Chatuchak! Not Just Any Market!

The Chatuchak Weekend Market is held every Saturday and Sunday and is NOT to be missed if you are in Bangkok. It’s the biggest market in all of Thailand. In fact it is the largest market in all of Southeast Asia. This market offers everything from clothing, crafts, and antiques to food and drink. You name it and the Chatuchak Market has it.
An estimated quarter of a million people visit this veritable shopaholic’s paradise each day. The site has over 15,000 stalls and vendors, all grouped into sections to make it easier to find specific items. Here’s an inside tip: Go to this market early in the morning to avoid the crowds and to beat the heat of the day. Bargaining is expected and some vendors will reduce there initial price by more than half. I walked around this area for hours collecting souvenirs and snapping photos.
This is where I met the blind ‘phallic master’, Dhakron, a Bangkok native, who was sporting a pink mohawk hair-do. I negotiated for about 30 minutes to purchase a hand-whittled phallic necklace that he was wearing. Unfortunately, the piece was very old and dear to him and I couldn’t seal the deal with the man who was once a Thai wrestler. So, I walked away, empty handed and phallic-less with only my memory of Dhakron.
On the ‘down side’ for me, the Chatuchak Market is also known for its sale of animals. The animal lover in me knew enough to avoid that section. Dogs, cats, snakes, tortoises, and songbirds are for sale as pets (or food) and the market also has a reputation for trading in endangered species. The government tries to regulate the illegal trade. Several raids on dealers have revealed animals being kept in awful conditions. While casual visitors are never likely to experience it, this illegal trade still continues out of sight.
Last month, the Bangkok news reported over 150,000 Monitor Lizards were confiscated from the backs of pick-up trucks as they crossed the border into Bangkok. And just yesterday on CNN's online news blog I read that the Thai Police arrested a man at the Bangkok airport for attempting to smuggle two baby leopards, two baby panthers, a monkey, birds and more, by stuffing them into suit cases and attempting to bring them to Dubai. No doubt in my mind that these animals came from Chatuchak.
The Government of Thailand got lucky this time, and they are trying to put a stop to this abuse, but the scales are uneven.

For more information about the Chatuchak Market and other popular markets in Thailand check out this website ~ http://www.bangkok.com/shopping-market/popular-markets.htm

Red Light-Green Light

Thailand may be best known for its red light districts. There are three famous red light areas and I paid a visit to two of them, ‘Nana’ and ‘Soi Cowboy’. The third district, known as ‘Patpong’, was a seedy place that I chose not to explore.
‘Nana’ was more of a respectful “Lady Boy Bar” gathering and ‘Soi Cowboy’ was loaded with scantily dressed, extremely young Thai girls.
Being a mother of three teenage daughters, this made me think about the safety of these young 15 year old girls. Both districts feature a typical bar scene on two floors. The lower tier is basically lined with bars and loud music, neon lights and customers drinking and having a good time. The upper tier is where the action happens. I was aware that I would probably be enticed to enter and spend money buying overpriced, watered down drinks and to leave a generous tip. Curiosity won out and I made my way to the upper level. I entered a bar called the “G-Spot” and proceeded to buy ‘my lady boy’ a cocktail. As expected, it looked like a watery orange Fanta soda. Once she (he) realized I only wanted to share some laughs and make some lifetime memories, she (he) was more than happy to hang out. I spent about forty-five minutes at the ‘G-Spot’ and then moved along to the next place. I had a lot of laughs and I felt very safe. It was a gathering spot for ‘lady boys’ who are men in transition to become women. Most already have breast implants and are strikingly beautiful. My ‘lady boy’ was proud of her new body and liked sharing her life’s experience with me. Most of them are waiting for their final surgery that will physically transition them to women.
I have always been an open minded person. I believe that everyone deserves to be happy and if this is what brings these 'Lady Boys' happiness, then so be it! I did come away with a feeling of sadness, not because of their life style choice, but because they seemed so very lonely. It's hard to fit in with so many judgmental people in the world. Men don't treat them with respect, women seem to be scared of them, and most people think they're freaks. Really, all they have is each other.
I love that Thailand is a world of contrasts and welcoming towards everyone...EVERYONE!

