Hi all,
as my first post in this blog, I'd like to tell a bit of how I "kind of feel like being scammed" in Bangkok, Thailand.
After this experience, popped out in my mind the idea to write a blog titled "My Occasional Travel Journal" where I'd like to tell my travelling experiences (though I, myself don't travel that often). I hope that by reading this blog, you can have a fore-description of the places I mention and you guys can have a better experience than what I had.
So, let's begin!
[13 July 2016]
During the 2016 Idul Fitri Holiday, me and my family (5 in total) had been going to Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. I'd been in Bangkok for 2 days and we were planning to visit the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
Day before, I'd done a survey to a few travel agencies around my hotel, mainly about the how-to-go, the tour packages, and the price. The two agencies I visited, both offered half-day trip to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market for THB 1500.00 per person (including transportation from city center to the location and the boat inside the market). The half-day trip'd start around 6 am in the morning and finish around 3 pm.
First, why'd they have to leave in early morning? They said that the floating market only opens in the morning, besides, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is located outside of Bangkok and the trip itself takes about 1,5 hours by car.
Second, why'd they recommend us to visit this floating market while there are actually few other floating markets in Bangkok? They said, Damnoen Saduak is the only authentic and original floating market that existed by the time river was the only way of transportation for the people. This Damnoen Saduak had once really been a market where residents bought groceries and stuffs. The other floating markets such as Khlong Lat Mayom floating market in Taling Chan (which I found in someone else's blog) is relatively smaller and not so crowded; and it just appeared recently. Therefore, my family decided to visit the Damnoen Saduak.
So, I made the conclusion that going with travel agency would cost THB 7500 for five persons, and we can only visit the floating market.
Next, at this travel agency I found in the hotel lobby, he offered a Toyota Innova car rent to that floating market for THB 3000.00. As an amateur tour guide, he explained that once we arrive in the floating market, we'd still have to rent a boat for THB 2500.00 (he said that boat is the only way to get into the market because it's all river around the market and car can only reach the parking lot far outside the market). He also explained that the price was a fixed price that government set and you could see it written on a sign board at the counter (I had to trust him though I felt very expensive for the price).
He also suggested us to go to Maeklong Railway Market (I'll talk about it next time) which is located quite close to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market; and when we came back, he'd send us to visit Grand Palace (entrance ticket for foreigner is THB 500.00 each) and Wat Pho temple (entrance ticket for foreigner is THB 100.00 each).
I discussed internally with my family and finally decided to go only to the floating and railway market; and since that the price given was quite expensive, I wanted to try to bargain one more time. I called him and explained how we felt expensive about the price, and he straightforwardly asked me, "Okay, you just tell me how much your family can pay?" and I said THB 2000.00. Surprisingly, he directly said OK and we made the deal on THB 2000.00 (conclusion: ALWAYS TRY TO BARGAIN).
The next day, he sent us to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market where we stopped at the parking area. There was indeed a big poster, over which was written the boat rent price for one hour which was THB 2000.00 (below was also written in Thai the rent price for Thai people - I couldn't read it, but it was supposed to be below THB 1000.00, since it was a three digits price). Besides, there was also a THB 3000.00 rent package for 1.5 hrs. The tour guide there explained that with the 1.5 hrs package, we could pass all the canal and got the chance to stop at a coconut sugar factory and learn the process; and at another spot which I forgot the name. Since we weren't so attracted with the coconut sugar, we finally paid for the 1 hr package.
DAMNOEN SADUAK FLOATING MARKET
Me and my family got onto a motor boat which could take up to 6 persons (it'd got three rows and each could take two persons). This boat also had a cover on top, so that you wouldn't have to worry visiting during the noon.
First, the boat moved along a canal path with residents' house on the bank which I believed to be the canal leading to the market. After 15 minutes, we arrived at the 1st shop which sold handcrafts souvenir. We came here to see an authentic environment of a floating market, therefore we didn't show any interest on the souvenirs.
A little description, the first shop we arrived was a shop on the river bank. All the souvenirs was displayed well and visible from the boat, so if you wanna buy something, this can be done right from the top of the boat.
