Flower market gets a fresh start

The newly-opened Flower Market Thailand in Thon Buri has opened but it still is far from being a replacement for Pak Klong Talad, Bangkok's iconic flower market

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This is a long excerpt from a story in today's Lifestyle section. You can read the full story here: http://www.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/social-and-lifestyle/1293467/uprooted

Uprooted

Ariane Kupferman-Sutthavong

Pak Klong Talad, Bangkok's iconic flower market, is getting a fresh start in a new location, after vendors were swept off the old-town pavements last year.

"Situated only 7km from the old market site," boasts the campaign to promote the new Flower Market Thailand, a 50 rai covered marketplace on Charansanitwong-Kanchanapisek Road, on the Thon Buri side of the river.

This privately-owned facility opened its first phase to flower vendors and to the public in early June, setting itself as an alternative – and, in time, a replacement? – to the original Pak Klong Talad.

Pak Klong Talad, the primary flower market in Thailand – and the fourth-largest in the world – had long-been an economic platform selling all kinds of agricultural products, as well as a tourist attraction.

It is still featured on the Tourism Authority of Thailand's website, despite having been disbanded by city officials last year, as part of their "Clean-Up Campaign" efforts to reclaim the pavement.

Nearly 1,500 licensed and unlicensed vendors were forced to move out as a result, making way for pedestrians and clearing congestion on the road.

"Our sales have dropped very low since we had to relocate inside a nearby market, to a smaller stall," says Sookjai, a fruit vendor who just recently decided to move to the new Thon Buri flower market. Before coming to her decision, she had set up a temporary shop in one of the three markets – one state-owned, the other two private – City Hall has provided vendors as relocation choices.

"We were tucked away, hidden in a dark corner of the market and had leftover produce every day," Sookjai says. "It was impossible to make an income. I've come here to start anew," she adds, hopeful.

The new flower market is indeed extensive, bright and airy. But a mere few days after opening last month, it was still deserted for the most part.

Sookjai admits she hasn't closed her shop in the old-town market yet, as she waits to see where business will be most favourable.

The marketplace can accommodate 3,000 stalls. Nearly half have already been filled in the past month, according to Bangkok Metropolitan Administration governor Aswin Kwanmuang's website.

Rental fees in the new market – starting at 100 baht per stall per day – are much cheaper than in other old town sites, several vendors argued.

The new site also has air-conditioned rooms to keep flowers fresh, as well as a large parking area and public toilets. Further construction works for a second phase are still being carried out.

The marigold – or dao rueng – flowers that filled Pak Klong Talad can also be found at the new site.

Kanokwan Chitkron, a flower seller, booked her stalls at the market as soon as she heard about the facility being built.

"It's much more comfortable and convenient. We're not blocking the traffic, and some customers who aren't living in the inner city are quite happy, as they don't have to drive through narrow roads and congestion to reach us," she says.

However, with most vendors still afraid to make the move, the old market sites remain better-stocked and provide a wider choice of products.

"For the moment, most customers keep heading to the original site, because they can get all their products in one go," she says. "That will take time to change, because people are still attached to Pak Klong Talad."

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