Taiwan Travelogue: Jianguo Holiday Flower Market and Jade Market

One of the interesting markets to visit while in Taipei would definitely be the Jianguo Holiday Flower Market and Jade Market which are only available on weekends.
Holidays, especially during the Lunar New Year/Spring is when the market is at its best crowd where folks would happily flock to the market to select fresh blooms and auspicious items available here for the purpose of decorating their homes and ushering in the luck for the brand new year.

Getting to the market is again, via the train where one would need to take the train to Da-an Station, which is possibly the most beautiful station in Taiwan.



Floral-themed murals adorn the walls in the station and there is just that cheerful aura when one alights at the station.





If that is not enough to set one in the mood, be prepared for a warm greeting when you step out of the station out onto the streets where flowers are in bloom outside a building, and then you are passing by random folks with stalks of flowers in their hands.
Yes, spring is all over this place and follow the crowd (or the scent of the flowers) as you head towards the underpass section under the Jianguo Expressway; where Xinyi Road and the Jianguo South Road meets.







The Jianguo Holiday Flower Market and Jade Market are located in two separate buildings which were actually converted from car parks into this buzzing markets. The two markets are connected, and you will cross from the flower market over to the jade market.

Start with the flower market, where one will definitely be overwhelmed by the varieties of flowers all displayed at the stalls. The beautiful colors of the flowers in bloom just brightens up the entire marketplace, which was covered and well-ventilated for a comfortable stroll and browsing through the different stalls.



As it was approaching the Lunar New Year season during my visit, it was an interesting sight of auspicious flowers and plants on sale which were in demand by the believers of good luck and fortune. From peonies to orchids, roses, cherry blossoms and lilies, these are all icons of well-meaning which are pursued by the Chinese for symbols of new beginnings and prosperity in the upcoming spring.


The Chinese also believe in buying plants; for instance kumquat trees, or money trees (Malabar Chestnut trees) to grow in the house which symbolize a growth in their wealth and well-being.


It is all about flowers here, and photographers would be pleased with the wide varieties available for their leisure shooting.
Do be careful of some of the stalls as they do not permit photography, and they might be telling you in a rather unkind manner. Therefore, do observe before you take that shot.















Auspicious decoration for the plants in conjunction with the upcoming new Spring.


Besides plants and flowers, one can expect to find potteries and gardening tools available at the market too. Flower seeds, fertilizers can all be found in the flower market.




Walk through the 800m long Flower Market and then cross over to the Jade Market on the other side.



The Jade Market was less rowdy compared to the flower market, and the crowd is nothing compared to that of the former; consisting of mostly foreign tourists interested in purchasing a piece of the famed jade as souvenirs to bring home to their countries.
There are all sorts of jades and accessories on display at most of the stalls; from little trinkets for your cell phones, earrings, pendants to large statues which could cost more than five figures.

It is a delightful place for jade enthusiasts to ogle at the different types and shapes of jades imaginable, and it would take an eye for one to be able to tell the value of the jades.
Jades are believed to be auspicious items which can bring its wearer good fortune if it suits the nature of the wearer, and it is also believed to be able to protect its wearer from evil or harm.
It was said that if a jade breaks or falls from its wearer, it was supposed to be taking away the misfortune and that the owner should let it be.
However, it is also important that the wearer should be compatible with the type of jade, or it may not be that effective for the wearer in the end.

One of the most popular items here was reputed to be the Jade Ruyi; which translates to 'according to one's wish' in Chinese and is extremely regarded with high favor among the Chinese population. This attracted the foreign tourists to its existence and is one of the most popular takeaway from this market.


The Jade Market is rather subdued in its environment and due to the sensitivity and also the value of the jades, it is best to avoid photography at the jades on display as the stall owners would also prohibit any form of photography on their possessions.
Therefore, please be respectful of this and enjoy the stroll in the Jade market.

The two markets are popular among the locals and as they are available on weekends and holidays, it would be interesting to drop by these markets while in Taipei for an insight into the local culture.
Of course, the best time would be during the Lunar New Year season where one can truly see the excitement and more varieties available.
After all, the Taiwanese are firm believers of good fortune, and who isn't anyway?

Bangkok Travelogue: Things to eat at Chatuchak

(Continued from the previous post...)

With more than tens of thousands of stalls available in this market, food and drinks are definitely not excluded from the list of the stalls to seduce the roving eyes and rumbling tummies of the street hunters. It is not difficult to find a food or fruit, or drinks stall squeezed in between the stalls selling clothes or crafts, and I could safely say that there is at least one food stall within every few 100-200 meters of walking, perhaps in less than 5 minutes; yes, that was the trend in the market where it is not easy to starve or thirst to death, even under the extremely hot sun.

Normally I would not be doing food and drinks post here, but I will be making slight changes to my posting and will be lumping them under my travels.
Therefore you will be able to find the list of things to eat and to look out for at this largest market in Thailand.

Coconut juice is easily available at almost every corner in Bangkok, and at an extremely good price (between 20-30THB), you can get a whole coconut to yourself.
It is the best drink to quench thirst in the hot weather, and to cool down the heat.


Fruits, freshly cut fruits are also just the most common items ever here as you can find a stall selling it within a turn of your head (literally!)
I loved the colors from the different types of fruits on display at the stall; and how they brightly shine in the pictures!~






The common scenes of the street stalls selling noodles and rice.






Besides coconut, the other common fruit you can find around here is mango.
Oh yes, the Thais love their mangoes (or I would say Thais are just big fans of fruits, and it is such a good habit they have)


Things you should try at Chatuchak:

Coconut ice-cream


You would probably find many stalls selling this after walking for a while, but there is this particular stall located near to an exit which had many people queueing in front of the stall.
They sell coconut juice as well, and for those who just ordered the coconut ice-cream, you will be given a small cup of coconut juice on the house as well.



