Every Saturday and Sunday, the Chatuchak Park, all 35 acres of it, comes alive with a huge collection of things for sale (really- trying to put everything that’s on sale into neat little categories is virtually impossible!). We visited Chatuchak on our last day in Bangkok, planning to do a bit of last-minute souvenir-shopping, and gosh- were we spoilt for choice! An hour or two of wandering through the stalls here, and the sheer range of clothes, shoes, tapestries and stuff like that had us wishing we could’ve pushed up our budget by a few million baht.

Anyway, to get to the basics. The easiest way to get to Chatuchak is to take the Sky Train to Mo Chit terminal (which is what we did)- the market begins just below the terminal; all you do is walk down from the terminal.

Chatuchak’s huge, colourful, noisy- and consists of large bright shops, glittering goods, narrow aisles. In the first few rows, the stalls sell clothes- mainly jeans, T-shirts, shirts and sarongs- jewellery and trinkets, bags, shoes, hats; souvenirs (basketry, ceramic, handmade paper, woodwork, metalware and things like that) and a massive range of odds and ends. Past that, the stalls in the middle rows sell upholstery, lampshades, glassware, artificial flowers, wrapping paper, floral decorations crafted from paper and plastic; and- well, anything else you could possibly want, including mundane things like cheese-graters, paper-cutters, cushion covers and tiny models of tuk-tuks. Right at the back of the market are stalls which sell pets- rabbits, birds, puppies, fish- along with cages, fish bowls, artificial waterplants and things like that. Also around the same area are a few shops that sell food- especially dried seafood (the somewhat overpowering stench nearly made us faint!). Despite that, Chatuchak’s a must-visit: save your shopping for here! One last bit of advice, though: bargain like mad!

One of the main reasons for our impromptu visit to Bangkok was Chattuchak market. We heard that it spread over several square miles, and we are girls who enjoy shopping, especially at Thai prices. It was lucky that we had managed to save money during our trip (basically through lower cost of living than we budgeted for), because we spent an awful lot at the market.

It is divided into several different sections, including: clothing (jewellery and accessories), household goods (mainly decorative goods), food, pets, and several others which are more appropriate for a resident of Bangkok. We began in the clothes sections, and were quickly disheartened, because so many of the clothes were highly desireable, and yet so few fit us. Basically, a good rule of thumb is to measure yourself against an average-size Thai lady and if you're much bigger than her in any way, it is unlikely you will find many clothes which will fit you. We were really disappointed about that, but we soon cheered up as we saw all the beautiful accessories, jewellery, picture frames, crockery etc etc. A good tip here is to find out if you can leave goods you have purchased at your guesthouse. If Bangkok is not your last destination in Thailand, this is a good idea because then you are free to make purchases which you wouldn't ordinarily be able to carry. Also, take plenty of water, as the market is extremely hot. The facilities for food and drink are reasonable in price and quality, but it can be so hot that you need to drink water almost continuously.

There are some wonderful bargains to be found, many without even really trying! We bought herbs and spices very cheaply in the food section, mulberry paper (a Thai speciality) in the household section, as well as some lovely crackle-glazed pottery which seems quite expensive but is really still only a third of the English price. Handbags and silk were also good purchases, with a huge range of choices, and the same goes for vases, photoframes, candles in all manner of shapes and sizes and other decorative items. The pets section is slightly less salubrious, housing endangered species and household pets alike, all in small cages looking pretty scared (we wanted to liberate the baby rabbits, but were scared they'd be eaten by the crocodile!). The pets section was actually quite upsetting, although it as interesting, but dont go if you're faint-hearted.

A few final tips:
- If you are in a group expect to get split up at some point and arrange a specific place and time to meet.
- Expect to get lost, a lot, try to get hold of a map before you go.
- Change money before you go - cheaper, no queues.
- Give yourself a lot of time, the market really is huge.
- Be selective, don't buy more than you can take back home!

Chatuchak is accessible by train; it's at the last stop, Mo Chit. It opens only during weeknds from 7am-6pm. Be prepared when you get here and wear light clothing because the heat can become unbearable in the enclosed area of close to 9000 shops. Yes you heard me, 9000! Everything and anything you want you can get here. Food, clothes, plants and even animals can easily be purchased from Chatuchak. Most of the shops are wholesalers, so bargaining can be a bit difficult unless you purchase in bulk. Throughout Bangkok,this is the best- priced place; everything is cheap.

The market is segragated into clothing areas, household items, candles and incense, food, animals, plants, and lots more for easier shopping. Lots of beautiful things can be found which would make great gifts when you get home. However, be sure not to get lost because it's so big a place that it's hard to go back to where you came from. If you like something, it's best to purchase it on the spot because chances are you won't be able to find your way around if you want to return. And if you're doing lots of shopping, bring big bags, or better still, luggage, to avoid lugging numerous plastics bags around which can become quite a handful after a while. And if you're setting up a business,most of the shops have name cards that will be of help in the near future. Most importantly,drink lots of water to avoid dehydration.

The weekend market is where you want to go if you want to shop until you drop. The market is HUGE; it would take a full day to see it all. It is acres of clothing, art, sculpture, woodworking, fabric, plants, housewares, earthenware, food, and everything else you can think of.

When you first come in from the street, there are three or four rows of more established shops. This means that the prices are a bit higher, and bargaining is more difficult, but the quality of the merchandise is higher than other places in the market.

Past these rows of shops are the stalls that make up the bulk of the market. These shops are more competitive and CRAZY. This area was so packed with people that often at intersections we were stopped in our tracks until all the bodies could shove their way through to where they wanted to go. And with all those people, you know it was HOT. I could feel myself dehydrate by the minute. But even with all the craziness, I can definitely say that I enjoyed the market.

This market is visited by both tourists and Thai people. We actually saw more Thai people than foreigners. It is only on Saturdays and Sundays, and I think it starts around 9am. We took a metered taxi from the Viengtai Hotel which cost us 80 baht (about $2).

Chatuchak Weekend Market is the market experience in Bangkok. These vast local markets sprawl over 28 acres and house more than 5000 vendors selling everything from cotton clothing, shoes, children's clothing and hats to hill-tribe handicraft, antiques, herbs and spices, pet dogs, cats and aquarium fish and fruits, vegetables and more.

There is some order to the location of everything at these markets; and then there is none. The best way to experience Chatuchak is simply to plunge in and let you senses - sight, smell and sound - take you around.

Hours later and you still won't have seen everything, but you may want to stop for a drink and a snack - well, that's available, too.