Chaos in Petchakasem

Post by **Guess** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:48 pm

Finally after six years of talking and promises the Testabahn have started work today. Ptchkasem Road is close to through traffic from Satakurn Square to past Chom Sin Road.

Traffic is being diverted via the railway road and the klong road.

Of course everybody must be already aware that this was going to happen today because of the plethora of advance warning notices displayed around the town and all the full page ads in the local papers.

Best bet is to allow one more hour for your journey.

Post by **Farang** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 5:19 pm

,
So very clever to do this during the height of the season.
,

Post by **lomuamart** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 5:58 pm

What are they doing?

Post by **buksida** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 8:05 pm

Apparently they're doing something on that footbridge, either knocking it down or re-building it.

Drove through town today, it took around 45 minutes to cover 2km. Wait till half of Bangkok arrives at the weekend, then it'll be fun!

Post by **Guess** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:45 am

No it is more than that. They are completely renovating the market or at least that is what I presume as they have been stating that in the local Thai press for a while (without giving exact dates of course).

Why they need to close of the road is a mystery. When I was there early this morning, which most of you actually call early evening, there was a large demolition truck complete with gigantic shovel spanning the entire six lanes. They had already lifted out ten ton blocks of rubble. That in itself is a good reason to close the road. Hopefully that is just a tempory thing and the road will be opened soon.

I walked into the market and the whole central area and frontage has been vacated. There are some stalls still open at the rear (Sra Song Road side) but unless you want vegetables or dried fish then you are f***ed.

There was a rumour floating about, about six months ago that the stalls were going to get pitches somewhere up in Tawon Haa. I have noticed that some permanent (or semi) stalls have already been established in the old open market area in Tawon Haa. But I can only speculate.

Getting accurate and relevant facts in this town is like trying to stuff half a kilo of butter up a porcupines butt with a red hot needle.

BTW Tawon Haa is the area about one to two kilometres up the Pala-U road.

No spelling corrections please I have just taken an advanced course on global pheonetics and Indo-European Thai Kadai transliteration.

Post by **Dougal** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 7:20 am

I can recall reading about a year ago that the renovation of the market was planned which included the removal of the bridge.

The market area was to be preserved as the building itself was part of a conservation area or whatever the Thai equivalent is.

Not before time, it was always a dark and unhygenic place to go into.

Post by **caller** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 7:59 am

I claim to be the only person in living mrmory that has walked over that bridge!

What chance do you give the work being finished by April?

And I liked the old market!

Post by **troopie** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 9:59 am

caller wrote:I claim to be the only person in living mrmory that has walked over that bridge!!

I also once foolishly thought that bridge was for pedestrians, so I have also walked across -- albeit, I had to do a Groucho impression to get under all the cables & shit that fill it up! If they don't replace it, only the billboards will miss it!

Post by **lomuamart** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 10:07 am

I walked it once myself. Think it was Songkran a few years ago and the old bill were getting very agitated at people walking over the main road to and from the night market. Everyong was being sheparded to the walkover.
The old market's coming back, I believe. The work's just for renovation. My normal meat and veg stalls have temporarily moved to the other side of Sra Song road. Reckon most, if not all, have.

Post by **Dougal** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 12:29 am

My recollection was that the bridge removal is permanent but of course my memory could be wrong or plans could change. The mention of the cables makes me think that I too have done the limbo. I might even have some pictures somewhere - Songkhran 2004.

Post by **Guess** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 4:04 am

The market frontage (which is the protected bit I have been told by the locals) is actually in Sra Song Road. That appears to have been left alone so far although I believe that some renovation is planned. If you go into the Kodak store just south of the night market road on the west side of Petchkasem they have a good old photo of the market (dating from just before the second world war I think).

I too liked the market as it was. It is one of the best town market that I have been to anywhere in Thailand. Hopefully they are just renovating it and giving it better rain cover.

Although is does not make sense to do this in the high season it makes very7 good sense to to it dry the dry season. Unfortunately these two season coincide.

Post by **Dougal** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 6:21 am

Guess wrote: I too liked the market as it was. It is one of the best town market that I have been to anywhere in Thailand.

I am genuinely baffled by your comment, I thought it was a hell hole; so dark and filthy. Have you been in Pranburi market?

Post by **Norseman** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 9:05 am

Dougal wrote:My recollection was that the bridge removal is permanent but of course my memory could be wrong or plans could change.

Nothing wrong with your brain Dougal. You are right.
The bridge is history now and will not come back.
The authorities is trying to make the town look more beautiful.

Post by **caller** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:00 am

Dougal wrote:
Guess wrote: I too liked the market as it was. It is one of the best town market that I have been to anywhere in Thailand.
I am genuinely baffled by your comment, I thought it was a hell hole; so dark and filthy. Have you been in Pranburi market?

I've always preferred places where you can see what you get, rather than just what they want you to see.

To me, albeit as a tourist, seeing the reality of life is one of the attractions of being there. The sights, sounds, smells. I thought it had real atmosphere and importantly, whatever I bought, or rather, more latterly, the (Thai) g/f, it was always good value, certainly fresh and I never suffered any after affects.

Its different (to the UK) and all the better for it!!!

Post by **Guess** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 5:33 am

Dougal wrote:
Guess wrote: I too liked the market as it was. It is one of the best town market that I have been to anywhere in Thailand.
I am genuinely baffled by your comment, I thought it was a hell hole; so dark and filthy. Have you been in Pranburi market?

You should not be baffled Dougal. Some visitors to Thailand like Pattaya, others like Chiang Mai, some even like Bangkok.

Some people like to listen to Beethoven, others like to listen to the Cult, others like Rap and some like Heavy Metal.

Yes I have been to Pran Buri market (and about another hundred markets all over Thailand) and will not willingly return. That is maybe because it means me getting into my truck and driving there.

It is all a matter of taste. Imagine how boring this planet would be if everbody had the same taste. But anyway you have got my thought buds working now.

That could be dangerous.

Watch this space.

Hua Hin Forum

Chaos in Petchakasem

Chaos in Petchakasem

Doing the 'Groucho'!