Tha Tian Store

Just across the river from Wat Arun, Tha Tian Market is a pleasant place to wander around for a bit after taking the ferry.

It’s open every day, with lots of food choices. The area is clean, family-friendly, and conveniently located.

I was fascinated by all the fish and sea creatures for sale, and the sellers were friendly when we asked to take photos. Most smiled and agreed. They didn’t get upset when we didn’t buy anything, even though they watched us with surprised, curious looks. It’s a huge wet market with stalls where you can see fish being salted, fermented, bottled, or laid out to dry. I’d never been able to get so close to people in a street setting before. It was a great place for street photography, and I finally got good use out of my f1.8 lens with those close-up fish-eye shots.

You can pick up cheap Thai souvenirs and crafts here, so bargain until you get the lowest price. There’s a boat at the back of the market that goes to wat arun temple. The market was dirty when I visited, though it has since been renovated. I hope the area is cleaner now.