Day 17: Krabi to Bangkok - Chatuchak Market

Was picked up at 7:20am in a minivan with only one other passenger.  My aloe vera got taken away at the airport.  My poor sunburned and heat-rashed skin.

The plane ride to Bangkok was short, a little over an hour.  There were three crying babies though.  So the time went by slower.

Looking down at the entrance to Chatachuk.  Ah so many people!

From the Bangkok airport, I took the skytrain to the city, where I then connected with the large skytrain transportation system, BTS.  The Chitlom station is around 10 min walk from the hotel.  Convenient enough...but I don't enjoy the walk after a day out and hurting feet.  I arrived at the hotel earlier than the check in time, so I left my luggage there and took the BTS to the Mo Chit station.  Chatachuk Market!  Geez..The most crowded place so far in my Singapore-Malaysia-Thailand run.  At times, I could not even walk.

I had no idea where to start.  It was so overwhelming, and it was too hot.  And I've been uncomfortable since last night when my ear became congested, and has not "popped" back to normal yet.  It is hard getting used to hearing from one ear only.

Squirrels of some sort for sale!  Um, please don't mind the NO PHOTO signs.

Before I began exploring the market, I had lunch.  Pad See Ew for only 50 THB.  Then, the maze began.  Arts, ceramics, pillow and bed linens, clothing, accessories, home decor, pets...so much.  I was planning on buying a lot, but it ended up being one of those cases where I become too overwhelmed with everything.  I ended up just buying a headband!  And beverages.

It took me so long to find the pet section.  I of course would not leave the market without seeing it.  Puppies!  Obviously the whole business of selling pets at the market is terrible, but I will still just look.  All the puppy retailers would not allow the animals to lick you.  Perhaps the were concerned about germs being ingested.  There were also a few kittens.  Bunnies, although not in dresses, and guinea pigs.  The most interesting were the tiny flying squirrels, and some other variation of a squirrel.  They were on leashes, and one was wearing a little beanie.

Another squirrel/chipmunk variation...It likes the pink leash I'm sure.

Central World mall.  Too many floors.

After walking around for four hours, I took the BTS to the Siam station, and walked to Central World for dinner.  Central World is a gigantic shopping complex, 7 stories high.  Although, I will probably find the other malls are large like this as well.  I did not do much shoppingm just wanted to eat and finally check in the hotel.

The food court is interesting.  You are issued a card that keeps track of your food purchases, eventually handing your card to the cashier for them to scan.

Walked a while to get back home, but plenty of other people walking around as well.  My feet hurt...got a blister today.  Tomorrow will hit the malls for some actual shopping!