Wednesday, December 14, 2016

ASIATIQUE NIGHT MARKET IN BANGKOK IS THE BEST IN ALL ASIA AND POSSIBLY THE WORLD AS I CANNOT THINK OF A SIMILAR NIGHT BAZAAR ANYWHERE ELSE ON PLANET EARTH THAT OPENS AT 5 PM TILL 12 MIDNIGHT WITH OVER 1,500 BIG, MIDDLING AND SMALL SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, CAFES AND BOUTIQUES SELLING ALL SORTS OF FASHIONS, GARMENTS, ACCESSORIES, DECORATIVE ITEMS, KNICKS-KNACKS AND THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW YOU DESIRED TILL YOU SAW THEM! OMITOFU

KEE@FSWMAG.COM
ASIATIQUE THE RIVERFRONT IS RELATIVELY NEW AS IT OPENED ONLY IN 2012 BUT IS ALREADY A MAJOR LANDMARK IN BANGKOK. 

Once the headquarters of East Asiatic Company, a trading company owned by Hans Nille Andersen of Denmark, it was the world's biggest exporter of teak wood. King Chulalongkorn had the great foresight to establish trade with powerful European nations which were carving out colonies throughout Asia and successfully prevented Siam (the original name of Thailand) from falling into the hands of the French who had already annexed ndo China. It was said when French warships sailed into Bangkok to attack, it was the gaze of Emerald Buddha in Grand Palace that forestalled the conquest as the ships suddenly failed to move and were forced to retreat! To this day, the Emerald Buddha is revered as Thailand's most important and sacred Buddha image. Thrice a year, the King of Thailand personally changes the jewelled garments of this 26-inch statue which is of solid jade or jasper and not emerald as it is named after the green color.

The East Asiatic Company warehouses on this site by Chao Phraya river ceased operations in 1947 after 40 years and fell into disrepair. In 2011 TCC Land took over and transformed the original warehouses into this incredible shopping, dining and entertainment mega night market.

Most shops are inside the original warehouses so the ambiance is truly authentic and among the famous theatres are Calypso starring Bangkok's most beautiful and sexiest transvestites, Joe Lewis Thai Puppet Theatre and Muay Thai show. At RM 150 for the trannie and bvoxing shows, they are not cheap but worth every baht as they are so entertaining. I have not been to Joe Lewis theatre so cannot comment. The Asiatique Sky is Bangkok's highest at 200 ft with bird's eye views of Asiatique.

Currently Asiatique occupies 12 acres but plans are afoot to expand to 28 acres so I guess I will have to walk more and arrive at 5 pm. Asiatique replaces the popular Suan Lum night market and Silom street market as the stalls have been removed for some unfathomable reason. I went there three days ago and was shocked to see only a few desultory stalls left! Bring Silom night street market back! The stalls do not obstruct anything or anyone or any project and its elimination means 1 less tourist attraction in Bangkok! 

Many call Asiatique openair but this is untrue as almost all shops are located indoors inside EAC warehouses and the toilets are amazingly cold so I tend to go there when the heat gets to me! 

ENTRANCE


FIRST THING YOU SEE UPON ARRIVAL
THE LATE AND GREAT KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ OF THAILAND
THESE ELEPHANTS SPONSORED BY CHANG BEER AS 'CHANG' MEANS 'ELEPHANT'



ASIATIQUE SKY IS TALLEST FERRIS WHEEL AT 200 FEET
NOTE THE GO KARTS



HIGHTECH WHEELS FOR HIRE







FUN FUN FUN
SHRINE TO NAK
CUTE
BAG TOTING CAT
SCENIC
BY THE RIVER


BRONZE STATUES OF CHINAMEN CARRYING SACKS OF RICE
TOUGH LIFE FOR THE POOR CHINKS
2 CHINAMEN 
THIS GUY HAS IT EASY TODAY!

JACK DANIEL THAT IS

NICE ANGLE OF FERRIS WHEEL

GO KARTING BELOW







EASY LOAD FOR WHITE FARANG WOMAN 




SELFI-ING




HARD AT WORK
STILL AT IT










PIER IN USE FOR FREE BOAT SHUTTLE
COLONIAL HOUSE NOW RESTAURANT
LOVE THIS BUILDING



FISHY BUSINESS
LONG LIVE THE KING IN OUR MINDS AND LONG LIVE NEW KING RAMA X


WHAT A VIEW






2 CHINAMEN EATING IN TRADITIONAL STYLE



I USED TO EAT LIKE THIS AS A CHILD AS IT'S A CHINKY CUSTOM

BUT I NEVER SQUATTED BUT ENJOYED PUTTING ONE LEG UP ON STOOL


LOOK, A FLOATING CROCODILE! ARTISTIC

WALL DECOR SO LOVELY




MALIFICENT WINGS
SECONDARY ENTRANCE
CHANGING COLORS OF WATER



NICE RETREAT

CAROUSEL


BIG BABIES


RM 18,000 FOR THIS HUGE GOLD AND STONE ENCRUSTED CARPET 
RICH
TRISHAW PEDDLER
THESE POOR MEN HAD TO TAKE OPIUM TO GIVE THEM STRENGTH TO PULL THE TRISHAWS! MAY THEY BE REBORN IN HIGHER PLANE OF EXISTENCE FOR ALL THEIR SUFFERING
HOW THE CHINESE SUFFERED IN THOSE DAYS
NOW BUDDHA MAKES THEM RICH TO COMPENSATE!



BIG FAT DURIANS I LIKE

BIG FAT DOG I ALSO LIKE
VERY ME

HUGE CROCO BAG

SO ROMANTIC
JULIET'S GARDEN BUT WHERE IS ROMEO?
BIG SCREW
DON'T WE ALL LOVE BIG SCREWS?





I REALLY DUNNO!


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