There are over a dozen (fifteen according to Google AI) floating markets in and around Bangkok. But the most famous, Damnoen Saduak, is located about 65 driving miles/105 kilometers from our base, Solitaire Hotel, in Bangkok. We’re going to explore that market for the rest of this week and next, culminating in a video compilation in next week’s Fun Photo Friday (which would make that a Fun Video Friday, right?). The modes of transportation to get to and from the market are paddle boats and long-tail boats. We went the long-tail route, and I’m here to tell you that some of these boats have some serious power. It’s not uncommon to see massive, repurposed car and truck engines, without any gearing, in a direct-drive configuration delivering sometimes considerable horsepower to a single propeller. The whole contraption is gimbled, easily allowing 90º of travel to either side for making tight hairpin corners in the constrained waterways. And, yes, these boats are even drag raced.
Map from Bangkok to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
But, not to worry. There are speed limits in the market, and you’re in for a more leisurely pace than what I just alluded to in the description above.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Before you get to the main market you’ll pass by several long, low, open buildings acting as storefronts for everything from hand-woven crafts to the ubiquitous and touristy CCC (Cheap Crap from China).
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Along the way you’ll pass lots of jungle growth, waterside restaurants, and even houses.
“Seafood Restaurant”
River jungle
Waterfront home
Waterfront home with elevated walkway and even satellite television!
The closer one gets to the main floating market area, the more stands one encounters:
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
These stands also get more elaborate, as you can see here — high ceilings and bright lighting:
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Unfortunately, CCC seems to abound, often in far greater quantity than local arts and crafts:
Obvious CCC — mass produced resin statues, busts, and other ornamentation
The spires of Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)
After Siem Reap, Cambodia, our next destination was Bangkok, Thailand, into which we flew on 7 November 2025. This would be somewhat of a special journey for me, as my father would tell me of his R&R (Rest and Recreation) visits to Bangkok during his year flying incredibly dangerous FAC (Forward Air Control) missions out of Da Nang Air Base flying a Cessna O-2 Skymaster. On one of those R&Rs he was invited by Bob Hope into Hope’s penthouse hotel suite. And, yes, I’ve seen the photos. But, back to Bangkok. Our residence on this stay would be the Solitaire Hotel, and it was almost (but not quite) as impressive as the Golden Temple Residence in Siem Reap. Here is our suite at the Solitaire:
I’m going a bit out of order in this Bangkok set, as I’ll be showing a five-part series starting Wednesday on the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. That will conclude Friday next week with a video of our boat road to and through Damnoen Saduak. As for today, I’m going to highlight Bangkok sights that were taken on the eighth and ninth, while we visited Damnoen Saduak solely on the ninth. We’ll hit the road in a moment, but first I want to tell you about a wonderful place we discovered. Unfortunately, I just checked our digital albums and realized we neglected photograph the chow, but if you’re ever in Bangkok both Ursula and I highly recommend Krua Khan Puk. We tried other, pricier Thai restaurants on this visit, but we didn’t try any that were better.
Krua Khun Puk, 155 Sukhumvit 11/1 Alley
This place was affordable, the food delicious, and the seating area crowded (not a good thing, but it tells you how popular this place is with both locals and tourists). On one visit they even sat us at a table across the alleyway, so I assume both establishments shared a common owner.
Krua Khun Puk, 155 Sukhumvit 11/1 Alley
Just east southeast of Krua Khun Puk at 88 Soi Sukhumvit 19 is a rather impressive shopping center, the famous Terminal 21 Asok. Each floor is themed for a different city or regian, such as Rome, London, Istanbul, Paris, the Caribbean, San Francisco, etc. For a more diverse yet still affordable dining option with myriad choices, head on up to the fifth floor — “Pier 21” — for one of the best mall food courts you ever find outside of Australia’s Westfield Sydney Shopping Centre.
Terminal 21 Asok shopping center
As you walk the streets, make sure you watch out for some fun, colorful photo opportunities. This shrine to Lord Ganesha was found on Sukhumvit Road between Krua Khun Puk and Terminal 21 Asok:
Lord Ganesha
On 9 November 2025, after our river cruise to the floating market, our driver took us to various sights around Bangkok. I’m going to show you what we saw through the captioned photographs below, but first I want to describe what you see in this image. When we arrived in Bangkok, Thailand was in mourning over the recent loss of Queen Mother Sirikit, who passed away on 24 October 2025 at the age of 93. Sirikit was Queen of Thailand from 1950 until the passing of her husband King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 2016. The shrine below was a tribute to both her and the late king:
King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit
Now for a quick photo tour of Bangkok beginning with Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha):
Snacking Long-Tailed Macaque Scoping Out Her Next Pickpocket Mark
With today’s article we leave Siem Reap and Cambodia behind. Next week I begin a series on our next Southeast Asia destination, Bangkok, Thailand. Until then, here is today’s featured Bayon Temple Fun Photo Friday favorites:
Decisions — Murder in Paradise
The Globe — Murder in Luxury
R. Doug Wicker — Author 