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Paar Chanaa De

If you follow Coke Studio Pakistan, you must have listened to the iconic Paar Chanaa De by Noori and Shilpa Rao. The song has more than 22 million views on YouTube so far. If you are reading this post, you probably searched for some more information about the song. I am writing this post to give you some history about the tale behind the song as I have understood it from various sources. I will also explain the lyrics to those who do not speak/understand Punjabi.

Sohni Mahiwaal- the love story

Legend has it that in the 18th century Mughal Empire, Sohni was born to the clan of Kumhars (potters) to a potter named Tulla in Gujrat (a city in present-day Pakistan) across the bank of river Chenab. The “Chanaa” we hear in the song is the Punjabi word for Chenab. Sohni used to decorate the pots made by her father. Some say she would draw hearts on the pots and set them up for sale. The city of Gujrat was on a popular trade route between Delhi (present-day India) and Bukhara (Uzbekistan). Dwellers of Gujrat say that the shop of Tulla Kumhar was near the Ram Pyari Mahal by the River Chenab.

Izzat Baig, a trader from Bukhara made a stopover in Gujrat and was smitten by Sohni’s beauty. Just to meet her everyday, he would visit the shop and buy pottery every day and an innocent romance began. Izzat Baig did not return to Bukhara. Soon his money ran out and he and started working at Sohni’s household. He herded buffaloes and that’s why he came to be known as the Mahiwaal (buffalo herder). Soon enough Sohni’s parents and the people around came to know about the romance and it was unacceptable for the community to marry a girl off to an outsider. Therefore, she was married to another Kumhar from the community. Heartbroken, Mahiwal renounced the world and started living as a faqir (hermit) on the bank of Chenab in a village opposite Sohni’s in-laws.

Each night, Sohni would swim to the other side while floating on an inverted baked clay pot to meet her lover. Sohni’s sister-in-law came to know about her nightly trips and told this her mother-in-law. The women replaced the hard-baked pot with an unbaked one. As Sohni started her journey that night, the pot started dissolving in water and drowned her along. Mahiwal saw this happening from the other side and jumped into the river in an attempt to save Sohni but could not do so and drowned himself.

Some historians are of the view that the setting of this love story was not by the banks of River Chenab but on River Indus instead and Sohni did not belong to the Kumhar tribe but the Jat tribe. Sohni is one of the seven queens of Sind in the great Sufi poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s compilation of works, “Shah Jo Risalo”. The Sindhi tale of Sohni Mehar by Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai is slightly different in details from the Punjabi tale of Sohni-Mahiwal. According to Shah Abdul Latif, Sohni would cross the river each night to meet her Mehar (buffalo herder) named Sahar. She was married to a person named Daam. She used to go meet Sahar on a baked earthenware pot. But one stormy night, the pot broke. Sahar saw this and jumped in to save her but they both drowned together in the Indus River. According to another legend, wedding processions passing through villages in Sind are treated with milk by the villagers. Sohni met with Sahar on such an expedition and they both fell in love. The tomb of Sohni is located has 75 km (47 mi) from Hyderabad, Shahdadpur.

No matter what the version, the tale of Sohni and Mahiwal transcends the social norms. It is also fascinating to note that although Sohni was a married woman in both the versions-yet people have celebrated her love for Mahiwal instead of being the moral police. The folk tale has survived for centuries. Sometimes I feel, those were better times.

Coming back to our Punjabi version of the folktale on which the song Paar Chanaa De is inspied from. I was not able to find the poet of the lyrics but apparently, this folk song has traveled from generation to generation by the word of mouth. In recent times though, Ustad Mattay Khan and his sons Kashif Ali and Zahid Ali have been known sing it at the Sufi Shrine of Syed Chanaha Badshah in Shadiwal, Lahore in qawali style. Noori, the Pakistani rock band definitely gave this song a new life and sang it in collaboration with Shilpa Sethi (an Indian singer). According to Noori, the song was passed on to them by their grandparents.

