Forget it Dav, it's Chinatown

Yaowarat, AKA Bangkok’s Chinatown, is one of the largest Chinatowns in the world. It’s a top attraction in Bangkok and another place easily accessible from the Si Lom station.

This was the first overcast day yet and was actually welcome after the heat so far.

A street view with advertising boards about the place

It’s one of the biggest Chinatowns, I understand. I read that… somewhere

Once you get out of the station and walk up the main street you are greeted by the classic scene of busy streets and advertising boards—I’m a big fan. It’s an enjoyable stroll and does feel like a different world.

I’ve been at a few Chinatowns around the world, not least of all in New York City in 2011. I had read beforehand that it was the location of the exterior buildings used in Flight of the Conchords, as seen in this (ancient) video for their song Inner City Pressure. Visiting them in the pre-smartphone era I had my digital camera with me so the pics look like they came from Google Photos—I was too shy to ask a rando to take a pic of me outside them!

Markets

I read that it’s best to just get lost here so I duly obliged, veering off the main when the stalls were starting to get more plentiful. I passed some exotic food and then hung a ralphie down a narrow lane. Going through here single file and seeing tons of the usual market goods. It’s not unlike one big long Mary’s of Sligo to be honest. The Christmas ornaments were in plentiful supply and I was delighted to see some Arne Slot fridge magnets there too, among many other things.

A market with some bras and knickers

It’s Chinatown’s biggest lingerie section, I understand. I read that… somewhere

A narrow market with stalls either side

The market streets were on the narrower side

Architecture

After the busyness of the market, I looped around and grabbed some nice noodles and delicious dumplings, before making my way back towards the station. Like much of Bangkok there is also a nice Wat in the area so I had a quick look around Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha), which is next to the station.

A Chinese arch on a roundabout with a temple in the background