Take a Trip to Takuapa Walking Street Market
Takuapa Walking Street Market is one of my favourite places to go in high season, I mentioned it briefly in a past blog. This fascinating southern town is abuzz with activity as both locals and tourists flock to these old streets from miles around. If you’re looking for alternative Khao Lak activities then this is a great day out for everyone.
As the name suggests, the walking street market is situated in Takuapa, however, not Takuapa as most tourists to this part of Thailand know it, but the old town Takuapa. Yan Yow is what is commonly, and incorrectly, referred to as Takuapa. This is where the main hub of this little city is now situated.
Takuapa History
Takuapa, once named Takola, is a district capital steeped in history, with stories of a Hindu temple located here as far back as 8thC AD. It was once an important port town as it was a main trading point between the south Indian Tamil to the north west and the Malay kingdom to the south. The real riches were brought to the town when it was discovered that there was abundant tin ore to be found in and around the area. Takuapa boomed due to this discovery and it became a very wealthy part of the country.
Tin was still being dredged up until a few years ago, however, there are still signs of the vast amounts of money this industry brought into the area and tin dredging equipment can be seen lying around in some places even today.
Thai Food and Culture Explored
Back to the walking street market…
The best time to get to the market is around 4pm; this is when it is in full swing. Some bands may be busking on the main street and at one end there is often a local school’s performance. The children will be dressed up in traditional Thai costumes and will sing and dance on stage for the passing audience.
In the middle of the main street is a display of the ancient method of hulling rice. The apparatus consists of a large wicker basket sat atop a wider wicker bowl. An old lady will usually be operating the machine pulling the wooden lever so that the rice from the main basket is pressed. This separates the chaff from the grains and only the rice will drop down into the wider bowl at the bottom. Thus, the rice is now ready for cleaning, cooking and then eating.
Other demonstrations and old traditional Thai foods will also be on offer for both the interest of Thai people and visiting foreigners. Food seems to be the focus of the market as the street is lined with table after table of traditional, and not so traditional, kanom (snack).
A Unique Khao Lak Day Trip
The market is only open on Sunday afternoons during high season, so make sure you don’t miss it! You can either get a songteaw into Yan Yow and then take a local taxi from there, or take a taxi from Khao Lak there and back. Another suggestion would be to make a day of it. Go elephant trekking in the morning, then visit the stunning little amazon and finally visit the walking street market in the afternoon – a lovely day of Thai culture, activities and nature.
Green Andaman Travel would be happy to help, advise and organise a trip to Takuapa Walking street market for you, and can even combine it with our Khao Sok trips if you take one of these on a Sunday too.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions or if you would like to know more about the walking street market.
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