Hello friends! Welcome to my second post of the series **Living in Thailand**, enjoy!

The abandoned Castle Mall

![IMG_0428.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmfUbGzZHXHeSMh1WhHfLej2QxmhghXT6F63EVLz14jWrJ/IMG_0428.JPG)

My boyfriend and I needed a new asset for our house. We wanted to buy a table that is nice to sit on and lasts long. As we both love wooden furtniture, some Thai friends recommended us to go and take a look at a hardwood shop. We had no idea where the shop was, only that it was underneath a castle near the highroad driving to the west part of town. It seemed weird to me people were talking about a castle. What kind of castle? Don't you mean a temple? As we drove with some hesitation if we were going the right way, I saw some large round towers pointing out of the trees. *That should be it!* We took a little street to the left and slowly began to get a sight of the whole structure. It is huge! It was actually really difficult for me to photograph the whole front side. ![IMG_0537.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTRLznZPLJ2UQwVea1oKRkLc47jTRfruMmMcDAsqNrKqG/IMG_0537.JPG) So we walked towards the big tower in the middle, that was supposed to be the main entrance. I thought it looked a bit scary. ![image-2017-07-31 (1).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmQzk6KG6SeJ12riY7UWnRM6cevpAf8f5JwCNaZGp8oDQy/image-2017-07-31%20(1).jpg) The broken windows next to entrance were impressive to look at. It's just something about broken windows which makes me immediately think about a lost place. ![IMG_0435[1].JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmRz2Ypv82BcyGCEREuw5VpK3vxV7Qdi8CQjtHrrAWJCfp/IMG_0435%5B1%5D.JPG) Once we had walked through the entrance, I was overwhelmed by the moldy smell in the open space. ![IMG_0436.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVir4DeFSycDoiPzS8AuojrwdeNzd6eY9fSicAijikbY6/IMG_0436.JPG) People had seriously been busy with breaking the place down. I guess they were looking for copper(that's what they usually do right?) and other things to use. ![image-2017-07-31 (2).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmcBRLgQ8T3wtzuPzvy8UwmbVcW5zt3n4AoSazFnf5Q3tQ/image-2017-07-31%20(2).jpg) In another part of the building, there were these pineapple-ish looking pillars quite intact. I found the contrast between all the filthy dirt and the colorful pillars really strange and laughable. ![IMG_0446[1].JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmSuzwsaSrkX1YvVKunKiZ4LUwSisQZpbno6XUBKwpmFwa/IMG_0446%5B1%5D.JPG) As we continued to discover the building and search for the shop, I looked down the window. And yes, there it was! Downstairs, somewhere on the first floor. I couldn't believe there was an actual hardwood shop underneath all this mess. A beautiful mess though! ![IMG_0449[1].JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbu38CKSCLX5E8JqSR6nB6PkpC2YvDs9rLKCE6LWofqiM/IMG_0449%5B1%5D.JPG) But before searching for the entrance to the shop, we had to see more of the abandoned place We finally began to understand this place has been used for an gigantic shopping mall, by seeing more and more traits of stores like this supermarket, ![IMG_0459[1].JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmYDR6YQLqcJEU3SbSGg2vxtjN4yAByybhJfv1ojwzawrs/IMG_0459%5B1%5D.JPG) the escalator, ![image-2017-07-31 (3).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWwQsumaD74Gcn7gekYuns8hWb97XZiix5TQnkwYbg5yg/image-2017-07-31%20(3).jpg) the directory sign ![IMG_0482[1].JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmb8jq5NToWJJc3jV1kiCuC6kF1abfqYEx2qEc4ZgTsWfS/IMG_0482%5B1%5D.JPG) and the doors with the *castle mall* text on it. ![IMG_0484[1].JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbWG5c8wXePseAGwbd13X5YKKg9dxiYvAqkAyzwBGQcVE/IMG_0484%5B1%5D.JPG) As you can see on the directory sign, walking left brings you to *play land*. We went to take a look. *Play land* was full of colorfull artwork on the walls featuring space, astronauts and rockets. ![IMG_04692_351.