After passing few souvenir shops, we started to feel bored and I requested to the motorist to show us some food. In result, he brought us passing a canal full of coconut ice cream, Thai signature noodle, the Pad Thai, etc. The motorist even tried to suggest us into buying some of the food or at least spend some money here. We did try the coconut ice cream (a coconut flavor ice cream put on top of a coconut shell), but for the other food, we'd tried them elsewhere, so we didn't buy much food as well.
Here we started seeing vendors selling on boats. It was quite surprising seeing an old granny around 65 years old paddling around and even chased over our motor boat to offer her stuffs.
At the minute-25, we arrived at the crowded part of the market. The river was full with tourist boats and on the river bank there were a pretty big area which looked like a food court (it is different with the kind of shop we found earlier where transaction could be done over the boat). Therefore, I told the motorist to stop at one side and let us walk around for a while. But, surprisingly, the motorist refused. He explained that due to the packed time, one hour package wouldn't allow you to stop anywhere. It made me mad, because what I learnt from the tour guide at the boat stop was that we couldn't stop at the two places -- one of which was the coconut sugar factory, but we were not forbidden to stop. After a little debate with the motorist, I finally gave up and just sat still -- his English was barely understandable.
In the middle of the crowd, I could see that most of the boat were tourist boats. The inauthentic atmosphere was a little bit disappointing; the market was also very touristy (set to aim for foreign tourists). Normal market scene like locals buying veggies or groceries is almost invisible (it was almost souvenir everywhere).
At the minute-40, our boat was stuck in the middle of tourist boats and I saw a quite interesting coverless boat. What interesting was the more traditional feeling then our motor boat's and the paddler was a 40-years old aunty who looked like a local. Actually, I'd seen this kind of boat for a few times before, but since that we were stuck and moving slowly, I took the chance to ask the tourists on that boat, "How did you get this kind of boat?"
"We took it from inside the market."
"How much is it?"
"It's THB 150.00 for 50 minutes. We were walking when a paddle boat passed over us, then they offered us to take the boat for that price."
His English wasn't quite clear, but our conversation was roughly like that. It surprised me really much that they paid for a price way cheaper than ours. And that was the moment where I "kind of felt like being scammed"...
Their boat were roofless and smaller compared to ours (but it could take up to 6 people). If you're looking for a more authentic attraction, the paddle boat can be a better idea, comparing its authenticity and price.
Finally, the trip was over and we got back to the car. Since I felt like our driver hadn't provided us a complete information, I tried to ask him, "I saw people taking small boat and they said that they paid only THB 150.00 for the boat. Do you know how to get that kind of boat?"
He answered, "No, it's all the same price. There are few vendors for the boat, but the price are all the same THB 2000.00. You can also ride elephants to get into the market, then change small boat inside, but I don't know the price for the elephant."
To avoid the driver from feeling like we blamed him, we didn't ask further...
We never found the answer. The tourist might probably have taken a motor boat or an elephant into the market and changed to paddle boat; or they might have walked into the market and taken the paddle boat somewhere there.. We never knew.
And finally, the trip to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market was finished and we were sent back to city to visit the Grand Palace. ^^
Lessons to learn: if you see a written price of THB 2000.00 and think that "the proper one must be cheaper", you could be wrong!
Logically, a lot of "stingy" backpacker managed to taste the floating market atmosphere and according to their style, it's a taboo spending that much money -- in the other hand, you have to be ready if you have to walk a little bit further trespassing residents' house in order to get into the market without taking boat.
Another thing, always study the place you're about to visit beforehand. Nowadays, there are a lot of backpacker blogs (or a non-backpacker blog like mine) that can provide you with details of the place. They sometimes provide you with ways to extremely save your money. But remember, you have to read a lot!
as my first post in this blog, I'd like to tell a bit of how I "kind of feel like being scammed" in Bangkok, Thailand.
