - cars are parked here and there casually, like if you are in an America movie with real cars parked at real streets and lots.
An old rusty vehicle by General Motors Company. And suddenly:
A selfie in a shop's mirror 😁
Service station display:
Not really a car, only a "tortoise shell", a cute one.
Another Chevrolet with "Old's cool" on the windshield:
They also repair retro cars there:
No "no photo" paranoia! Heaven!
Classic 50mm lens with f/4.0, good work, isn't it? 🙂
Chevrolet Impala. What a cool design! 😻
The front view of the same Impala. (Which I know about only because of Supernatural series 😄).
Another Chevrolet and a Land-Rover:
They have much more cars there but it's enough for one post. Let me show you the airplane instead:
Instagramers and all sorts of photography lovers fly towards the aircraft as bees to honey. We weren't exceptions 🙂
The Conclusion
Srinakarin Train Market is a great place for an evening walk. You can consider it a museum of retro vehicles with no entrance fee.
Since recent times, it has BTS nearby, Suan Luang Rama 9 (on Google Maps). You can come by bus as well to save money.
Thai dishes cost 1.5-2$. There are dozens of restaurants there, all sorts of meals and desserts. Bars with live music are also available.
More stories from #Thailand are ahead! Check out the previous ones on my personal Pinmapple map.
I took the images on August 6, 2023 with a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G on a full frame Nikon D750 in Bangkok, Thailand.