Where to buy those long round metal boxes bus conductors carry?

Another spot worth checking is the area around Saphan Taksin BTS, specifically the pier side where the bus routes terminate. There's a small shop on Charoen Krung Road near Soi 72 that stocks uniform accessories and gear for transit workers, and I've seen those metal boxes sitting in their window display. It's tucked between a fabric stall and a noodle shop, so you might walk past it at first.

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honestly your best bet is the old hardware shops around talat phlu or khlong toei market. there's a street near talat phlu BTS with a bunch of metalware shops that sell them to conductors directly. i've seen stacks of them at a place on soi phuttha osot, around 200-300 baht depending on size. bring a photo on your phone, that'll work better than trying to explain in Thai

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yeah those are called "kradat tang" or ticket boxes. there's a shop on the corner of charoen krung & mangkon road in yaowarat that supplies all the uniform stuff for the bmt and private bus companies. they'll have them for like 180-250 baht. the owner speaks some english too since they deal with tourists buying souvenir ones sometimes

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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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