A Tour of Bangkok’s Cultural Theme Parks

There was a time when the canals were the center of everything in Thailand. They brought commerce, agriculture, and growth to Bangkok- and before that, to Ayutthaya- and it's on the canals where some of the Kingdom's most beloved dishes were born or spread.
Today, tens of thousands of tourists each week visit the famous floating markets- and what they see is closer to Disneyland than authentic heritage. This week, we explore the famous Damnoen Saduak canal, and visit several markets created by various Tourism Authority projects- and find out if there's still a heartbeat in the old way of life, and if it's still possible to find world class food at world famous floating markets.
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0:00 - Introduction
1:33 - The End (and Restart) of Floating Markets
3:53 - Damnoen Saduak
5:14 - Origins
6:24 - Food Part 1: Carnival Fare
8:06 - Mr. Gui and the Big Split
9:58 - Change in Plans
11:31 - Tha Kha
13:21 - Community-Based Tourism
16:16 - Food Part 2: Booze Rice and Khanom Jeen
17:41 - Finding Home in a Tourist Economy
21:11 - Lak Ha
22:49 - 62 Years on the Water
23:45 - Food Part 3: The Reason We Do This
26:25 - The Market and the Temple
27:07 - Back on the Road
28:31 - Ban Phaeo
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Video Credits:
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[@thitinatsukasem5870]

Wow. I would never imagine my hometown showing up on any KZbin video. I grew up in Lak Ha just right opposite the temple, and my family still lives there. The market indeed used to have 400-500 boats during the morning market, stacking along the canal. I woke up at 5.30 am to the sounds of boat engines, people negotiating prices and sharing stories from another village. By 9 am the canal will be mostly cleared. I will share this video with my Dad. He will be equally excited! Thank you for stumbling across our little village. 😊

[@OTRontheroad]

Thanks so much for this comment!! Glad it brought you some joy.

[@tommyc5860]

I was at that exact stall in Lak Ha eating those same noodles in in front of the canal earlier this year, eating right where you all were sitting. My father's side grew up on that very canal and I never thought I would see content about their neighborhood. It honestly makes me a little emotional seeing how lucky I am to have experienced authentic canal culture when so many people only get the Disney-fied version at Damnoen Saduak. I appreciate all the work your team has done because English-language Thai video content like this is so hard to find. Keep it up, the work you're doing is meaningful and helps preserve the memories we have of Thailand.

[@OTRontheroad]

What a cool story. Thanks!

[@khoabuivan4458]

"Thai food? Like American Fried Rice? The boat lady had a sick sense of humor timing.

[@kikgalaxy4358]

@Khoa Bui Van American Fried Rice is actually a Thai dish which doesn't exist in the US. I guess you have never been to Thailand right?

[@khoabuivan4458]

@@kikgalaxy4358 I have not, but I know what it is from this channel

[@kikgalaxy4358]

​​@@khoabuivan4458 You can believe me American Fried Rice is definitely a Thai dish. You cannot find this menu in the US for sure.😊😊😊

[@chocodingding]

American fried rice is originated in Thailand . American fried rice is a Thai dish that uses 'American' ingredients, think ham, fried chicken, raisins and of course Ketchup. Serve with a fried egg on top and with chicken tenders and mini frankfurters on the side and you have traditional Thai American fried rice (cr. Marion’skitchen) It is created to serve American soldiers as breakfast but instead of bread, the cook decided to use rice instead.

[@isanBen]

​@@chocodingding that was great information 😊 thank you very much, I will see if I can get it here, just to try it out 🙏

[@dougsinthailand7176]

Adam, surely the ghost of Anthony Bourdain is looking down upon your work, saying “go boy go!”

[@OTRontheroad]

Means a ton. Highest compliment possible.

[@real_MacrocosM]

Best comment. Just reading this made me get emo. 🤌🏽

[@SANESX]

I'm lucky enough to experience glory day of Ratchaburi floating market. Also lost my first camera there while catching boat aunty make a noodle dish. A film camera one. That's mean I am old.

