Say goodbye to Bangkok's Pak Klong Talad flower market

[webfact]

Say Goodbye to Bangkok’s Flower Market
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


Vendors sell flowers on Valentine's Day, Sunday, at Bangkok's Pak Khlong Talad.

BANGKOK — It was a blue Valentine for Bangkok’s Pak Khlong Talad yesterday, as the historic flower market sold its final roses for the holiday.

Two weeks remain before a City Hall deadline its many streetside vendors clear out to improve the flow of traffic, which will spell the end of the iconic market known for being an inexpensive place to buy flowers.

With roots as a market stretching back to the late 1700s, the market has operated 24 hours a day for six decades.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1455535343&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2016-02-16

[tracker1]

The real story, A victim of counterfit flowers ! maybe

[BKKdreaming]

Hopefully they will put a yellow brick road to the new spot so customers can find them

Yeah sure they will , another one bites the dust.......

I hope someone finds that Central world was built with the wrong permits and threaten to tear it down !

[colinneil]

Big business destroying the small trader, that is all this is about.

Big business brown envelopes, small trader no envelope. T.I.T.

[samsensam]

freeing up the pavements so the elderly, the disabled and those with young children are able get around the city is a positive step. freeing up the pavements so people dont have to walk along the second most dangerous roads in the world just to get from A to B is a positive step.

markets exist and vendors can prosper without being an inconvenience and detrimental to the population as a whole, it works in other cities all over the world and there's no reason why it cant work here.

[TheKnave]

freeing up the pavements so the elderly, the disabled and those with young children are able get around the city is a positive step. freeing up the pavements so people dont have to walk along the second most dangerous roads in the world just to get from A to B is a positive step.

markets exist and vendors can prosper without being an inconvenience and detrimental to the population as a whole, it works in other cities all over the world and there's no reason why it cant work here.

You, going for a swim in the klong, would be a positive step.

If you want Blighty, stay in Blighty.

[Katipo]

Another icon of Bangkok falls. Just as Suan Lum before it. These are real attractions that give Bkk much needed character, things that tourists really want to see. It upsets me just how moronic the city administration seem to be.

[Denim]

Goodbye Pak Khlong Talad ........ Hello boring Bangkok.

[ffaarraanngg]

Goodbye Pak Khlong Talad ........ Hello boring Bangkok.

Bangkok has turned into a bland Thai version of Singapore.

But its what the middle class want so they can take selfies at the shopping malls, and go to chic coffee shops.

Surprising how quick its all happened.

[phrisco17]

Another icon of Bangkok falls. Just as Suan Lum before it. These are real attractions that give Bkk much needed character, things that tourists really want to see. It upsets me just how moronic the city administration seem to be.

What Tourists really want to see......

[UTH001]

freeing up the pavements so the elderly, the disabled and those with young children are able get around the city is a positive step. freeing up the pavements so people dont have to walk along the second most dangerous roads in the world just to get from A to B is a positive step.

markets exist and vendors can prosper without being an inconvenience and detrimental to the population as a whole, it works in other cities all over the world and there's no reason why it cant work here.

Yes, the pavements will be 'free' soon for everybody, but doubt too many will take advantage of that new found 'freedom', nothing much there to see any longer, right? I was there two days ago, such an interesting and lively place, feel sorry for the traders, losing their business. Yes, they have been offered other places, high rents to pay, resulting in higher prices too. Just because the Mayor wants to see a second Singapore? I am stunned that people don't rebel against all that destruction of markets and food stalls in the city...

[Srikcir]

Tradition gives way to traffic.

Prayut should have stopped this violation of Thai culture.

[MikeN]

freeing up the pavements so the elderly, the disabled and those with young children are able get around the city is a positive step. freeing up the pavements so people dont have to walk along the second most dangerous roads in the world just to get from A to B is a positive step.

markets exist and vendors can prosper without being an inconvenience and detrimental to the population as a whole, it works in other cities all over the world and there's no reason why it cant work here.

It is not that the market is being completely closed, just that they have to move off the footpath. Apparently the market vendors used to be in a nearby building, but when that became too derelict (even for Thailand) the vendors moved out on to the streets, many years ago.

The building has finally been renovated, but the vendors don't want to move in there because they will have to pay rent. They would rather stay on the footpath, rent free, instead of paying a few thousand baht/month rent like most businesses would do. Sound familiar ?

Edited February 16, 2016 by MikeN

[CoreanoOzzie]

Sad story. Even for the obstructive nature of the markets, they should remain as they are a part of Thai culture.

[razer]

Bangkok committing a slow suicide. Somehow the Thai elite just can't get it into their heads tourists don't come here for shopping malls.

They have shopping malls back home. Duh.

[xtrnuno41]

civilisation...all controlled....rules....nothing possible anymore

adapt or you are out

1 controlling civilisation, American style

we are the borg , we will assimilate you, resistance is futile

[jacky54]

It's not been all over the roads for six decades, it used to be where it belongs, all under cover in the building, so it's just going back to old Bangkok

[djlest]

Bring it on Singapore! What makes Thailand Thai is about to vanish...

[Changwatchap]

The footpath and roads around that area really aren't that bad. Neither particularly congested or dangerous. Why are they going after this rather than the vendors along say, Chong Nonsi or Plon Chit where it's much worse?

[MikeN]

There is another story on this in "the media source we are not allowed to link to" where one of the vendors admitted she paid no rent, just 300 baht/month cleaning fee. With almost zero overheads it is no wonder they want to stay on the footpath ! The rent quoted for the new market building is just over half of what vendors at my local night market pay, so I have no sympathy for the flower sellers this time considering the amount of business they do.

[Baz44]

On 16/02/2016 at 11:33 AM, MikeN said:

It is not that the market is being completely closed, just that they have to move off the footpath. Apparently the market vendors used to be in a nearby building, but when that became too derelict (even for Thailand) the vendors moved out on to the streets, many years ago.

The building has finally been renovated, but the vendors don't want to move in there because they will have to pay rent. They would rather stay on the footpath, rent free, instead of paying a few thousand baht/month rent like most businesses would do. Sound familiar ?

Hi Mike, is the flower market still all in one spot or has this made the vendors disperse all over the place? 

[impulse]

Had the same laments over tearing down Saphan Lek market and I'm seeing most of those vendors popping up in newly prepared (previously derelict) buildings all over Chinatown.  Buildings that aren't deathtraps in case of a fire, don't force pedestrians to put their lives at the mercy of local traffic, and offer an incentive to landlords who are renovating derelict properties.

 

It's not all bad...  

 

Actually adds a little incentive to scrounge around to see what's new.  Saphan Lek hadn't changed a bit in years- stagnant.  After one or two visits, it was the same ol'- same ol'- and not much reason to browse.  I suspect the flower market was the same- though flowers aren't my cuppa.

[anotheruser]

On 2/16/2016 at 9:47 AM, ffaarraanngg said:

Bangkok has turned into a bland Thai version of Singapore.

But its what the middle class want so they can take selfies at the shopping malls, and go to chic coffee shops.

Surprising how quick its all happened.

 

Yeah, I went to Asiatique and it is basically a poor man's version of Clark Quay.