Day 282- More of Chatuchak

Sunflower Screen - part to enter

First stop, Flora and Foliage.

For those of you who love flowers and plants, JJ has an incredibly extensive garden sector that is well worth a trip.

Every time I visit this treasure trove of all-you-need-for-a-tropical-garden, I half wish I live in Bangkok. How else can I bring home these amazing cascading silver needles?

Or those giant bulbs of hyacinths promising blooms I can already see in my head, down to their hues,  thanks to the differentiating strips of reds, blues and yellows.

Still, for you and me who live a few custom officers away, 

we need not go home empty handed. 

There's always these charming hanging planters of cane baskets  

and some very versatile perennials that will never die.

Whether it is for you,

for your friends, 

or even for your dolls

Plants and planters at home in Singapore

Chautuchak really has it all.

Jasmine and other flower garlands for prayers

And because the Thai people really love their flowers,

 they are everywhere.

From ancient times on an emperor's dress

to a pair of vintage spittoons from the 50s

or these three vases of traditional painted masks.

And till today, you continue to see them

 in their cloth sandals,

 on their soft clutches,

even funny signage for loos.

There are flowers on the ceilings,

flowers on the floor,

flowers, flowers, flowers

on drawers, cupboards, doors.

Even in shops selling products that have nothing to do with flowers,

there is still space reserved for favourite plants.

Combining their love for flowers and their obsession with details, 

the Thai craftsmen have truly refined the making of artificial flowers 

down to an art.

They use natural materials like sanoh, a softwood perfect for texture 

or dried Sesbania leaves 

so that their man-made lotuses look like Mother Nature's.

 I often cannot tell the real 

from the fake.

Then there are the colours,

colours that leave you spinning and giddy 

so deceptive they make you believe rags is
high fashion

USB


so intoxicating they make cute irresistible

(even if you are not a fan of cute).

Colours that make your spirit soar 
quicken your breath 
 excite your senses


so much so that you don't even realise that  
you have already walked for 5 hours.

How time flies...I am tired and thirsty and I am sure you are too.

Let's rest here, shall we? 

I don't think I can walk anymore.

O dear, and we are only at flowers and foliage.

I haven't even shown you Pets, Ceramics, Handicraft, Miniatures!

But before I go, 

I just want to thank all of you. 

It is exhilarating for me that we have almost 25 people returning. Especially since this is my first trip to JJ where I did not end up spending the bulk of my time just squatting  at some miniature shops. I started the trip determined to show those of my friends here a more complete picture of the flea market I love so I went to the sectors that I hardly visited. 

The people gazing , picture taking and of course, buying, buying, buying turned out to be such a pleasure that it was the most fun I had ever had, shopping on my own. In a way, this was all because of you.