[@Piboon11]

Hi, Everyone! I'm Thai, and I understand both Thai and English quite well. At 7:25 min, based on my interpretation, the program host wanted the boat lady to recommend a few "unusual" Thai dishes that foreigners would find special and would enjoy. To me, it was okay for her to recommend what she liked to eat, which was Pad Thai (with shrimp/prawns in it). When the host got disappointed in the answer, he showed a jestful fuss, which caused the lady a little anxiety and confusion. After she heard the word "foreigners", she tried to name a different dish that would be related to the word "foreigners". That's why she said "American Fried-Rice" which, confusing enough as it sounds, happened to be the funny name of a real Thai dish made with rice stir-fried in ketchup, sprinkled with raisins, sided with a sunny-side-up egg, a few sausages and either deep-fried chicken or fried ham. That dish was introduced to me by my father when I was 10. From its name, I had always thought that it was American food. When I was about 20, a Thai game-show revealed that it was a Thai dish that had no association with America at all. The person, who created that dish, must have been very creative and thought that the fried-egg, the fried chicken or ham and the sausage would make it look like American breakfast. That's why (s)he came up with that name. Then, it gained popularity, and other restaurants followed. Until now, we still don't know who was that first person who brilliantly created it. So, to all visitors to Thailand! ... Besides Pad Thai, Tom Yum Goong, Tom Kha Gai, PaNang Gai, Som Tum, Laap, Pad GaPrao and green curry, you may also want to try our "American Fried Rice".

[@OTRontheroad]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2WVc2tjm8aslbMsi=LMp83JNcYUVfAOI3 Our documentary about American Fried Rice...please enjoy

[@Guichaigaming]

I love OTR videos 🥰🥰🥰

[@kilanspeaks]

The first time I saw Thai floating markets, I thought “These are NOT floating markets, but I love them!” 😁 I’m a fool for tourist traps and I love how accessible ตลาดน้ำ are, making it easy and fun for me to enjoy my favorite Thai dishes and snacks. I’m from South Kalimantan, Indonesia, where we have actual floating markets; farmer markets in the middle of rivers that can be as wide as 2,000 m (6,600 ft), where both sellers and buyers have to be on boats. These markets dissipate just after sunrise as everyone and their boat has to go back to whatever work waiting for them in their villages. But in recent years my hometown’s local government decided to copy the Thai model and encourage vendors to go to a riverbank to cater to local tourists (we don’t really see foreigners in my neck of the wood). As a result, the floating market of my childhood is now nearly extinct and now we have to take a 30-minute boat ride to the nearest floating market where vendors from far flung villages come to trade on their boats 😢

[@kenhaupt1865]

Mt wife and I spend a month every year in Bangkok and plan to live there in the next 5 or so years. We love the food and we love to explore. The people are incredibly giving and gracious. We just found your channel 6 weeks ago and you've had a profound impact on our plans when we come back in January. We appreciate your hard work!

[@sitangch]

Ampawa still have one of the really old restaurant next to the wet market and they still cook some old recipes. Like you have said, sometimes the original version of Thai are stay hidden right in front of your face with the tourists version. Can’t wait to see you venture out a little further from Bangkok.

[@OTRontheroad]

Can't wait as well. Daria and I have done a ton of traveling within Thailand (and obviously throughout the world) but it's just a matter of budget to do it for the channel. It changes the calculations with extra people and the work and equipment that goes into remote taping...hopefully before too long we'll be able to start doing that.

[@gchow6009]

May I ask the name of the restaurant in Ampawa?

[@sitangch]

@@gchow6009 ง้อโภชนา (Ngaw Pochana) is one of the old restaurants that still remain before the time Amphawa become this famous. You won’t get the tourist taste that many people preferred from this place but if you seek the taste of the old day this place would satisfy you. Thai food are like any food in the world, it’s changes with time so original taste are something hard to come by.

[@sitangch]

@@OTRontheroad can’t wait to see the next episode.

[@gchow6009]

@@sitangch Thank you for your response. My husband’s side is Thai so we visit Thailand almost every year. We like to go to Amphawa every visit. I cook mostly Thai food at home and like to research and explore ‘authentic’ Thai food as much as possible. It’s almost like a fun hobby for me. When I taste food, I study it so I can replicate it at home. Sometimes I failed but that’s the fun of it. I don’t care much for these overrated Michelin guide restaurants. Tried two places in BKK and did not see anything worth to write home about. The problem with Michelin guide restaurants is that they are rated by foreigners. Of course, food is rated based on their foreign tastes.

[@elffuns]

I really appreciate your hard work on evey video. You open many new points and new perspectives of Thailand that I never think of before.

[@advantasian]

555555 Had to lough... The way you said this: 'Crowd pleasing specialties with no real connection to the history' - That's exactly what the vast majority of tourists is facing in the majority of places they end up travelling in Thailand. Luckily there are still many options left to get around all of this 'mediocre' food.. Thank you for pointing this out

[@EsEs-sv1qd]

I love how there’s so much TRUTH to this. Finally someone made a video . However tourist traps are not only just these floating markets, but their other landmarks, such as temples, are rebuilt and renovated to look intricately beautiful to please the eyes of the tourists. They don’t originally look like when they were built years ago. I feel like most things in Thailand are tourist traps .