Now that you know the background, I will move on to the lyrics. (I have not repeated the lyrics sung two or more times in a row)

Sohni speaks to the clay pot (ghara.ghariya)
Paar chanaan de disse kulli yaar di
My beloved’s hut lies across the Chenab (chanaa/channan) river Ghaṛiya ghaṛiya aa ve ghaṛiya
Oh my clay pot, let’s get going

Raat haneri nadi ṭhaaṭhaan maardi
The night is dark and the river is turbulent

Aṛiye aṛiye haan ni aṛiye
Listen, girl (clay-pot)! don’t be stubborn

The clay pot speaks to Sohni:

Kacchi meri miṭṭi kaccha mera naam ni
I am a pot made of unbaked clay, I think I’ll dissolve in the river

Haan main na-kaam ni
I am afraid I will fail and cannot carry you across (the river)

Kacchiyaan da hunda kaccha anjaam ni
The unstable (re:untrustworthy) only meet an unfortunate end

Eh gal ‘aam ni
This is a universal truth

Kacchiyaan te rakkhiye na umeed paar di
Don’t rely on the unsound/untrustworthy to help you reach the shore

(It also means that an untrustworthy friend will never stand up for you in your time of need)

Sohni speaks to the clay pot:
Wekh chhallaan paindiyaan nah chhaḍḍeen dil ve
Look! the waves are splashing high, but don’t lose heart

Ajj maheenwaal noon main jaana mil ve
I must go to meet Mahiwal tonight at any cost

haan lai ke khillh ve
Carry me across the river

Ajj maheenwaal noon main jaana mil ve
I must go to meet Mahiwal tonight at any cost

Haan aiho dil ve
Yes, that’s what my heart insists upon

Yaar noon milegi ajj laash yaar di
Tonight, a lover will be greeted by the corpse of his beloved

Ghaṛiya ghaṛiya aa ve ghaṛiya
Come on, clay-pot, let’s get going

The end
Phaṛ pallaṛa pakke murshad da jehṛa tainoon paar lagaawe
Hold firmly to the Murshid (Sufi guide) who will safely take you ashore

(These lines come as a universal message to folks who feel lost. They should find the truth by following a spiritual master (Murshid) who will help them cross the turbulent sea of life safely across the shore to the life hereafter).

I hope this background will help you understand the song Paar Chanaa De better. If you like it, please comment. I love hearing from you. xoxo

Love and Peace.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sohni_Mahiwal

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/right-across-chenab-river-jawad-syed/

https://medium.com/subcontinental-elixir/paar-chanaa-de-29f360f509a

www.goodtimes.pk/sohni-mahiwal-aka-sohni-mehar/

FazilatAugust 11, 2022August 11, 2022 Uncategorized No Comments

Travelling to Oman As a Solo Female Traveler – 3 tips

I am not a traveler here, I have called this country home since 2012 and I have experienced life here up close and personal. Oman is one of the safest countries in the world for solo female travelers. I am not going to give you a guide based on what I found online or what I experienced on my visit here in a week. I am going to share the insights I have amassed in my 12 years of stay here. More so, I’ll try to write information that you won’t really find on travel blogs. Let’s get started.

Matters of friendliness
Omanis are super friendly and hospitable people. They will offer you inside their homes even if you are passing by. If you are a woman, you will be invited inside the house in the family area (as opposed to men who sit in a guest room situated inside the boundary of a house but usually detached from the main house). If you book a trip with a tour company, you will find the tour guide/drivers are friendly. Don’t be alarmed but don’t be naive either. I have heard firsthand accounts of people whose drivers called/messaged them later and asked them out for dinner or invited them to their houses.
If I were you, and I were in a suburb and I were invited to someone’s home — I’d accept the invitation. In suburbs, everybody knows everybody. If you are entering someone’s home, trust me; the whole neighborhood will know. This makes a visit super safe. Once you are in a local’s house, they go above and beyond to make you feel comfortable and welcomed. Enjoy the Omani hospitality.
In my opinion, accepting a friendly invitation to a meal in a restaurant might be considered as you being “available”. Rest assured, I have never heard/read an instance of a tourist being assaulted.
Good judgement, that’s the key!

Inside a traditional Omani house.
Photo taken at Muscat Festival, Oman

What to wear in Oman?

One thing you will find common in most travel guides to Oman is “Oman is a conservative country. Dress modestly”. IMO, modesty is subjective. Also, it might sound too pedantic but here’s the deal, every decent human being respects the culture and tradition of a country they are visiting. So, here’s the playbook of your Oman wardrobe:

Loose fitting clothes are your safest bet.
You don’t have to wear full sleeves. T shirts are fine. Cover your shoulders if you are wearing sleeveless clothes.
Knee length shorts/skirts/dresses are fine. The longer, the better.
You are not expected to cover your head.
If you are visiting a mosque, it is better to cover your head, wear long pants and full sleeves shirt to show respect to the Islamic culture.
You can’t wear swimwear on public beaches but if you are staying in one of the five stars, you can enjoy the pool or the sea facing property in your bikini.
Pack a scarf or two, some nice skirts, a hoodie/cardigans, denims, loose trousers or two, a sunhat, good quality and high UV sunshades.