They are no Baskin Robbins or Haagen Daaz, nor any of those famous ice-cream chains but you are still free to choose the toppings to go with your ice-cream.
Freshly made from coconut flesh, the ice cream is a refreshing treat and the aromatic coconut flavor will keep you hooked after your first try.



Mango Sticky Rice
Many mango lovers will stick to this dessert as their favorite must-have when visiting Thailand, and there is no way this is not available at the world's largest weekend market.





Tab Thim Krob (Water chestnut/red rubies in coconut milk dessert)
This is Thai's most loved desserts and is a must have for those who have never tried it.
I did not see that many stalls selling this dessert, and I only spotted this stall.


Another that my friends stumbled upon was this Roast Pork on a skewer stall




Mango Salad
This was probably a version of the Malaysian rojak; only instead of the usual shrimp paste used in our country, the one used here is the tamarind paste which lent a sourish taste to the half-ripe mangoes.





There are also many other stalls nestled within a food court-like environment where the food stalls are grouped together; and the strong aroma of cooking, frying and clanking sounds of the woks and pans can be smelt and heard from the outside.







One will never be short of food and drinks supply when in Bangkok, and if you have ever been there, you will know what I mean.
Enjoy food scouting in Chatuchak!~

Getting to Chatuchak:
Take the BTS (sky train) and get off at Mochit station (that's where we got off) and take a 5-minute walk. There is a pedestrian bridge and go through a park, and you will spot the stalls!

Bangkok Travelogue: Local scenes at Chatuchak Market

Another interesting place worth to explore in Bangkok is none other than the famous weekend market; Chatuchak Market (also known as Jatujak and commonly referred to as J.J).
It is definitely the largest weekend market in Thailand and in the world as well.
There is just so much to see and do at Chatuchak; that your time will not be wasted at all here.



Operating only on weekends, the market boasts of more than 10,000 stalls (estimated to be around 15,000 and more) comprising of enthusiastic traders selling clothing, food, handicrafts, souvenirs, artwork, household items, and even pets. The list goes on, and it may seem like there is no end to the streets in the market which is not surprising as the market was designed in a circular-like shape to accommodate the thousands of stalls.


The market is made up of many 'sois' (streets) tucked inside the maze-like inner section (covered) and  these can be narrow alleys packed with the stalls and eager sellers waving their hands and beckoning to you in their sweet singsong Thai accents to woo potential buyers and tourists to their stalls.





The market starts from as early as 8.00am, and it is advisable to be there as early as possible as the crowds just build up to a massive population later in the day. It is estimated that there are as many as 20,000 tourists a day (or perhaps more?)
As this is a huge market with the some of the stalls in the open, and also with the narrow and stuffed alleys in the closed area, walking around the market can be a rather daunting task especially on hot and humid days, or even if it is raining. The best weather would be slightly cool with cloudy skies; which can be rare in Bangkok, which is famous for its all year-round sunny days.
I was fortunate enough to be able to experience that rare cool and cloudy weather, with only a tiny bit of the sun peeking out from behind the clouds sporadically, which made my experience in this world-famous market a rather relaxing and enjoyable one.

Many may have the perception that Chatuchak Market is streets and streets of shopping and is definitely the heaven for shopaholics and shopping lovers; and that the place can be skipped if one is not interested in buying anything at all.
That is a wrong perception to have; as the local market is where most of the local scenes are in action and where you can truly see the other side of Bangkok which you might not have experienced before.
True, Bangkok is already hailed as one of the shopping paradises in Asia; with its mega shopping malls and many little boutiques, offering prices to satisfy all ages and incomes, but the beauty of the metropolis is not only in the sprawling streets lined with stalls but also the unique and beautiful culture seen through the daily lifestyle of the local Thais themselves.
While Chatuchak may be a place packed with traders, it is also at the very heart of the art of trading where Bangkok started its humble beginnings.
Many of the locals are still into the practice of buying food and stuffs from the streets, and the varieties are just endless.



The most interesting part to me about Chatuchak, was not the great bargains they are offering (but yes, they are certainly rather attractive!), but the colorful scenes which are unfolding every minute, and at every corner of the market everywhere I went.
There were just endless lists of things to see and do; and even shop and eat, and I would recommend at least half of the day just checking out this famous market.

Just snapshots of the scenes at Chatuchak:

A man pushing his cart through the oncoming cars to sell fruits


A man selling fruits


Fascinating Ice lollies! (Iced popsicles)












Yes, even little puppies are on sale - poor little pups :(











There is also a section where they are selling 2nd hand books, this, is definitely my weakness!
I just love the scent of books; and nothing beats old and vintage books!


Besides products, there are also services such as massage available; perhaps for the avid shoppers who may need to nurse their poor tired soles? Or perhaps for their companions who are just dragging their feet into each stall despite their disinterest; while the shoppers are just getting more and more enthusiastic?

I spent about 4 hours plus at this market, and though I was fascinated with the scenes, I have to admit that they do have some pretty good stuffs on sale, and at great prices too.
One thing I like about Bangkok is the easy availability of the food and refreshing drinks everywhere we went, and that was indeed a great advantage for tourists who spend the entire day outside and probably relying on water bottles, and 7-11 stores to replenish our water supply.
The varieties are endless, and the prices are reasonable too, making me a happy camper, I mean traveler in this busy city.

Chatuchak market is also filled with food and drinks stalls; and as you can see in the above photo; there are always fruits stalls available everywhere.
I will be covering in my next post on the food and drinks in Chatuchak.....

To be continued....