Chatuchak Weekend Market

Sawadeekap,


While I was in Bangkok for the past few weeks, I managed to go to Chatuchak Weekend Market. It is also known as JJ Market in short or Jatuchak Market. You can go to market by taking a BTS (Sukhumvit Line, change at Siam station and take the Mo Chit train) or taking the MRT to Mo Chit station. From there, you just need to walk a bit, you will arrive at the weekend market.


Opened only at weekends, the market is bustling with activities. You can find everything here from cheap clothing, food items, Thailand arts and crafts, souvenir items to aromatherapy products. All things here are cheap and you can also bargain with them as well. Discounts will be given if you buy a larger quantity instead of only one item. It is cheaper than the Sala Daeng Pad Phrong night market as well. The clothes they sell are different than what we get here at KL and some may be odd or rude in nature as well. Be wise in selecting which ones to buy.


The market is covers an area of 27 acres. There are 27 sections in total. Remember to wear comfortable clothing when you decide to go there. The weather can be hot and you may start to sweat when you arrive there. Wearing t-shirts, thinner clothing and shorts are best. You will take a whole day if you want to explore the whole of Chatuchak Market. It is filled with a lot of people, both local and people from other nations. According to the Chatuchak Market website, 30% of the visitors are foreigners.


Here are some pictures taken along Chatuchak area after my visit there. Took from the BTS station. Didn't take much though. Will take more of Chatuchak Weekend Market next time.

To learn more about Chatuchak, please visit the Chatuchak Weekend Market link here.


That's all for now.


Cheers,


Rogerkoo

Moment of Reflections

Hi All,

Sawadeekap,

I just came back from Bangkok yesterday night after I was there for a project with a bank (red colour logo). Overall, it was a good trip but felt very tired. I did enjoy things there 2 such as going 2 Chatcuchak Weekend Market (just take a MRT or BTS 2 Mo Chit station), MBK Centre (watched Transformers 3 and shopping), Central World (had Swensen's ice cream with some of my friends and later a karaoke session). I also went to church service with my Thai friend, Nutchanon (@ Maitrichit Chinese Baptist Church) and my other colleagues at Sathorn church. We had nice dinners at Fuji and Shabushi as well. I also played badminton with my collagues and experienced a Thai traditional massage. These are all of the enjoyments that I had over @ Bangkok.

While I was there, I was working late almost everyday until about 9pm or 10pm. There was also a few days when I worked until later than that. I only reached the hotel around 11pm or later. Physically, I feel very tired plus I also need to go to office for support on Saturday. 

Is it really worth it? I can sleep for more than 8 hours and still feeling tired in office? Why do I need to work so late and on Saturdays for the project?

These r some of d effects of working late:

1. Lost of concentration & focus
2. Made simple mistakes @ work but in d end got it done anyway
3. The need 2 have coffee or > food
4. The need 2 have > entertainment

We are sacrificing our health, our time for family and rest and relaxation. The time for entertainment is limited as well. I understand the need to work hard because the users may be demanding but we also need to take a break as well. I am feeling the strain on my body. Stiff neck and shoulder pain. I have a little sore throat as well.

It has been non-stop. Break only comes on Saturday afternoons or Sunday. Sometimes I can't imagine working like this. I want to have work balance. There should be adequate time of rest and relax. 

On Saturdays, the 1st question that comes to mind are:

Am I going to work? 

For How long? 

How many logs are there to solve?

It is not:

Where are we going to? 

I want to sleep in today

I want to go shopping or do other things

I want to go for Thai massage

I want to explore Bangkok

I want to have fun

These things can be planned but it is only done after working on Saturday. Work will be coming in everyday. There will be a lot of high priority and very urgent tasks everyday. We need to work late to ensure that everything is achieved.

In the end, we feel tired. We don't feel good about working. There is no life. There is no fun. We are thinking about work everyday. We are trying to clear as many logs as possible within a single day. We want to go back earlier but could not because we are tied up with work.

During these busy times, I wish that I can be like what Bruno Mars conveys in his song, The Lazy Song.



Lol. Just don't feel like doing anything. Or our feelings may be like this:




In a nutshell, work life balance is important. Family, health, rest, friends, entertainment and sports are also important too. I don't want to be a person who thinks that work is the only thing that is important.

That's all for now.

Cheers,

Rogerkoo