Omani girls dressed in traditional Omani clothes.

Photo taken at Muscat Festival, Oman

Travelling Around Oman

Oman does not have a well-established system of public transport. You can download apps like OTaxi and Tasneem to travel within Muscat. They are affordable and safe. Oman does have a bus service called “Mwasalat” which can take you around Muscat and from Muscat to other cities. You can check their schedule on the official website here https://mwasalat.om/home .

If you have an international driver’s license. Driving is your best bet for driving in and around Muscat. You can rent a car from international places such as Thrifty or even local services. A quick Google search will direct you to good options. You can book you car rental in advance and pick it up from the airport when you arrive. Road in Oman are quite safe and modern. Driving around Oman is defensive– a lot of times. Hire a car only if you are a confident driver.

If your car runs into trouble on the road, you never have to worry about it while in Oman. Locals will stop by, ask how they can help and will not abandon you without making sure you are alright – no matter whether you are traveling solo or in a group.

Travelers usually make a day trip to Nizwa from Muscat to see the Nizwa Fort, Bahla Fort and the traditional souq in Nizwa. Here is my post on Nizwa Fort: https://lifeonthemenu.com/nizwa-fort/

Kite flying at Qurum Beach, Muscat, Oman

When to travel to Oman

Oman has the best weather from November to March ranging between 15 and 30 C (59 F to 86 F). Summer time is super hot and the temperature goes up to 48 C (118.6 F).

Have you traveled to Oman or plan to come here? Have any questions, comments, queries or just liked this article? Please leave a comment. I love hearing from you all.

xoxo

Fazilat

FazilatFebruary 16, 2024February 16, 2024 Uncategorized No Comments

Nizwa Fort

A view of the fort mosque from the fort rooftop.

Nizwa is close to my heart because it was one of the first places I visited after moving to Oman. It is considered the spiritual capital of Oman. Nizwa Fort is handsdown the most important attraction of Nizwa. Nizwa, Nizwa fort, Nizwa souq

Location of Nizwa

Nizwa is located around 160 km from Muscat. The drive takes between 1.5 and 2 hours. It is located in Al Dakhiliyah region.

A lil bit of history lesson

Nizwa Fort is located in the old quarters of Nizwa city. This fort was initially built as a castle by Imam Al Sult bin Malik Al Kharusi in the ninth century. Imam Sultan bin Saif Al Yarubi renovated it and built the fort part in the latter half of 17th century in Al Ya’arubi style of Omani architecture. The crowning glory of the fort is a huge tower visible from all over the town area. You can hire a guide but I won’t recommend it. You can do some reading online or get a guide book and explore the fort on your own.
Entrance to the fort used to be free but recently (I am writing this post in April 2019) the Ministry of Tourism has started charging app 13 USD.

Welcome to Nizwa Fort…

You are welcomed by ancient inscriptions on walls as you enter the fort.

There are several exhibits that showcase traditional jewelry, utensils, guns and clothes. Traditional life in Oman is also on display, depicting how people used to live long ago.

Here is a peek inside a typical Omani living room. There are two types of living rooms in Oman. Saala is a family living room central to the house, where the family hasmeals together and chit chats in the evening. Majlis, on the other hand, is the Omani drawing room. Majlises usually have their entrance door in the front courtyard of the house. Guests don’t enter the main house to enter the Majlis.

Floor seating is the norm in traditional Omani houses.

A sneak peek into my favorite room of the house — the kitchen!

Kitchen storage (pretend to ignore the colorful jars. They definitely don’t belong to the past.

Although more of a decoration in modern houses, these storage baskets made up of date palms were used to store dates and honey in the old times.

Traditional Omani clothes and silver jewelry

There are some photos

The castle is interspersed with interesting details. You just have to walk around and discover on your own…

Loook up!!!

…and that’s what you see.

Nizwa souq and goat market

Once you are done, you can go to nearby souq. The souq has souvenir shops in abundance. You can buy silver jewelry, fridge magnets, earthenware pots, and other traditional nick knacks.

