0 THAILAND: GUIDE TO ASIATIQUE THE RIVERFRONT

Welcome to Asiatique the Riverfront.

If you are looking for an alternative shopping spree when visiting Thailand, then I would recommend Asiatique. The Riverfront is the newest development hub in Chao Phraya waterfront; it has shopping bazaar, dining, entertainment, and sight-seeing at the river view place.  Asiatique used to be a gateway for export of Thai Teak to Denmark, built during the 1900s as one of the original portal of the Kingdom of Thailand. And now this place houses over 1,500 shopping boutiques that sell variety of clothes, souvenir items, toys, bags, and many more. It has also numerous food stalls that offer an authentic Thai cuisine, cafe and restaurant. There’s also the Mekhong Ferris Wheel that will give you a breathtaking view of the water city.

HOW TO GET HERE:

There’s a lot of ways getting to the Riverfront and the easiest route is via the BTS Skytrain. Take BTS then alight at Saphan Taksin Station, walk towards the river going to Sathorn Pier, the pier has three platforms just turn left so you will see the Asiatique logo in pink. From there just follow the way to Asiatique boat service where you can ride the shuttle for free. I would recommend to visit this place before 4PM to avoid long queue. Asiatique Riverfront opens from 4PM – 11:30PM. Boat shuttle service runs every 15 minutes and the last departure time from Sathorn pier is 11:15PM.

This will lead you to Asiatique boat service.

Asiatique Boat Service, you can ride here for free.

After 10 minutes boat ride, we finally arrived at the Mekhong Asiatique pier. The place is more of converted pier with a good fascination of modern accent. This makes the Asiatique diverse to other tourist destinations, mixed of modern eon in one of the region’s oldest place. An abandoned export hub converted into restaurant and shopping arcades.

Upon stepping off the boat, Asiatique welcome us with an ambiance from the 1900s. The architecture feels like nostalgia back in the days. Perfect opportunity for photographers - there were tram car, anchor and push cart that is being used back in time. It is a spacious, clean, and well planned. Though there are parts of under construction but already enough to cap off the entire day.

Welcome to Asiatique, the Riverfront!

Antique ship part being displayed at the center of the arcade.

Photo opportunity upon arrival.

Yours truly, I deserve the photo in front of the newest shopping hub.

The place is divided in different sections and warehouses. Warehouse 1 – 4 (orange section) is where the main shopping located. Warehouse 5 – 6 (green section) is combination of food stalls and retail outlets. And warehouse 7 – 10 (orange section) is where the food and beverage situated near the riverside.

Always check these signs so you won't get lost.

I think we were the first batch to arrive on that day so there were only few people walking around. So I have the best time to take photos, I got no hindrance taking beautiful shots. We walked around and the arcade leads us to this little park right in the middle of Asiatique.

JULIET LOVE GARDEN IN ASIATIQUE

This is familiar to me since I already watched “Letters to Juliet” but I didn’t expect that Asiatique has its version of the love garden. I was wondering who the woman was, a bronze statue till I came closer. The moment I saw the locks I think I knew it already, replica of Juliet. Verona’s Juliet is now at Asiatique. This famous bronze statue is iconic because it is believe that when you rub her right breast then you will be bestowing luck-in-love.

Now for the couple who visited the place, you can write your names to lock your everlasting love and become part of the legend. Lock it on the fence with your names and throw the keys on the fountain. It will always be there whenever you revisit the place just make sure where you locked it.

The Romantic Garden of Juliet. A garden filled with love.

The garden is covered with heart-shape locks, very romantic and now many couples have been part of the legend.

This is Juliet. A woman that will surely give you the luck of love.

After photo ops, we decided to eat first before going around the place. We just came from Wat Pho temple located on the other end so we were really hungry. There were plenty of choices and we don’t know where to dine. There were varieties of Asian and Italian cuisine but all we want is an authentic Thai cuisine. I ordered chicken noodle, it has a different taste that is not forge from the common chicken noodles, it’s spicy and it’s really their flavor. I also ordered siomai, I dunno how they call it in Thai, I didn’t like the taste but when mix it with condiments then it savor my tongue.

