The Chatuchak Weekend Market is the largest market in the world. Yesterday it was also one of the hottest!
It was so hot — 38 degrees C which is 100.4 degrees F —  that I didn’t even realize that I caught these tourists smooching in this photo. I just raised the camera, held tight so that it didn’t squirt out of my sweat-slicked hand, squinted at the monitor trying to make out the image in the wash of sunlight, and squeezed.

Sorry for the violation of your privacy folks, but what did you expect smooching in public like that? I guess I’m just jealous. I haven’t seen my wife in three weeks. Also, it would take more hormones than this 70+ body could muster to make me want to snuggle and smooch in that heat.

But I digress….

I knew it was going to be hot, but it was Easter Sunday, the gym was closed, and I wasn’t planning on going to Easter services so I figured what the “heck” (in deference to the significance of the day). Besides the Chatuchak Weekend Market is one of my favorite destinations in Bangkok. Food, people watching, food, stuff to buy (or, in my case, not to buy), food. You get the picture.

The coolest part of the day, literally, was taking the Sky Train to the market. The trains are air conditioned, sleek and effective, one of my favorite urban mass transit systems.

The market is at the last stop on the Sukhumvit Line (the exit is Mo Chit). Just follow the crowds.

I wandered around for a while, eating anything wet and cold. My favorite was the ice cream in a coconut shell with peanuts, coconut shavings and palm seed.

I tried taking a few pictures with mixed results — it was just too hot to stand in the sun looking and waiting for the right photo opp. Finally I moved into one of the areas with the covered stalls for some protection from the sun.

After an hour and half I was exhausted and yearning for the soothing purr of the air conditioner in my room. In an hour I was back, naked and glistening with sweat (I know that’s not an image you want stuck in your mind. I’m with you on that.).

All-in-all I’m glad I made it out. I’m even more glad that I made it back. I’m sticking closer to home, and my air conditioner, for the next few days, until I head back to the Chatrium this coming weekend for a couple more days of R&R on the river.