If you happen to be there on a Friday, check the goat market out. It’s a mainly men-only area, therefore, it’s a good idea to be “conservatively dressed” ; (although that’ true for all over Oman). I know conservative dressing is pretty subjective; you don’t need to cover your head– just make sure your shoulders and knees are covered, wearing loose clothes is also a safe approach. People are generally polite but if you keep the above points in mind, you’ll avoid undue attention. Omanis are very appreciative of foreigners respecting their cultural norms.

If you come on a Friday, you can also see the goat market. You won’t find women here. Overall, Omanis are familiar with having tourists around, therefore, you will never be harassed here but since this market is local and people are not used to having women roaming around in the goat market; consider not spending hours here no matter how adorable you find the lil Omani goats. Although I’ve never been to the souq I am telling from my experience of living in Oman. I promise to write a post if/when I happen to venture into a souq!

Well then, that’s all folks.

Have you been to Oman/Nizwa? What did you think about it? Drop me a line with your questions, comments, love or hate. xoxox

FazilatFebruary 13, 2019April 21, 2019 travel 1 Comment

Shuwa-Traditional Omani slow cooked meat

If you ever come to Oman, shuwa is one dish you shouldn’t leave without tasting. Omanis usually prepare it on special occasions like Eids and weddings. It’s eaten for lunch in every Omani household on the 3rd day of Eid-al-Adha (animal slaughtering religious festival). It can be prepared with goat, lamb, beef or even camel. Omanis prefer goat or camel during Eid time as these are the animals usually slaughtered here. Read more

FazilatJuly 26, 2018July 27, 2018 food No Comments

Massaman Curry- Thai Muslim Curry

Talk about Thai food and you think Pad Thai, Tom Yum soup or red/yellow/green Thai curry. Massaman Curry, surprisingly, is a much less-talked-about sister of Thai curries. Surprising because this curry has a quite a few feathers in its hat. It was rated the World’s Best Food by CNN Travel in 2011.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/world-best-food-dishes/index.html

Later in 2017, however, it moved to the tenth place through readers’ choice poll. I’m just glad it made it to the Top 10.

http://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/world-best-foods-readers-choice/index.html

I tried this curry for the first time during my trip to Thailand. The hotel I stayed in was a home-run business. The owner of the hotel; Jib, got it especially cooked for me. This gesture really touched me. She knew I am a Muslim and she wanted me to try something that’s believed to have Muslim origins. Above is the only photo, I have of this curry. I had come back after a day-long excursion and was greeted by Jib with this curry waiting for me. I took a quick photo with my cellphone and dug in!

HISTORY

Here’s a small history lesson for you. According to Wikipedia, it was introduced to the court of Ayutthaya in 17th Century by a Persian merchant, Sheikh Ahmed Qomi. Some writers from the mid-19th century called it “Musalman curry”, Musalman being the Urdu/Hindi word for Muslim. Others believe it to be a southern Thai dish from Indian/Malay origins. The Malay word “massam” means “sour”.

No matter how this curry originated, I just like calling it “The curry from heaven.”

Recipe

This curry is very well rounded in flavor and aroma. It’s a delicious fusion of traditional Thai and Indian spices. Although it can be made with chicken, beef, lamb, duck or even tofu (for vegetarians), the most popular kind is with chicken. The main ingredient is Massaman curry paste, a blend of a long list of spices. It has dried and roasted Indian spices not usually used in any other Thai curry. Jib told me the recipe while I was devouring the curry. I searched online and found this recipe that looks like hers.

https://www.templeofthai.com/recipes/massaman_curry.php

If Thailand is on your “Places to see before I die” list, do try Massaman curry while you are there. If you pass by a Thai restaurant or looking for a recipe to try at home, just follow the above link for the recipe! 😉

Here’s to the love for food, Thailand and all things amazing.

Until next time! xoxo

FazilatMay 31, 2018September 6, 2023 eat, food No Comments

Shobe- Traditional Omani food for new moms

Although new moms are encouraged to have healthy postpartum diet, it is a folk knowledge in many cultures that is passed from generation to generation

image from google

The first forty days after giving birth are commonly referred to as “Forty Days” in many Middle Eastern cultures. I was introduced to a traditional Omani food called “Shobe” when I visited a dear friend after she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. The food is basically meant for the new mom but it’s served to the guests too.

The key ingredients are Omani bread. date honey, clarified butter and black pepper.

Omani bread is a pancake made of wheat flour, eggs and a dash of salt.

The bread is mixed vigorously with generous amounts of honey until it looks like this.

It’s served with clarified butter(ghee), saffron and black pepper. You sprinkle it on top according to your taste.