[@kornkarnbhamarapravati7512]

You have to go where the local goes. Of a bit older generation not the everything internet guys.

[@jiranyavarodvivat2434]

Majority of temple are old and ancient in Bangkok but good maintenance by National Art department, there are also new temple like the white temple in changmai which was built by well-known artist and fews in Bangkok not for tourist purpose but the faith of Thai to respect Buddha, So it is depending on where you go and you can search its history from Google. For the floating market is real life in Rachaburi, those merchant boat also travel to other canals nearby where there are many plantation of palm sugar.

[@torh1]

It's hard to find the original materials to use for renovation the temples. 😢 But we try to resemble the original as much as it should be. However there are many places that are still preserved as they are the historical sites such as Ayutthaya old town and other stone age temples/castles.

[@kamolhengkiatisak1527]

@@jiranyavarodvivat2434 "new temple like the white temple in changmai which was built by well-known artist" A little correction, the artist is Chiangrai native and White Temple, Blue Temple and Black House are all in Chiangrai, not Chiangmai. Chiangmai does not have any newly built modern temple, but old temples restored with new additions, the most famous of which is Doi Suthep temple. I visited this temple 30 years ago and last year. The change is unbelieveable.

[@real_MacrocosM]

It's quite a point of pride for me that i 'found' the Bang Nam Phueng Floating Market all by myself, almost by accident, in 2015.. I have been back to Bangkok 8 times in the 9 years since.. and 3 of those times I've managed to convince the friends I'd brought with me [most of them BKK virgins] to trek with me to B Krachao and cycle around the island on a weekend. and then we'd ofc 'magically' come across this amazing market which was a complete surprise to _them_ 😁. And I'd get to live vicariously through their novelty-wonder. •• i am coming back in Mar 2025 with 2 new friends to do 11 days in BKK and Kanchanaburi, and I'll be doing the same thing and ending the day at Erawan Museum, I'm sure the day will blow their mind.

[@RangKlos]

Love this episode. As usual with your contents, I learned something new about my own country and found things to further exchange. The parallel worlds indeed exist here considering even historical parks like Sukhothai and others were restored for a sole purpose of tourism. Back in my days at art school we simply called them Disneylands. However, tourists favorites aren't always completely detached from their origins. My grand mother who passed away when she was well over ninty years old would love every bite from those famous mango sticky rice shops loved by farangs because, despite their fancy modifications, the essence of the dish remains. If possible try to explore food available at ceremonies in the temples. You can't go any more genuine than eating at someone's son entering monkhood celebration. Good luck!

[@OTRontheroad]

Have been invited to a ceremony like that in Laos before, never here. Sounds amazing. Just need the right friends I guess!

[@michaelbiedassek7136]

Another interesting place is the Bang Nang Hai Floating Market along Khlong Kwae Ohm which is at the border of Ratchaburi and Samut Songkhram and it’s also a beautiful little time bubble. Similar to Lak Ha community with the two grandmas in your video, it’s mostly residential along the canals but I saw efforts by the government to bring visitors there through pop-events and festivals. Really relaxed and quaint little family businesses like tea shops that go back generations.

[@ampfat]

I am THAI and I’m a big fan of this channel. I can say that this youtuber is capturing the true essential moments of our interesting, diverse and complex Siam/Thai/SEAsia Thank you so much for great research and recording many invaluable amazing scene and soon disappearing/forgotten places. Wishing so much for Local youtuber to become as real info oriented as you ! Cheers !

[@OTRontheroad]

Thank you!

[@RoutierNordAmericain]

This culture was how Bangkok got the nickname of "The Venice Of The Orient".

[@jiraratfrack3068]

Thanks for showing us the old pictures ❤

[@ParinandVarnasavang]

I am a Thai local, and I prefer an air-conditioned metered taxi cab to a tuk tuk, which is non-metered and non-airconditioned. Tuk tuks are more for tourists than locals.

[@nuniis]

love all ur vids! keep up with the great content OTR!

[@prcr8tion]

This is one of the most realistic and informative video about the Thailand tourism.

[@jitsak1977]

Love your documentaries.

[@jampasurprenant1794]

I appreciate your channel , and I could agree with you more about Bangkok and the old city Ayutthaya You are absolutely right about the history of Bangkok , and the canals Now it is the floating market , excellent jobs I enjoyed watching and learning about the old city of Bangkok.

