Photo Tours - The Floating Markets
Photographs of the floating markets of Thailand have been iconic images of South East Asia for years. Rural farmers paddling long boats through crowded water canals, stacked high with a colorful assortment of fruits and vegetables makes one think of exotic and beautiful places where few have traveled... Yes, it is exotic and it is beautiful. It is not however, a place where few have traveled. In fact it's a place where you should arrive early in the morning in order to get the best photographs. Not only because lighting is best, but to avoid the onslaught of tourist buses which will pour in by 9-10 am. Once the masses arrive it is difficult to capture good photos without westerners cluttering up your masterpiece.
The floating markets are found within the town of Damnoen Saduak in the Ratchaburi Province of Thailand. They operate from about 7 am to noon every day. While these floating markets where originally a way for the local farmers to distribute their home grown bounty grown in the fertile land surrounding the area, the markets are now more of a show of history for tourists and city dwelling Thais looking for an escape from Bangkok. Dispite this, the market is a feast for the eyes and your camera. Some of my favorite travel photographs have been taken right here.
The canals are lined with souvenir huts selling their trinkets and wears directly from an open store front to the tourists ridding about in the boats. Each vendor has three walls and an open wall which faces the canal at just above water level. As you are ferried around by your "captain" the store owners will wave and call out to you pointing out their wall of goods. Golden Buddhas (made in china), incense burners, hash pipes, tapestries, plastic ducks and wooden elephants all ready to be haggled over. There is no doubt you can get some deals here, but to honest most of it is cheap knock offs (at least to my eyes) mass produced for the tourist industry. All of which can be found for much less in the streets of Bangkok away from the main tourist centers. But while you may not want to take home any souvenirs, you will want to take plenty of photos of this long standing lifestyle. The people, the canals, the busy markets, all make for truly wonderful travel photos.
The water ways are filled with food vendors who will cook you all sorts of foods, most of which are going to be completely unknown to Western pallets. Just call out to a boat and they will make their way over to you, cook your meal right there in the "canoe" and serve it to you on a paper plate. Prices cannot be beat. Eat to your heart's content, try a little of everything and you'll still walk away having spent only two or three dollars. While many of the souvenir vendors will know a few world of English, it's unlikely any of the food vendors in the boats will (they tend to be more "old school" for lack of a better description). Not to worry though. They are used to tourists and some basic pointing and charades gets the job done just fine. The plethora of colorful fruits, fresh seafood, vegetables and meats make each boat a perfect subject for taking photographs.
Getting a boat to show you about is easy enough. Just wave down anybody who is not already full of tourists. It is recommended that you negotiate a price before you get on your way. Prices vary but 150-300 bat (about 5-9 dollars) should get you a boat for at least an hour or more. There are many longtail boats cruising around noisily with their engines belching smoke, but I highly recommend finding a driver who paddles a row boat (rver pai). It's just nicer and personally I don't want to support those who are busy making the canals so loud. Ask your captain to take you away from the market to the residential areas to get a much better idea of the local culture. The canals are quite extensive beyond the market area so paying your guide for a whole morning is not a bad way to have an interesting experience for not a lot of money. When you see a nice little restaurant along the water way stop in for something to drink and watch the daily life pass by.
While the floating canals are no longer the "legitimate" market they once where, I still highly recommend going to them. It's interesting, fun and inexpensive. Still a great way to spend the day and it makes for some very cool photos.