I know it sounds like a super simple recipe but trust me it tastes like heaven. One can see the point of giving it to new moms as it is packed with the natural goodness of eggs, honey, clarified butter and saffron. I am not a new mom but give it to me every day and I’ll happily eat it!

Oh, and by the way, the photo credits of the photo # 2,3 and 4 go to my dear dear new-mommy friend. Here’s a collage she sent me of the process for this amazing traditional recipe.

The text in Arabic roughly translates to “Have a beautiful and nutritious morning filled with honey and shobe”

Hope you enjoyed the recipe for the food I fell in love with after the first bite. More on the love for food and eating.

Love back with comments.

I love you all. xoxo

FazilatMay 23, 2018May 23, 2018 eat, food No Comments

Ode to Oman-Muscat Festival 2015

Oman is a beautiful country with centuries-old culture and tradition. I would call it an undiscovered gym. It is still very much in touch with its traditional. It is very different in that sense from its neighboring country UAE. This post is an ode to Omani culture. Muscat is the capital of Oman. Muscat festival takes place every year in January and lasts for almost a month. It usually takes place at two locations, Al Amerat Park(Muscat) and Naseem Garden(Barka. Al Amerat Park exhibits mostly cultural activities whereas Naseem Gardens has more fun, play, and shopping. I went to Al Amerat Park in January 2015. Muscat Festival at Al Amerat Park and availed my chance of a crash course in Omani culture.

Absolutely love the slogan of Ministry of Tourism: Beauty has an address – Oman

You get a chance to see the cooking process of many traditional dishes including one of the most eaten things in Oman; Omani Halwa. It is a sticky sweet rightly termed as a symbol of Omani hospitality. The basic ingredients are Tapioca starch, sugar, and water. Nuts and condiments like almond, pistachios, sesame seeds, rosewater, cardamom powder etc. are also added. You would usually see families owning Halwa businesses where every family has its own set of the secret ingredients.

Omani Halwa is usually cooked in a large pan in an underground oven

Omani bread is another Omani staple. It’s a very-very thin bread usually broken into pieces and soaked in curry or soup. Here’s a variation cooked with egg and ghee (clarified butter).

You also see artisans at work

Traditional woolen fabric weaving

Basket weaving

And blasts from the past……

Khanjars (Omani daggers) from the past

..and guns!

Omani sailboat on display

Dates, Omani coffee, fire and folktales. A typical scene outside a Bedouin tent

You also walk through an area of the park setup into a real deal traditional village…

You see women doing embroidery

and girls sitting around in colorful traditional clothes chit chatting the time away

…and last but not the least, yours truly inside a traditional tent!

So this is a lil’ tour around Muscat Festival (Al Amerat park). It covers a tiny glimpse of what Oman was and what it is right now. Trust me, this country has much more to it. Keep reading my blog for more info about Oman and what it has to offer.

For any comments and questions, drop me a word!

Ma As Salama (Peace with you)

Lovexx

FazilatMarch 15, 2018May 31, 2018 travel No Comments

Floating Market-Bangkok

“The image of a Thai woman with a straw hat in a traditional sampan (a small wooden boat) loaded with fruit, vegetables or traditional Thai food”; this image pretty much describes “Floating Market/s” in Bangkok. There are several floating markets around Bangkok where Damneon Saduak floating market is the biggest and the most touristy one. It is located around 100 kilometers South of Bangkok. I booked a half-day tour with a local company for 800 Bahts. The tour included pick-up and drop-off. water and a longtail boat ride from a village to the market and a boat ride along the market. They picked me up from my hotel room and we headed off……

The ride from the village to the market is a lot of fun. You see some very pretty stilt houses on the way

Wave a hello to the fellow travelers around

You have two choices once you reach the market. Hire a boat to float around the floating market. You can choose to hire a pedal boat and pedal around or hire a rowboat and be rowed around. I chose the latter option.

The boat will take you around the market, you don’t get out of the boat to shop. Just stop the boat at the shop and shop around.

You want a lot of Thai street food around. Although I love Thai street food; I didn’t try it here try it for obvious reasons.

A busy day at the market.

Yes, traffic blocks do happen!

We were stuck for 15 minutes…

Once the boat trip is over. You can get off and roam around the market set on a platform. You get all the usual souvenirs from bags to sarongs to elephant printed clothes to food here. I won’t recommend buying souvenirs from here. It’s overpriced.