[@groomyClaimbodog]

The more I watched these videos from OTR channel the more I learned something new that as a Thai never knew it before. Thank you

[@snanth70]

Another great video.. Thank you

[@aaronclark4764]

I really appreciate the depth and focus of this Vlog. Wonderful job, thanks for sharing the truth. I love Thailand and lived here for 20 years, have children etc. There is so much that is truly amazing to experience here but it does take a little effort to get out of "bubbles"

[@jampasurprenant1794]

That's was awesome the touring of the canal flowing boats. I love the old fashioned Thai culture. You remind me of Anthony Bourdain. You Did an excellent job explaining about the foods and the cultures.

[@foodtaliban]

The narrating is as always second to none 👏

[@hollish196]

Loved this, as always! Wonderful and insightful and marvelous. Thank you!!

[@OTRontheroad]

Cheers and always good to hear from you. Glad you enjoyed it

[@pjacobsen1000]

Pretty nice. I rode past Damnoen Saduak Market on my last bicycle trip through SEA. The residential areas surrounding the market are super quaint with very narrow access canals, and many houses have their own little boat house with boats hung from wires just above the surface. The region is also a center for fruit plantations.

[@tarrinpun3798]

excellent episode yet again

[@thipsudahubbard6357]

I still remember when I were kids I used to love to hear some my favorite food comes on the boat for me to enjoy delicious foods❤

[@korean_foot_traveler8655]

Lots of the nice scenes in this video make me enjoy this video.😀👍👍

[@ps5898]

This channel should have thousands of subscribers easily, well produced and great research to spread knowledge and insights.

[@OTRontheroad]

thanks so much

[@TheTravelingAdventure]

Amazing video good job!

[@joelchao1]

Agree on your thinking and congratulations that you finally found the original taste and authentic life of thai people from past 200years 😊

[@nizamrahman4665]

Man I can't wait to get back. Taling Chan was my first floating market and I've tried to return whenever I get the chance to come back to Thailand. Two weeks away!

[@raens9256]

Oh, man. I spent so much time on that corner of Sukhumvit and Nana that you showed. When I went to Thailand for the first time, we stayed there based on its proximity to public transit, and then we had breakfast at a Nana business cafeteria before we headed out each day. I have more than a few pictures of how that area caters to western familiarity. Because I'd never been to Thailand before, we actually did a mix of the classic tourist sites and less tourist locations. One of the things I mentioned was how intense the gauntlet of people competing for your attention is closer to the tourist locations, particularly if you're choosing to walk when you can. I'm glad we went to them, but I'm also really grateful for the time we spent in less tourist-ed areas.

[@annon231]

Thank you so much for the brillant work and care you inject into your wonderful channel. You are at the apex of my KZbin appetite. You statisfy my hunger for food and history. 119K Subscribers? Why? You genuinely deserve 1.19 million! I hope I am fated to see you and Daria sometime in the future. Я буду держать глаза открытыми! Никогда не знаешь, когда пути пересекутся. I love your work and send you both my fondest regards! AND...... to you Jaspar, lest your artistic work be unappreciated,...... bravo WELL DONE!

[@OTRontheroad]

Спасибо and certainly hope so!

[@twinflowerfioretta]

Hi OTR, another superb video ! i enjoyed the lady in your boat, she is kind a funny, tuff, lovely and great tour guide Lol😄! The old story behind the floating markets is amazing and the footages of the past times are mesmerizing ! I never visited a floating market in TH but in Myanmar, it was very authentic.... Thankyou, very informativ & interesting, top work 🙏👍✌💛Love the food !

[@OTRontheroad]

Thanks for the very kind message!

[@eswillie]

When I was there five decades ago I never went to a floating market, although living near the banks of the Chao Phraya we ate at the local "restaurant"/community center, and often took one of the two local ferries across to the Thonburi side to eat, drink and stroll the shops. The more I see of your videos, and those of Gary Butler, the more I feel that I need to come back soon before it's all gone. The tide is changing, and I'm not getting any younger. As for that list you suggested I compile of reading matter, I've given it some thought, but I think I'd rather send it to you via email rather than in a comment, and then you can choose to share whatever you think is relevant. For the most part, I would leave the food side up to you guys, since you do it so well and tie it into the local culture; I have only two cultural selections, one of them being the Southeast Asian history I've mentioned previously, and the other a history of China from the same publisher (no reviews available, since it's a textbook, but the price of the first edition keeps going up every time I look). I personally find that well researched and well written fiction by authors who have lived in and experienced Asia for a good deal of their lives is a better way to introduce the subject to Westerners/farangs like ourselves, rather than factual histories that don't really give a feel for a world which is slowly disappearing everywhere. That applies not only to Asia, but to most other places in the world. This particular video was really on point, and the dirt road at the last brought me back to the Thailand I remember.

