Bangkok is the darling of all destinations for long weekend trip out of Singapore. Besides the Wat pho, grand palace, and crazy shopping at Platinum Mall/Siam area, there's a lot more you can explore. I was looking for a different kind of experience in Bangkok when I chanced upon Talad Rot Fai last year.

image credit to Soo Huey Fen, the BFF. 

Talad Rod Fai, or 'train market', is a flea market that's located on the grounds of a old set of train tracks. The old coaches and warehouses are now home to one of the many stalls and stores that sell things ranging from vintage cameras, typewriters and handmade designer goods. The market is the brainchild of Thanayut 'Troy' and Khun Phirot, two Thai antique lovers.




How to go: Talad Rod Fai makes for a lovely evening walk after you've spent the day exploring the crazy Chatuchak market. Exit Kampaeng Phet station via exit 3, cross the walk and walk along Kampaeng Phet Road away from Chatuchak for about 450 metres towards the west. For more details you can refer to an article by CNN here. The market opens every weekend from 2pm to midnight, though most stalls only start setting up after 7pm.

Review: We went to the market around 6pm and sat around outside the warehouse as we watched most of the vendors start to set up their stalls. Some of the stalls were auto-mobiles that were parked strategically and set up as a mini 'store'. For most stalls prices are not listed so you can try to bargain at most of the stalls in the outdoor area.

image credit to Soo Huey Fen, the BFF. 


Some interesting things sold at the market include surf boards, film cameras, old gramophones,  speakers, clocks and vintage clothing. 



There are a couple of dine-in areas that are proper restaurants, such as Rod's, owned by the Thanayut 'Trot', half of the duo who founded the market, and also other casual food stalls offering cheaper options. 
We had a green curry dish (less than 40baht) that came with flat noodles, some mixed vegetables and egg at a stall with small bamboo seats in the open air area. 

image credit to Soo Huey Fen, the BFF. 

The interior of the warehouses/old buildings are lined with lifestyle/furniture stores. There are also vintage convertibles parked around for visitors to take photos of. 



image credit to Soo Huey Fen, the BFF. 


Deeper inside, on the walls of the warehouses you can find graffiti sprayed over the building walls. We were fortunate to manage to catch a few graffiti artists in middle of action, doing up a new part of the walls. 





Though the prices of the goods sold at Talad Rod Fai are considerably more expensive on average compared to places such as Platinum Mall, many of the items sold are unique and can't be found elsewhere. The market makes for a great way to end off after a long day shopping at the crazy Chatuchak Market.