We also ordered Chang, Thai’s very own beer so I can square how the taste compared to our San Miguel. The taste is good like ours, for as long as it’s very cold because sometimes it taste like bitter so I asked some ice.

Thailand's Chang beer.

Hot chicken noodle! It's spiciness makes me satisfied. 

We stayed for like almost an hour; we were really worn-out walking around the temple earlier in Wat Pho. Glad that they have wifi, perfect opportunity to update photos on facebook. Unfortunately we cannot use our internet phone to avoid high rocketing phone bills by using high volume of bandwidth so we all rely on wireless connection.  Good thing Thailand has it, wireless connectivity elsewhere.

After comfy rest, it’s about time to explore the whole place. I’m not sure if my travel buddies have plans to buy something like clothes or souvenir items but me; no all I want is to take picture of this place. Not interested of buying anything. This place is one stop shop, multiples services are offered, all visitors can get all they need. When we arrived at the clothing section, there was a stall offered a very good price, but you need to buy three. Since we are three, I got no choice but to take money out on my pocket. Well I like the texture, I like the designs but then again the price is not affordable compared to Chatuchak.

Two thumbs up for Asiatique.

Introducing the frustrated singers, the newest band in town. Yikes!

One of the highlights when visiting Asiatique is the Mekhong Ferris Wheel standing 60 meters with 42 gondolas. It’s fun for the whole family with an amazing view on top of Bangkok’s skyline. It is now considered as Thailand’s landmark.

Ticket Prices:

Adult - 250Baht

Child - under 120cm is 150Baht

Senior Ticket - 60 years old and up is 150Baht

Disabled - 100Baht

Private Gondola - for 2 persons is 1,000Baht, for 2-3 persons is 1,500Baht, and 4-5 persons is 2,000Baht

Whatever I say here, we never tried riding the wheels. Ahm, maybe because we are on budget traveling and 250Baht is already enough to buy us new shirt or perhaps up to three shirts. But if you have the luxury then I recommend riding it, you’ll surely have a picturesque view of Chao Phraya River and the towering skyscrapers.

Mekhong Ferris Wheel, now called as Asiatique Eye.

Asiatique Eye on the other side.

Asiatique eye in full vertical view.

After the walking, sightseeing all the display at fashion warehouse, we sensed of starve again so we drop by at this Love Milk. There were numbers of customers eating on this stall so out of curiosity we decided to have some. The taste is really good. Simple tasty bread was grilled and then coated with their secret milk and chocolate for only 40Baht. Their cold drink as well for 40Baht has a different taste, like Yakult and I love it.

Grilled bread before coated with milk and chocolate.

They're all busy serving the order.

We were waiting for the sunset so we can check and witness how the place looks like in the evening. And it never failed me. It's panoramic especially the riverside area. Here are some photos of Asiatique The Riverfront. 

There's a huge space at the riverside for bikers, joggers, and for your kids to play.

Don't forget as well to have the photo opportunity. Even locals enjoy the place.

Of course. So I have the picture to reminisce that I was once here.

Bronze Statue showing how this place started. 

First time doing this, and it is a rare opportunity. Everyone on the background is all doing the same.

Asiatique The Riverfront by night.

The Mekhong Ferris Wheel, now called the Asiatique Eye by night.

Asiatique would be a perfect escapade and I would recommend adding it on your itinerary when visiting Thailand. After spending almost three hours, the place has a quaint view of Chao Phraya at the riverside. If you are into shopping, its one stop shop, though the price is a little higher but haggle is always present. Just learn how to bargain. The selection of shops is interesting, there are unusual brands, local brands that shows the creativity, its locally made and even puppets, it just show the creativity of Thai people. This destination is different from any other shopping and dining experience in the region. It’s very unique and away from cityscape. Asiatique is worth dedicating your time when visiting the country.

WHERE IS ASIATIQUE:

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