[@OTRontheroad]

Much appreciated and please feel free to contact me directly anytime. [e-mail] Cheers, Adam

[@user-qy1dt6fv4b]

ขอบคุณมากๆครับ

[@jasonboody]

At 18:13 , your sentiments are exactly mine, but very well worded. Growing to be one of my fave Thai related channels for sure❤

[@OTRontheroad]

Much appreciated.

[@sasitahautecoeur-tq3wt]

This is so nice video 🤟🤟👌👌👍👍

[@isanBen]

My missus and I went there and had instant regrets, her being Thai and me not enjoying crowds of tourists, we went home to Issan and never looked back, here there is plenty of room to be the only farang or mamuang pum pui as many people tend to call me these days, lots and lots of original food, not watered down to please tourists 😊 loved your video, so true and honest about everything, especially the parts of the old story, beautifully done sir 🙏🇹🇭🥳🥰🙏

[@arrukkikrina2755]

I like going to the floating market. love to see the way of life of people And the food is great too.

[@yingsthaicookinghome2839]

Lak Ha - what a beautiful gem

[@marcpaperscissor]

love your videos

[@giant7334]

คุณสนใจจะทำประวัติความเป็นมาของขนมที่ขายข้างถนนมั้ยคะ บางอย่างก็มีที่มาจากในวังเชียวนา

[@Slaphappy1975]

Bangkok was called the Venice of the East back in the 60s and 70s due to how prevalent canals were. Of course, they're almost all filled in now to make way for roads.

[@noa.leshem]

great stuff. subscribed

[@kikgalaxy4358]

Hi!!! New Sub here. I like your vlog. It's different from others. Your style is super good.😊😊😊

[@OTRontheroad]

Thanks so much! Really appreciate it.

[@root-beer]

everytime our indonesian friends visit us we always take them to damnoen saduak floating market

[@sumathpanvisawas2712]

MRT yellow line เปิดทดลองใช้งาน 13 สถานี จาก สำโรง ถึง หัวหมาก...ระหว่างรอให้รถไฟฟ้าเสร็จสมบูรณ์...อยากให้คุณสำรวจชุมชนแต่ละสถานีที่เปิดใช้..ว่ามีอะไรในแต่ละสถานีที่น่าสนใจ คนในพื้นที่แต่ละสถานีมีความเป็นอยู่อย่างไร ก่อนรถไฟฟ้าจะมา..มีแหล่งท่องเที่ยวในแถบนี้ไหม...มีสวนสาธารณะขนาดใหญ่ในแถวพื้นที่นี้ไหม..มีของอร่อยที่แอบซ่อนอยู่ในดินแดนแถวนี้ไหม..มีตลาดนัดกลางวัน กลางคืน ให้เที่ยวชมไหม..ชนิดอาหารไทยในชุมชนแถบนี้เป็นแบบไหน...(คุณจะเพลิดเพลินที่จะได้รู้ว่าในที่แถบนี้..มีของดีๆแอบซ่อนให้คุณ..ไปค้นหาอีกมากมาย)😂😂😂❤

[@mintedog]

Great video. I always felt as a Thai person that the most internationally well-known tourist destinations in Thailand are watered down versions of the real thing. And it sucks that that's what most tourists judge Thailand on (like you originally did). There is a richness and beauty to Thai culture that the tourist hotspots will never be able to replicate. I will say, though, that domestic Thai tourists visit very different places compared to international visitors. Even if these places have also become touristy, there is still so much history to them that they retain their authenticity. We know the spots -- that's why it's so important to become friends with a trusted Thai local!

[@Tinil0]

Care to share any that stick out in your mind?

[@natv173]

Before covid I went to "Lak 5 market" (Lak ha) every year at least, And inside the place that looks nothing. I always feel like I got something back.

[@kaviyashanmugavel3213]

You must make vdos about all other food cultures and thats history...

[@kamolhengkiatisak1527]

We, old/senior bikers, occasionally bike to Thaka market as well as Lao Tak Tak market, an extension of Damnoensadoek market but very few tourists for a one-day trip to have lunch there. We would never, ever dare to visit Damnoensadoek market due to its popularity and we don't know where we should park our push bikes.

[@cstephen98]

You should check out the floating market in Pattaya, not the tourist one but rather the one among the canals North of the city where the Thai's live.