After this experience, popped out in my mind the idea to write a blog titled "My Occasional Travel Journal" where I'd like to tell my travelling experiences (though I, myself don't travel that often). I hope that by reading this blog, you can have a fore-description of the places I mention and you guys can have a better experience than what I had.
So, let's begin!
[13 July 2016]
During the 2016 Idul Fitri Holiday, me and my family (5 in total) had been going to Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. I'd been in Bangkok for 2 days and we were planning to visit the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
Day before, I'd done a survey to a few travel agencies around my hotel, mainly about the how-to-go, the tour packages, and the price. The two agencies I visited, both offered half-day trip to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market for THB 1500.00 per person (including transportation from city center to the location and the boat inside the market). The half-day trip'd start around 6 am in the morning and finish around 3 pm.
First, why'd they have to leave in early morning? They said that the floating market only opens in the morning, besides, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is located outside of Bangkok and the trip itself takes about 1,5 hours by car.
Second, why'd they recommend us to visit this floating market while there are actually few other floating markets in Bangkok? They said, Damnoen Saduak is the only authentic and original floating market that existed by the time river was the only way of transportation for the people. This Damnoen Saduak had once really been a market where residents bought groceries and stuffs. The other floating markets such as Khlong Lat Mayom floating market in Taling Chan (which I found in someone else's blog) is relatively smaller and not so crowded; and it just appeared recently. Therefore, my family decided to visit the Damnoen Saduak.
So, I made the conclusion that going with travel agency would cost THB 7500 for five persons, and we can only visit the floating market.
Next, at this travel agency I found in the hotel lobby, he offered a Toyota Innova car rent to that floating market for THB 3000.00. As an amateur tour guide, he explained that once we arrive in the floating market, we'd still have to rent a boat for THB 2500.00 (he said that boat is the only way to get into the market because it's all river around the market and car can only reach the parking lot far outside the market). He also explained that the price was a fixed price that government set and you could see it written on a sign board at the counter (I had to trust him though I felt very expensive for the price).
He also suggested us to go to Maeklong Railway Market (I'll talk about it next time) which is located quite close to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market; and when we came back, he'd send us to visit Grand Palace (entrance ticket for foreigner is THB 500.00 each) and Wat Pho temple (entrance ticket for foreigner is THB 100.00 each).
I discussed internally with my family and finally decided to go only to the floating and railway market; and since that the price given was quite expensive, I wanted to try to bargain one more time. I called him and explained how we felt expensive about the price, and he straightforwardly asked me, "Okay, you just tell me how much your family can pay?" and I said THB 2000.00. Surprisingly, he directly said OK and we made the deal on THB 2000.00 (conclusion: ALWAYS TRY TO BARGAIN).
The next day, he sent us to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market where we stopped at the parking area. There was indeed a big poster, over which was written the boat rent price for one hour which was THB 2000.00 (below was also written in Thai the rent price for Thai people - I couldn't read it, but it was supposed to be below THB 1000.00, since it was a three digits price). Besides, there was also a THB 3000.00 rent package for 1.5 hrs. The tour guide there explained that with the 1.5 hrs package, we could pass all the canal and got the chance to stop at a coconut sugar factory and learn the process; and at another spot which I forgot the name. Since we weren't so attracted with the coconut sugar, we finally paid for the 1 hr package.
DAMNOEN SADUAK FLOATING MARKET
Me and my family got onto a motor boat which could take up to 6 persons (it'd got three rows and each could take two persons). This boat also had a cover on top, so that you wouldn't have to worry visiting during the noon.
First, the boat moved along a canal path with residents' house on the bank which I believed to be the canal leading to the market. After 15 minutes, we arrived at the 1st shop which sold handcrafts souvenir. We came here to see an authentic environment of a floating market, therefore we didn't show any interest on the souvenirs.
A little description, the first shop we arrived was a shop on the river bank. All the souvenirs was displayed well and visible from the boat, so if you wanna buy something, this can be done right from the top of the boat.
