Pattani: A town of bazaars
Most people outside may know Pattani as one of the three violence-prone southernmost provinces. That is just one negative aspect of the province.
But there are positive aspects about the province which barely capture the headlines of the national media, particularly the aspect that Pattani is also known as a bustling haven of shopping or a town of bazaars.
Besides the fresh markets and department stores which opens daily for business, one or more bazaars or flea markets are held somewhere at different corners of the town almost every day.
For instance, the Jabangtikor or Jabang flea market is open on Monday and Thursday on Suwanmongkol road in downtown from 9 am to noon. But on Friday through Sunday, the market opens up to 9 pm at night.
On Wednesday from 3 pm until 8 pm, the open space in front of Bana Tambon Administration Organisation is transformed into a flea market for garments, especially used imported clothings.
On Monday and Thursday, the spacious ground behind Prince of Songkhla University’s Pattani campus is turned into a flea market from 3 pm to about 8 pm. The Rusameelae flea market opens every Sunday in front of the university from 9 am until noon whereas the Charoenpradit flea market which is located near the campus is wellknown for second-hand goods, Bencharong ceramics and toys.
On April 3, a new flea market known as the Floating Bazaae Tani was officially opened by Pattani governor Veerapong Kaewsuwan and Mrs Kittima Nuanthawee, deputy secretary-general of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre.
The new flea market or floating bazaar is located beside Saksenee bridge. It is divided into four zones: the workshop zone which serves as an exhibition and distribution area for local products such as ceramic wares; the art street zone which showcases the works of young artists; the bazaar zone which features stalls selling various goods and foods; and the floating market zone which features about 30 boats selling a great variety of products.
The next floating bazaar will be open at the same spot in early May.
Mrs Wanna Arleetrakul, public relations manager of CS Pattani Hotel, said she would like the floating bazaar to become a landmark of Pattani.