[@to_cya_]

Hey Adam! If you plan to visit Ratchaburi again, I recommend you to go to “Ban Huay Krabok” (บ้านห้วยกระบอก). It is the biggest Hakka community in Thailand, the country that known for vast majority of Chinese descendants are Teochew. And if you are going to talk about Hakka food in Thailand, you can start with a restaurant called “Yok Hua” (ยกฮั้ว) in Bangkok’s Chinatown. Yok Hua is known for one of the last surviving authentic Hakka restaurant that still existed in the capital.

[@OTRontheroad]

This is an amazing tip. Thanks. As someone who lived for a number of years in Guangdong Province, I’m a big fan of 客家 food and know it well. So excited to check these places out.

[@to_cya_]

@@OTRontheroad For more information about Hakka cuisine in Thailand, you can dig deeper in “Yentafo” (เย็นตาโฟ) and “Kuay Teow Kae” (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวแคะ or Hakka’s noodle) which can commonly find in many places. They were brought here by the Hakka, but nowadays, most stalls which selling those dishes are neither Hakka nor using authentic recipe.

[@to_cya_]

@@OTRontheroad And further information beyond food about Thai Hakka. As I’ve mentioned that Thai-Chinese are mostly Teochew, but many powerful people here are Thai-Hakka. For instance, 4 former Prime Ministers: - Anand Panyarachun - Thaksin Shinawatra - Abhisit Vejjajiva - Yingluck Shinawatra

[@joelmonkley6177]

Love her type of food were is this in Thailand b❤

[@root-beer]

im from ratchaburi, if you ever come back you should stop by photharam, we have a unique dish there called taohu dam (black tofu)

[@OTRontheroad]

i'll send you a message when we have time. Look forward to your advice and tips.

[@marciewyatt2342]

Row, row, row your boat... They make it look easy but I have trouble keeping a kayak going in the right direction 🛶

[@popinjay3000]

Nice of you to show Mark Weins, what a beautiful human he is..however its important to say there is more info in one of your docs than 50 of his put together..i hope there is a change back to Bourdain style food blogging and more people capable of doing it

[@bill2p]

Too bad you ended up skipping Amphawa. Although the floating market there is as contrived as all the others, otherwise Amphawa is a beautiful place. The floating market on weekend evenings primarily appeals to THAI tourists, mainly day-trippers from Bangkok. That’s why you couldn’t find any parking. After the market shuts down around 20:00, Amphawa reverts to its quiet riverside normality.

[@CBD7069..]

So much of Bangkok felt like a tourist trap. But the floating market felt like the biggest tourist trap lol.

[@NY-hB9teu6ue7]

I honestly don’t think Amphawa will give you a bad experience though. You can think of it as a very very big market. There are a wide range of stuff there from old stuff that i don’t recognize to the stuff for tourists, like the mix between the old and new (or maybe that’s what government want us to think that way😅). The food there in my memory was ok. Even though i didn’t find anything exceptionally good, my dad would find something nostalgia there. The market was really crowded but with mostly thai people. IMO, Damnoen Saduak is the weird one. When i go to a floating market, i would expect to walk in the market alongside the canal and eat the food on land, not on boat. Taking boat is just a mean to get to any tourism spot, like, to see fireflies or to pray at 5 or 9 temple. When i visited Damnoen Saduak, i always thought it was strange that there isn’t any walkway at all. I’m glad that i didn’t take the boat that time. Stopping the boat to force you to buy food is just plain evil. 😂

[@martyhandley4456]

See, to me, the little unapologetically simple and humble areas are the most attractive places to dine.......I’ve had enough of the flashy and overly adorned tourist spots that travelers flock to are always flash as hell, but woefully pedestrian, bland and whitewashed food.....it I always end up in the seedy and off the beaten path...........great vid as usual team....y’all rock

[@OTRontheroad]

Cheers Marty!

[@CarassiusAu]

26:45 There’s a mistranslation here. The monk actually said “There used to be about 400-500 boats coming in here daily”

[@antoniotottojr]

tradition will always be there. you just need to be really a good observant to spot the difference. dont look at the grand things, it is usually the small things. observe where locals go and do. and talk a lot with locals.

[@BastyTHz]

i still waiting for deep fry glasshopper

[@Cnc1073]

Did the lady driving the boat say kratom 3 times? Yes please, I’ll take 3 😊 Maybe you should do a video about kratom and how much it’s very much a part of Thai culture. Practically every orange vest taxi spot sells it out of box coolers. They call is nam tom. Plus many markets sell the leaves. It’s a sibling of the tobacco plant apparently

[@kanchanaboonkrob1286]

0:33 is that you @streetwander ?

