Amphawa Floating Market
Amphawa Floating Market (Thai: ตลาดน้ำอัมพวา) belong to Amphawa District of Samut Songkhram Province. Amphawa district is not far Bangkok. Amphawa floating market is the most popular in Thailand. The Amphawa Floating Market is located around 50 kilometers. The market is near “Wat Amphawa Chetiyaram” temple. The Amphawa have canal is “Mae Klong” river.
History and view around Amphawa Floating Market
In the past, Amphawa is a small community that prosperity in trade and agriculture. Amphawa floating market use to communication center of Samut Songkhram province. A community of people committed to the river. Houses are settled along the river to make it easier to transport by boat. People in early trading on the boat and earn a living about agriculturist.
The Amphawa floating market is very natural and there are many old wood houses. Tourist will see the lifestyle of the locals and you will see the beauty of fireflies at night under the Lampoon trees. After that it also makes feel to go back to the previous times
In the Amphawa floating market, it have many shops such as souvenir stores, restaurant, ice-cream shop, and others. Most souvenir stores usually sell clothes. We can buy many souvenir in Amphawa floating market
Activity
Boat tour
The tourist could travel by boat to see views of “Mae Klong” river. For travel with private boat, it charges 500 baht or more but 50 bath for individual. The trip takes around 1 hour and you will cruise along some temple and the market at the river. The boats take you along the “Mae Klong” river to several old temples (known as temple to the Thai people).
Ride a bicycle
Cyclists around Amphawa is an activity for tourists. In the Amphawa, “Thai Tib” station has bicycle rentals and free maps for cycling routes. Tourists will see the lifestyle of the locals. Biking routes with a distance of 10km, with the label of the navigation “Thai Tib” station along the route. On the way, tourists can see Thai dessert museum. Finally, tourists biking across the sling bridge to see the view in the evening at Amphawa floating market. Rates of bicycle for each person is free for first half-hours, the next half-hours is 30 bath, 2 hours is 120 bath, 3 hours is 150 bath, 4 hours is 180 bath, and for more than 5 hours is 250 bath.
Cruise watch fireflies
Nightlife in Amphawa, you can also arrange for a boat trip along the “Mae Klong” to watch the fireflies. Watching fireflies on cruise at night is one of the tourists favor when they come to stay at Samut Songkam. Usually, we can see fireflies during the rainy season. Since from May–October period, we could see fireflies because it is clear to see. Tourists who want to ride the boat to watch fireflies at night can liaise according to port officials or liaise the homestay in Amphawa. Rates of boat to watch the fireflies for each person is 60-80 baht or if you lease a boat the rates of boat is 600 baht by around 1-2 hours.
Make merit
In the morning, visitors can give alms boat to monks at 6.00 am from now on. Visitors can see the alms of the monks and the pedestrian can also make merit. Visitors can make a donation to the retro style.
Shopping
The Amphawa floating market has many types of products, whether Thai food, noodles, traditional coffee, juice, fruit, grilled seafood, and souvenirs. Highlight souvenirs is the Amphawa T-shirts. All visitors can buy souvenirs for friends and family. Amphawa T-shirts have many designs and styles. Each store will have a price that varies by model and pattern of the coat.
Food
Food is the main reason holidaymakers from Bangkok visit Amphawa floating market. Amphawa floating market have many shop-house eateries, all kinds of tantalizing tastes, shapes and smells look delicious such as, seafood, boat noodle, Thai dessert, and other. Grilled seafood is also hugely popular as a boat noodle. After that, it also has Thai dessert for purchase as a souvenir.
Seafood
Seafood is popular for tourist. Mostly eating seafood grilled on wooden boats moored around the Mea Klong river. From noon until late in the evening, the smell is simply irresistible and customers flock to each side of the river all day long. There are huge prawns, shellfish, scallops, oyster, crabs, fish and squid in wooden boat. Sometimes if tourists want eating in restaurant, you can walk a bit further from the bridge to find restaurants. Even better, try to get a seat on the balcony of the restaurant next to the bridge, it's the only one around but you might have to wait a bit or come early.
Thai Dessert
Villager in amphawa bring local ingredients for making desserts. When tourists walked to in Amphawa floating market, they can see a variety of desserts, for example, coconut custard squares, dumplings in coconut cream, Thai caramel, caramelized crisps, egg yoke fudge balls cooked in syrup, sweet shredded egg york, Mung bean dessert, coconut milk ice-cream, and other. Most ingredients are taken from the local, like coconuts. Coconut are used to make desserts such as coconut custard squares, coconut milk ice cream and others. Visitors can choose according to their needs.
Other
Amphawa floating market doesn’t have only seafood and thai dessert but it also have other categories of food such as noodle, steak, grilled chicken, Pad Thai, oysters fried in egg batter, papaya salad, and others. Visitors can choose from a variety of food, depending on demand. In Amphawa floating market also have coffee café or bar for the visitors that are interested.
Getting There And Back
Bangkok is the center for starting point into Amphawa floating market.
Step Travel
Car: From Bangkok, take Highway 35 Rama 2 road to Km63. After that turn left at a parallel level road. When you see Samut Songkhram downtown intersection, turn right and turn left across the tracks and turn right at the third traffic light, then turn left again. When you find white label with 3 big head mask, turn left into the Amphawa district and straight, to find Siam City route. Drive straight to the high bridge and down, turn left into the Ampawan Temple. You can park a car at temple.
Bus: From the southern bus station, take the bus 996 Bangkok – Damnoen Saduak. The bus is air-conditioned goes through the Samut Songkhram province to get to Amphawa Market. Visitors can take the bus to get to the floating market and the fare is 80 baht.
Mini bus: Buses run from Victory Monument to the Amphawa Floating Market are the best. There are several bus operators that travel to Amphawa. The price costs between 90 – 100 baht each way and drop you right down the street from the market.
Work Time
Operating day: Friday - Sunday
Operating time: 15.00PM - 22.00PM
References
1. Bangkok.com by hotel.com. Amphawa floating market. Retrieved October 2.2016. from http://www.bangkok.com/magazine/amphawa.htm
2. Home is where you Bag is. A visit to the Amphawa Floating Market. Retrieved October 2.2016. from http://homeiswhereyourbagis.com/en/amphawa-floating-market-en/
3. Stella. Bangkok day trip: Amphawa floating market. Retrieved October 3.2016. from http://www.stellasout.com/bangkok-day-trip-amphawa-floating market/
4. Thailand by hotel.com. Amphawa. Retrieved October 3.2016. from http://www.thailand-guide.com/amphawa/
5. Mark Wiens. Amphawa floating market: the ultimate buoyant utopia. Retrieved October 3.2016. from https://migrationology.com/amphawa-floating-market-the-ultimate-bouyant-utopia/