Makro … or, the Ups and Downs of a Motorbike

Makro is a “cash and carry” warehouse store in Thailand – just think Costco or Sam’s Club.  I don’t know exactly what “cash and carry” is supposed to mean… oh well.  At any rate, you buy things in bulk and they don’t put your merchandise in bags.  Sound familiar?  I know they have a member card, which I’m not sure you have to pay for, but I always tell them I don’t have one and I pay the same price as everyone else.

Makro and I … hm.  This is where the motorbike comes in.  Of all the large stores in Chiang Mai, Makro has the smallest motorbike parking, and for good reason.  I am getting pretty skilled at loading up my motorbike, and I’m amazed at the things Thais are able to stack on and around their bikes.  But really, there’s only so much bulk you can put on a motorbike and drive safely.

The downside of having a motorbike rather than a car is that I can’t go buy things easily at Makro.  A few small things, yes.  They have the cheapest prices in town for frozen berries.  And I’ve learned to take my own bags for those small things.  But big things, I’m out of luck.

The upside of having a motorbike rather than a car is that I can’t go buy things easily at Makro.  I’m pretty sure that if I did have a car, I’d go stock up on anything and everything, spend my entire paycheck in one blow, and then come home and have nowhere to put the dish soap, razors, toothpaste, toilet paper, copy paper, binders, …. that would last me the remainder of my term and longer.

Here are two of the Thai bulk goodies you can buy at Makro.

PINK EGGS.  I haven’t been brave enough to try these yet. Maybe I will someday.  These are sold in markets and grocery stores too, just not in huge flats like this.  My mom wanted to send me some egg dying kits for easter, and I told her not to bother, because all the eggs are brown… except the pink ones.  Those are Eastery already.

This one speaks for itself.

But in case you wanted more…

These ones escaped from their bag.

Oh Makro.