[@SANESX]

Noted about a bit of mistranslation. The monk said there were 400 to 500 boats there. Not 400 to 500 years. Other than that. This is a nostalgic piece for me. (Lived in Petchaburi. Been there a lot)

[@OTRontheroad]

Ah thanks. Yeah- we really struggled with his terminology- Jaspar’s Thai and we still couldn’t figure out a lot of the exact quotes he said- his vernacular was very educated, let’s say. But thanks and glad you enjoyed the video!

[@SANESX]

@@OTRontheroad All cool! Enjoy binged your channel in last few days from American Fried Rice. (Even boat aunty take a jap about that dish). Hope you come back to Petchaburi sometimes in the future. Other than food and Khao Shae, Petchaburi is famous for thai dessert. Khanom Moh Kang (Thai Custard Cake) are so naunce. There is diffrent between village to the point old people can tell where they are originate.

[@chasedoe2594]

As a Thai, I avoid Dam Nern Saduak. It is totally cater toward foreign tourist. Both the taste of food and the price. I used to go to Amphawa regularly, but as the RAMA2 construction keep going on and more Thai tourist went there, I just hate the amount of people. The food at Amphawa is good but there are too many Thai tourist. Now other Asian tourist know about this a start to go there. I am glad that Amphawa got a new life (I actually was revived by Faculty of Architect, Chulalongkorn University) and got more and more customer but sometime it is just way way way too packed.

[@Ajhmee]

One thing I can comfirm about Thai food in tourist area, they are just not that good. Even some of them used to be legendary food stores or super wellknown restuarants. Once the place become so much popular and many tourists come to eat, the food quality always drop down. For example, Yao wa rad (เยาวราช) or The China town. When I was young, (about 30 years ago) the food there was much better than now.

[@freemanol]

Also the level of service of the staff will drop. When they have to deal with foreigners every day, they lose all that thai positivity and kindness, because tourists tend to be rude and unreasonable. I avoid all places frequented by foreigners

[@OTRontheroad]

I'm sure that's true. I used to think of it as the Lonely Planet paradox. Like- Lonely Planet would write about a place, and maybe that place really was amazing, but then guests would come by the thousands and the place would have to 1) expand, 2) speed up the service, and 3) cater to what masses of foreigners wanted, and within a few months of publication, the place would be terrible. There's just no way to maintain quality and service that much quantity. BUT I can't say it's a bad thing, because good for the restaurant owners to make money; that's the dream, right? So it's complicated, but yeah, definitely don't eat places that are THAT popular. It's just not possible to serve thousands of meals a day at the same standard as someone who hand-makes a few dozen.

[@wizard1515]

Thai dessert should be the next episode LOL

[@zdl1965]

It's a tourist trap when you see more foreigners than locals. Locals do not go to places where they pay the same hiked-up prices as the farangs.

[@MrNguyenm3]

I'm planning a trip to Thailand soon, how you get a personal driver all day?

[@OTRontheroad]

So for videos like this, we just rented a car (and our friend drove us for the filming). But from my experience, almost every Taxi or Grab driver has a daily rate. You can book a driver online from agencies if you need one right when you arrive, but it'll be a lot more expensive. If you have a day or two first, I'd recommend just negotiate directly with a driver you meet here. But again- haven't done it in a long time so I'm sure there are better authorities. Maybe someone else reading this can chime in.

[@SomeRandomIndvl]

Did you guys stop and grab the loose coconuts falling out of that pickup? :)

[@OTRontheroad]

Was definitely glad it was a rental car. Felt like Mario Kart driving behind it

[@st.lutiana714]

Do you have Thai Chicken oil rice history ?

[@OTRontheroad]

Haha it's one of the next videos we're planning to do! Stay tuned.

[@st.lutiana714]

@@OTRontheroad WoW I will looking for that, I really LOVE Thai chicken rise ^^

[@BazinThailand]

Some info needs to be corrected here. (15.25 min) Taling Chan floating market was established in the 80s, not in the 2000s. I have seen this market since I was in kindergarten. Instead of using the metal rafts like today, it was made of bamboo shafts.

[@OTRontheroad]

That's not correct- there WAS a market in the same spot (as with most of the floating markets in existance, but not all- for example Bang Kachao was never a historic market) but government funding, investment, and the construction on the current platform and infrastructure was done in 2004.

[@The00ching00]

You mistranslated some of the first thing that the monk said. He said that in the old days there were up to 400-500 trading boats per day…

[@Al_cappuccino19]

I am visiting my relatives in Thailand this entire summer, my weight is gonna go📈📈📈

[@ianwallace16]

Yep tourist traps….they don’t have any change😮

[@eboytc]

I doubt that Thai government in 1966 would have seen so far to the potential of Tourism in Thailand. Thailand's tourism had sped up in the 90s, also the Tourism Authority of Thailand is founded just at 1979. Do not too simplyfy things.

