What are you guys doing during daytime in this hot weather?

I've been doing the canal boat thing on weekends. Grab a cold drink from 7-Eleven, hop on a khlong boat at Pratunam, and just ride it to the end and back. It's like 15 baht per ride, the breeze off the water keeps you cool, and you see the backstreets of Bangkok that you'd never notice from a taxi or BTS. The stretch past Wat Saket in the morning is pretty nice, lots of old wooden houses hanging over the water.

For something social, check out the weekend afternoon cooking classes. Baipai is near Mo Chit and runs a 1pm session, about 1000 baht for three hours. You learn to make actual Thai dishes, not the touristy pad thai, and their kitchen has solid AC. The heat actually helps because you're not rushing to get home.

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fwiw the weekend craft markets at chatuchak are actually fine if you stick to the indoor sections. the newer zones like the green market area have high ceilings and some ac, plus all the little plant shops have misting fans running. just avoid the main outdoor clothing aisles between 12 and 3, that's when it's really brutal

there's also a late morning muay thai show at the old lumpinee stadium on saturdays, starts at 11am and tickets are like 200 baht for the cheap seats. the ac in there is old and weak but the energy from the crowd and the ring lights make up for it. grab a seat near the back where the fans are

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the weekend flower market at pak khlong talat is surprisingly doable in the heat if u go before 11am. it's open air but the stalls are under covered walkways and the mist from all the flower spraying keeps things tolerable. you can walk through the whole market in about 45 minutes picking up orchids or marigolds for like 50 baht a bundle, the smell alone is worth it. grab a fresh sugarcane juice from the cart at the entrance before u leave

if ur near silom area the bangkokian museum is a hidden little house museum that barely anyone goes to. it's free and the old guy running it will give you a personal tour through this restored 1930s shophouse with all these random artifacts like vintage soda bottles and old thai movie posters. the ac in there is just one unit in the main room but it's enough to sit and chat with him for a while about old bangkok

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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