Overall, visiting the market is an experience in its own right. Make sure you come here early(not later than 9:00 am) so that you are done before noon. It tends to get hot and stuffy here. and of course. wear loose, natural fabric clothes.

Hope you enjoyed the trip. 😉 If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments section.

Léaw jer gan(Until we meet again)

FazilatFebruary 24, 2018February 28, 2018 travel No Comments

Salalah Chronicles-I (Taqa and Dhalkut)

Salalah is a beautiful city in the south of Oman. It is located in Dhofar region. The whole region is famous for Frankincense (Arabic: Luban). You find Frankincense everywhere, in hotels, houses, shops and even airports.

This city experiences the natural phenomenon of Khareef between July and September where the yellow-brown landscape changes to lush green. It rains almost every day. It’s misty most of the time and the temperatures drop to as low as 25-degree centigrade. The fact that Khareef happens only in a strip of 100 kilometers of land makes it even more fascinating. People from all over Oman and even neighboring Gulf countries come here during the period. Although I live in Oman, I was not able to visit Salalah during Khareef time. I found this video on youtube to give you an idea of what Khareef looks like.

I visited Salalah in October 2014. I was able to visit quite a few touristy landmarks.

Located 35 kilometers east of Salalah is the historical town of Taqa. Taqa is famous for its hill-top Taqa castle and an idyllic white sand beach.

It was Friday and the castle was closed.

So I just turned around and took this photo of Taqa town and the beach.

A mere “beautiful” can’t do justice to this beach!

..and, some super interesting rock formations.

Another worth mentioning beach is in Dhalkut, located 200 km west of Salalah. The road is long and winding and it rises about 2000 meters into the mountains.

Make sure you start off in the morning. Since you are heading towards the Yemen border, you need to get your documents checked at an army checkpoint so don’t forget to carry your official travel documents and return tickets(if you here on a visit visa). An hour into the drive from Mughsayl, you can stop by at Rakhyut.

There are small roadside restaurants where you can get a quick lunch. One striking thing about the road trip from Salalah city to Dhalkut is that you see camels everywhere.

There is a second army check post an hour from Rakhyut. A fascinating journey along limestone rock formations starts here.

Drive for another hour…and here you are in Dhalkut. It is a long journey but its completely worth it. The beach is beautiful beyond belief. You see lots and lots of crabs around. I mean seriously, you can sit around for hours at a stretch and not get bored.

..and last but not the least; yours truly! 😉

Please drop in two lines or more 😉 if you enjoyed the trip to the two beaches. More highlights from Oman are on their way.

I love you all! xx

FazilatFebruary 22, 2018July 27, 2018 travel 1 Comment

Bangkok-First impressions

If you are reading this post, you are reading my first ever blog post about my first ever solo trip as a traveler. The reason I chose Thailand (after reading a gazillion blog posts, of course) is that it is safe, traveler-friendly and cheap. I arrived in Bangkok on an early August morning. The national airport Suvarnabhumi Airport is a huge, state-of-the-art airport. Immigration was easy although the queues were loooooooong. Here’s a not-so-good click from my taxi.

Suvarnabhumi Airport from my taxi

Morning traffic in Bangkok is crazy. It took me an hour and a half to reach my hotel that was just 34 km away.

The signature neon colored taxis in Bangkok

I slept off half of my first day in Bangkok as I was tired after a more than 10 hours long journey. I strolled around the area in the evening and just absorbed Thailand in. I stayed in the Sathorn area. The pier was at a walking distance so I just walked there after having my first meal in Thailand. Tom Yum soup and Thai green Papaya salad.

Tom Yum soup

Thai green papaya salad

My first stop in Bangkok was the Asiatique-The Riverfront. It’s a night market that opens around 4 pm. I was lucky that my hotel was nearby so I just walked to the pier and took a ferry. You’ll find Asiatique tourist ferries at thet piers too but they are usually very crowded. A good bet is to ride tourist boats (blue flag) for a nominal fair. For more about ferries and boats in Bangkok, Here is a useful link.

Asiatique is a boutique market, It’s not one of those authentic night markets Bangkok is famous for. The warehouses in this market once belonged to East Asiatic freight company. Once you arrive there, you see the iconic ferris wheel that you can ride for 200 bahts. As for a motion-sick person like me, no thanks!

You will find several food options here. You might also strike some good deals here but if you are looking to buy souvenirs, this is not the place. It’s a small fancy market. I enjoyed strolling through it. Here are some clicks from around the market.