[@OTRontheroad]

I think you should do some research- you’re completely wrong on this one

[@eboytc]

@@OTRontheroad Am I? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_Authority_of_Thailand

[@OTRontheroad]

@@eboytc TAT was responsible for the CBT initiative. The tourism minister and parliament proposed what would become Damnoen Saduak. But nice work on a 2 minute Wikipedia search. I’ll stand 1 million percent behind the research in this piece. I don’t know what point you’re trying to make but have a nice day

[@maeda01]

why walk the entire market looking for food if food can just 'float' to you Lol.

[@jawon70]

I a famous monk farts in a cave,you can be sure thai gona make a tourist atraction of it

[@thitisaks1709]

Almost no local thai tourists there because it is so overpriced

[@kikgalaxy4358]

American Fried Rice is actually a Thai dish. It doesn't exist in the US.😂😂😂

[@OTRontheroad]

Watch our video on the topic!!

[@OTRontheroad]

@@kikgalaxy4358 I mean seriously- kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2WVc2tjm8aslbM We did a full video literally on that subject!

[@kikgalaxy4358]

​​@@OTRontheroadAmerican Fried Rice is absolutely Thai food. You cannot deny the facts. CHEERS!!!🎉🎉🎉

[@OTRontheroad]

@@kikgalaxy4358 who said it's not Thai? PLEASE click the link I sent you- we literally did an entire video about the origins of American Fried Rice. Just watch our content so you're not confused about this.

[@kikgalaxy4358]

​​​​@@OTRontheroad Yep, you did say it's Thai dish in that vlog. Sorry for my misunderstanding. Thanks so much for your excellent work, the origins of American Fried Rice.🎉🎉🎉

[@TaiFei]

Well, I find the post somewhat problematic. Just emphasizing authenticity is quite a Western concept to separate the reality of OTHERS from your OWN. Culture is nowhere authentic. Culture is always a fluid negotiation process that is constantly changing and constantly exposed to other influences.

[@darksideka]

16:50 The face I make when I hear that alcohol is involved.🤤

[@pichapornsutthavas3315]

While I think the title is rather clickbait and the first half of video come out as yet another arrogant westerner screaming "this is tourist trap and a zoo", I do like that you show place even as thai myself didnt know about. But thinking again the attitude of this video also bother me as you still chasing "idea" of what is supposed to be without caring of what economically benefit locals. Yes it is cool to sit on the floor and eat that noodle but why do you think they dying out. Next time maybe instead of focusing on bashing the touristy places. Maybe focus on those cool place you found so maybe people will go there more and it wont die out.

[@OTRontheroad]

I think you MASSIVELY misunderstood this video. Massively. We explain in detail WHY the first markets we visited are over-touristy and how the locals got screwed, it's not a benefit, they had their business taken over against their will. And as a result, the government began a new program in the 1990s that protects local interests in rebuilding these markets. That's the truth of it. I'm not here to sugarcoat the truth and only showcase the last market we saw, for example; to paint the complete picture we have to tell the whole story.

[@to_cya_]

Economically benefits ≠ Sustainable Plus, those tourist trap will benefit more to entrepreneurs than the locals. It’s capitalism.

[@freemanol]

​@@OTRontheroad for one i appreciate you bashing the touristy places a bit. Too many tourists have the completely wrong attitude towards travelling, seeing what they imagine rather than the reality. Like the markets in Pai, it's so miserable. You have hmong people posing there as if it were a human zoo, souvernirs like wooden phallus, yoga or hippie related stuff, etc. Tourists destroy the local scene in some ways, and it should be known.

[@OTRontheroad]

@@freemanol I actually wrote (and removed for time) a whole section on this and “human zoo” attractions. The Karen villages north of Chiang Mai. “Splendid China” in shenzhen where Han Chinese dress in costumes and dance around as the country’s ethnic minorities. Or the worst- luang prabang’s “alms giving” ceremony where the lowest form of humanity on earth sticks tens of thousands of cameras in the faces of monks receiving food in the morning. It makes me lose faith in people. I wrote like 2000 words about this but decided not to put it in the final video edit.

[@user-dl5pd1tp7s]

8นมาเที่ยวเยอะแยะ จะให้ทำไงไม่ให้เป้นกับดักวะ

[@pjacobsen1000]

Pretty nice. I rode past Damnoen Saduak Market on my last bicycle trip through SEA. The residential areas surrounding the market are super quaint with very narrow access canals, and many houses have their own little boat house with boats hung from wires just above the surface. The region is also a center for fruit plantations.