After passing few souvenir shops, we started to feel bored and I requested to the motorist to show us some food. In result, he brought us passing a canal full of coconut ice cream, Thai signature noodle, the Pad Thai, etc. The motorist even tried to suggest us into buying some of the food or at least spend some money here. We did try the coconut ice cream (a coconut flavor ice cream put on top of a coconut shell), but for the other food, we'd tried them elsewhere, so we didn't buy much food as well.
Here we started seeing vendors selling on boats. It was quite surprising seeing an old granny around 65 years old paddling around and even chased over our motor boat to offer her stuffs.
 |
| The first few minutes, there were only residents houses |
 |
| The first shop we found where all the stuffs were displayed outside and getting out of the boat was impossible |
 |
| Minute-15, right when we started entering the Floating Market area |
At the minute-25, we arrived at the crowded part of the market. The river was full with tourist boats and on the river bank there were a pretty big area which looked like a food court (it is different with the kind of shop we found earlier where transaction could be done over the boat). Therefore, I told the motorist to stop at one side and let us walk around for a while. But, surprisingly, the motorist refused. He explained that due to the packed time, one hour package wouldn't allow you to stop anywhere. It made me mad, because what I learnt from the tour guide at the boat stop was that we couldn't stop at the two places -- one of which was the coconut sugar factory, but we were not forbidden to stop. After a little debate with the motorist, I finally gave up and just sat still -- his English was barely understandable.
In the middle of the crowd, I could see that most of the boat were tourist boats. The inauthentic atmosphere was a little bit disappointing; the market was also very touristy (set to aim for foreign tourists). Normal market scene like locals buying veggies or groceries is almost invisible (it was almost souvenir everywhere).
At the minute-40, our boat was stuck in the middle of tourist boats and I saw a quite interesting coverless boat. What interesting was the more traditional feeling then our motor boat's and the paddler was a 40-years old aunty who looked like a local. Actually, I'd seen this kind of boat for a few times before, but since that we were stuck and moving slowly, I took the chance to ask the tourists on that boat, "How did you get this kind of boat?"
"We took it from inside the market."
"How much is it?"
"It's THB 150.00 for 50 minutes. We were walking when a paddle boat passed over us, then they offered us to take the boat for that price."
His English wasn't quite clear, but our conversation was roughly like that. It surprised me really much that they paid for a price way cheaper than ours. And that was the moment where I "kind of felt like being scammed"...
Their boat were roofless and smaller compared to ours (but it could take up to 6 people). If you're looking for a more authentic attraction, the paddle boat can be a better idea, comparing its authenticity and price.
Finally, the trip was over and we got back to the car. Since I felt like our driver hadn't provided us a complete information, I tried to ask him, "I saw people taking small boat and they said that they paid only THB 150.00 for the boat. Do you know how to get that kind of boat?"
He answered, "No, it's all the same price. There are few vendors for the boat, but the price are all the same THB 2000.00. You can also ride elephants to get into the market, then change small boat inside, but I don't know the price for the elephant."
To avoid the driver from feeling like we blamed him, we didn't ask further...
We never found the answer. The tourist might probably have taken a motor boat or an elephant into the market and changed to paddle boat; or they might have walked into the market and taken the paddle boat somewhere there.. We never knew.
And finally, the trip to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market was finished and we were sent back to city to visit the Grand Palace. ^^
 |
| Scene of the floating market, seen a staircase to a part of the market that seemed like a food court area |
 |
| On-boat vendors (the characteristic of a floating market); unfortunately it was too touristy |
 |
| Minute-40, stuck in the sea of boats |
Lessons to learn: if you see a written price of THB 2000.00 and think that "the proper one must be cheaper", you could be wrong!
Logically, a lot of "stingy" backpacker managed to taste the floating market atmosphere and according to their style, it's a taboo spending that much money -- in the other hand, you have to be ready if you have to walk a little bit further trespassing residents' house in order to get into the market without taking boat.
Another thing, always study the place you're about to visit beforehand. Nowadays, there are a lot of backpacker blogs (or a non-backpacker blog like mine) that can provide you with details of the place. They sometimes provide you with ways to extremely save your money. But remember, you have to read a lot!