Arts @ Hua Tak He
Old Market Community

People who know me know I am horrible at drawing and handicrafts. That’s why I picked up photography which is essentially painting but cheating and more efficient. However I do appreciate and love to engage in doing arts and handicrafts. While in Bangkok, my friend Off, recommended this location, and I headed down. Well, to say that Hua Tak He Old Market is a market is not really accurate. Cause there is nothing really market-ish about it. This place is a community and going there, they make you know that. They welcome you as a community. I would say it is more of a hipster’s wonderland filled with local arts and crafts, old-school toys, coffee (Because you can’t be a hipster without coffee) and amazing people. Previously, this place was sort of neglected, but the locals and the community have put a lot of effort into revitalising this place to attract more people to showcase their community and bring it back to life. Before I narrate my day in text, I would like to say that I visited here on a Thursday, and it is quieter than on the weekends. Pro-tip: to enjoy Thailand is to enjoy it mostly during the weekends as most of the happenings occur then. Still, on a weekday, it has much to offer. Hua Tak He is a place where students and artists head to after school to enjoy doing handicrafts. Hua Tak He is located outside of Bangkok’s city centre, and is 8km away from Suvarnabhumi Airport. So, factor in travel time if you are staying in Bangkok city centre, if you plan to visit here.

I first started my afternoon in Hua Tak He enjoying by the canal side and having a cup of coffee. The best one I had is one by a man who only uses local beans and uses a manual espresso press. Which is a first for me.  The views here is pretty relaxed, which makes the time pass pretty slow for me. 

Hipster Juice

But the views are pretty great and the atmosphere is relaxing. I was not the only person chilling here on a weekday, which is nice and does not make it feel like a ghost town.

After my coffee I took a short walk and spotted a store that is selling a lot of nostalgic toys and vintage (or I assume) items with freaking Thai desserts, a pandan and coconut custard pudding. It’s a very familiar feeling as grew up with a lot of these toys that are sold in the store, like pop pop, pasar malam plastic toys and wafer biscuits. 

Convenience storefront
Pasar Malam toys
Pasar Malam toys
Pop Pop
Pasar Malam toys

Wafer biscuits very similar to those from what I grew up with from Malaysia.

Pandan custard dessert

The pandan custard also feels familiar as it’s something that really connects SG-MY-Thai culture. We do share that cultural similarity and even though, the products are in Thai, the familiarity brings me back to my younger days. 

I then walked and saw the handicrafts this place offers, and a picture frame workshop is in show. I appreciated the frames and the pictures in the frame on display. I continued walking and chanced upon a stall that is displaying a lot of beautiful paintings. Really beautiful paintings, a number of which are painted by the customers of the stall. 

I then realised I could actually paint my own painting by 2 students, and of course, I started painting my own painting. I took up paint and happily enjoyed creating an art piece about global warming. I had a delightful time as I actually enjoy doodling even though I am bad at it. 

Final Artpiece

Probably 1 hour later, I finished my masterpiece the House’s Despair. Which is gonna be on sale for $150,000 SGD or higher. Proceeds will fund Depths Magazine and a portion of it will be donated to charity. I take my leave after my painting is dried by the store owner. 

I then continue walking, and really this place is a hipster wonderland. I chanced upon a mini plant stall, old school-looking clothing back from the 80s. Mini-houses and tiny art pieces for souvenirs. I also met a very friendly old lady running a vintage bookstore, filled with old Thai magazines and other books from many years back. 

I soon wandered into a small alley with graffiti and I spotted a small workshop called the Centre of Lifelong Learning I met Mr handsome (Google translate gave me this), who is making small traditional boat models in his workshop.

He gave me a quick tour of his workshop and showed me the many traditional Thai handicrafts from his boat, to a handmade kite. He has been here for generations and is passing off these handicrafts to the next generation. He holds arts battle at his workshop everyday from 6-8pm according to the wall outside his workshop.  So, I casually asked if he holds any classes for tourists, and he gave me an impromptu class for 200 baht. Despite us having a huge language barrier. 

Final Product

After the class, I bid farewell to this awesome teacher who despite having a language barrier still managed to teach me how to make this awesome boat.  With my 2 new art crafts in hand, I headed back in a grab back to my hostel in Bangkok city. 

Final Product

Hua Tak He Community is an amazing place overall. They have the word community in the name and they promote this place as a community. I certainly see why they do so, as visiting Hua Tak He community is not about visiting a place but a community. It will be a huge disrespect if I leave the community out of the name. The people here turned this neglected place into a thriving arts community showcasing all of the work from locals by locals. So I highly recommend you head down and support their efforts to make it a thriving place.