by Lesley Warner
We have some really great weekly markets in Pattaya; you
will be surprised at the bargains and useful household items you can buy
from 5 baht up. Pattaya Tai is easy to find, ask a taxi driver to take you
to Friendship Supermarket, South Pattaya; the market is opposite on Tuesdays
and Fridays from about 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. If you are driving, parking
can be a bit difficult, but you can park in Friendship car park for a small
fee.
The
weekend night market on Thepprasit Road
You can buy anything from jewellery, makeup, shoes,
clothes, underwear, home ware, plants, food, CD’s, electrical equipment to
dogs, cats, chickens and fish. If you have small children, with the speed
they out grow their clothes, there is lots to choose from. The prices are
good and most vendors are open to barter - it’s fun. It can be really hot
shopping in this market under the canvass cover, so remember to have a
drink; there are plenty of food and drink stalls to choose from.
There is also a weekend night market on Thepprasit Road
and if you are looking for bargains this is the place to go. You wont find
many farangs but you will see some interesting sights. There are a variety
of different wares on sale from goldfish to furniture. You will also find
second hand shoes, as well as Thai antiques. It’s a bit like a large car
boot sale. I bought 1 kilo of coloured bath towels for 190 baht, and I must
admit that I haven’t bought bath towels by the kilo before.
Pattaya
Tai Market
There is a large traditional food section where you can
try some of the sweets and snacks that Thai’s are so fond of. Or ‘pig
out’ on the barbecued pig for 25 baht and have a bag of assorted bugs for
dessert!
Even if you are not looking for things to buy it’s
worth a look round and is very inexpensive. You will find it at the
Sukhumvit end of Thepprasit Road, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings
from about 5:30 p.m., but it’s best to wait until about 8 p.m. to give all
the stallholders a chance to set up.