Condoms; Use It or Loose It in Thailand

Mechai Viravaidya is the owner of the popular restaurant chain Cabbage and Condoms and he is credited with being the person who single-handedly introduced safe sex to Thailand. Once one of the world's hotspots for AIDS, Thailand has more than successfully brought safe-sex campaigns into the bars and the red light districts. When the Aids epidemic struck, the hugely popular Cabbage and Condoms restaurants freely distributed millions of condoms and gained the support of bureaucrats and law enforcement officials. In 1974, this son of two doctors created the Population and Community Development Association (PDA), one of Asia’s largest and most successful not for profit corporations. Viravaidya has continued to freely distribute condoms and to promote safe sex education programs with everyone from Thai leaders to workers in Bangkok’s notorious red light district. I enjoyed a great dinner at a Cabbage and Condoms Restaurant located between Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy. The theme restaurant was decorated with lighting made of condoms and posters about safe sex hung from the walls. When my bill was delivered, condoms took the place of breath mints. On the way out, there was a full size mannequin holding a golf club made out of condoms with a sign that read, “I hope Tiger used them.” Of course, Tiger Woods is one of the most famous Thai people of all time. When in Bangkok, put this place on your list for sure! It’s not only a cool, fun spot, but educational as well, and the food is reasonably priced and incredibly tasty!

Make sure you make it to Cabbage and Condoms when you are in Bangkok. Click on the following link to get directions and more information about Cabbage and Condoms ~ http://www.pda.or.th/restaurant/about.asp

The Lotus Rules in Thailand

The diversity of Thailand's many flowers reflects its range of natural habitats. Most famous of all are it’s 1,300 varieties of orchids. In the wild, they are protected, but illegal collection has depleted their numbers. My favorite is the Lotus Flower, Thailand's most abundant and useful flower. Everywhere you look in Thailand, you will be surrounded by the beautiful pink gem. The lotus plays a very important part in Thai life. It is the country's most common flower, growing in ponds, swamps, small canals, roadside ditches, on top of pillars in temples, and even in jars. It is not only beautiful, but has many practical uses in the Thai culture, including medicinal values in it’s petals, stamen and root. The large tough leaf can be used to wrap cooked food and the seeds are delicious. Many handicrafts are inspired by the flower's form and beauty. It brought back memories of my first introduction to the Lotus in China last year when I ate the lotus root. Its distinct flavor and unique texture made it my new favorite root vegetable.

When in Thailand...Just Say Yes to Thai Massage

Traditionally, Thai massage (nuat paen boran) is a vigorous combination of yoga, reflexology, and acupressure. I’ve had Thai massage in the U.S. and it was not my favorite, but in Thailand I experienced what it’s really supposed to feel like. I highly recommend it!
Thai massage dates back to the first emergence of Buddhism and is related to Chinese acupuncture and Indian yoga. I experienced the top of the line, high end, expensive silk pajama massage in a beautiful Bangkok spa. Great! I also experienced the flip side of luxury when I visited the third floor of a street massage parlor where I put on cheap cotton pajamas in a room with no AC. Also, great! The latter, I must admit, felt a little like a one night stand (so I’m told) when my Thai massage guy dimmed the lights, put on some soft music, and straddled me!
No matter the choice, high end or low end, you are in for a great and surprising treat as the masseuse customizes the experience to your comfort. And, why is it so good in Thailand? Since the 1960’s, Wat Pho, Bangkok’s oldest and largest temple and center for education, has been home to The Institute of Massage. Visitors can experience a massage or learn the art through a 10-15 day course taught in Thai or English. The highly trained masseurs at the Wat specialize in pulling and stretching the limbs and torso to relieve various ailments emanating from tension to viruses. Thai massage parlor locations are like Starbuck’s in NYC. They are everywhere, but unlike Starbuck’s, everything is negotiable. And, of all the activities available, my favorite daily treat became a Thai Massage. Oh, how I miss my daily 200 Baht (about $20.USD) ninety minute foot, head and shoulder massage! (Some days I would treat myself to a second one, just for fun!)
http://www.watpomassage.com/2009/