Nathon Walking Street market

Posted by Full mooner on November 18th, 2011 filed in shopping

Every Saturday from late afternoon through until nearly midnight a street in the Samui town of Nathon is turned into a pedestrian precinct and market vendors galore set up shop selling everything from the ubiquitous Thai snack of grilled or fried meatballs through to antique lamps and furniture.

Although street markets are not new to Thailand, the walking street concept is. Walking street is a translation of the Thai phrase tanon khon durn, and it is a throwback to a traditional Thai bazaar with products on sale produced exactly as they were two centuries ago, albeit with ornamentation added for today’s mass consumer markets.

Hand crafted soaps and candles, antiques, orchids in flower-pots made out of coconut husks, colourful beachwear, traditional Thai clothing and sarongs, and lamps can all usually be found on Nathon Walking Street. Kanom buang yuan spring rolls and other tasty snacks, fresh coconut milk and freshly squeezed orange juice are among offerings designed to tempt browsers wandering around the market stalls.

Nathon Walking Street can be located by following groups of people heading there from either the sea front or market roads. The market does not really get going until after the sun has set.