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Let Yourself Bloom
Pak Khlong Talat, the leading flower market in Bangkok,
comes in a painter’s palette of colours – orchids of every
hue, garlands of marigold, birds of paradise, bouquets of roses
from Chiang Mai, chrysanthemums,
and the florid, ceremonial ornaments known as Bai Si, constructed
from banana leaves and crowned with flowers.
 What
many travelers do is buy a special flower box there, spray the flowers
before boarding, put moist tissues around them, and carry them on
as hand luggage. It’s a great way to save money and make a
dazzling arrival.
The market is busy during the day and at night, but it’s really
blooming in the early morning hours when vendors are setting up
shop and the streets are filled with carts and trucks full of flowers.
This area, near the Chao
Phraya (the River of Kings), is a wonderful way to cool down
after a day of overheated shopping
in Yaowarat, Bangkok’s
Chinatown, famous for its
gold shops, street markets, and
Chinese-style temples. Some tours
of the canals in the vicinity also include the market as a sweet-smelling
stopover on their itineraries. After a visit here, you’ll feel
fresh as a daisy.
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