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmSP3BgDzdpHxiJAfEESUKotFjk6iYWeQB8GFsG7YQp9qg/IMG_04692_351.jpg) Someone also included the lower body parts of a dummy in the room. It was slighly nightmarish to see it standing there. ![image-2017-07-31 (4).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmasuvEHNsJgkRAfxC7fkTuitFgYJjCvDFXHro95ukRM2j/image-2017-07-31%20(4).jpg) Luckely, the beautiful view next to it made it a lot better. One of the best characteristics of the town! ![IMG_0475[1].JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWPZdGvBYat3THGGdspeGyEQihpXwdYFWryTi7oFiyB4g/IMG_0475%5B1%5D.JPG) We clearly couldn't find any way to go downstairs to reach the hardwood shop, so we headed to the other side, *The shopping mall*. The first thing I noticed was all the glass on the ground, which was kind of dangerous for my feet. I do not know why, but I made the choice to wear flip flops to this place. ![image-2017-07-31 (5).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWJWZSE6bUzXeSfK7DxzhXuEVpjs8SSSpVwVxZDHqxRiP/image-2017-07-31%20(5).jpg) I think some people might sleep or even live in the building, as we see plates and tabacco all over the place. ![IMG_0503[1].JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmaAWdr6xn5enVJ37xreZkjECM2gFSv6sSpUNmX93VzVd8/IMG_0503%5B1%5D.JPG) ![IMG_0515[1].JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmasaNAccifXKGV7U8NcEPePgmU9bfgjRguKLMS4n8geYi/IMG_0515%5B1%5D.JPG) The shopping mall part was just a complete messy maze with a very dusty atmosphere. ![image-2017-07-31 (6).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmUC7ei9ihm9TTZrsWWmeSXB1Wf7scBV5GjgCZFCiU5LqL/image-2017-07-31%20(6).jpg) ![image-2017-07-31 (7).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbunTP4a7GJCi4MPLciMAxzKtRCWPM2z4rYfFzT6srvzu/image-2017-07-31%20(7).jpg) ![IMG_0513[1].JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbApNnZz56xAekCZqacBARVN1ivcwm7wmmFoheDbWEzrC/IMG_0513%5B1%5D.JPG) ![image-2017-07-31 (8).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQma6G4WNt5kG4gU7fBY9528sWyQJKjKmzhJjzNj2KAHA96/image-2017-07-31%20(8).jpg) Finally, we had found the other entrance to the firts floor. There wasn't any stairway to go down, so we had to jump. ![IMG_0519[1].JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmNQik4fu3BvU4cx3Hkw8aitk5CMwpoWLfmnJRa9oscPKs/IMG_0519%5B1%5D.JPG) Another little abandoned castle stood next to it. You can't see it but inside there was a Thai girl standing with a needle in her hand. We were in shock intil we saw she was a model standing in front of the camera :-) ![IMG_0522[1].JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmXybqk9vHszZxDvgWLhsTsA8ynYxqYNDQgebRp2vEUSSo/IMG_0522%5B1%5D.JPG) When we turned around, we could see all the wooden furniture. Finally we could go shopping! That's why we came here in the first place.

The illigal hardwood shop

![image-2017-07-31 (9).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmd21in4vXKsBL81jCE9ikB6KFHz5261LNrNGuwJJ3n2CL/image-2017-07-31%20(9).jpg) We were not even inside and already astounded by these massive wooden chairs. The wood had the most beautiful color and was perfectly polished! ![image-2017-07-31 (10).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmYHD9zxcRkKBqCY4yFQGZfCk6kuQLogf2bYFNBP3MWf3n/image-2017-07-31%20(10).jpg) ![IMG_0533[1].JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmQ5H2Xg2eyRs9QbiaAepKTYH3oquqvvne1W4TKAkr6ckv/IMG_0533%5B1%5D.JPG) ![image-2017-07-31 (11).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmRPCDdw4xXRjrSbeJztkjYYiiYTHPveai3ZkASNzyv9Kp/image-2017-07-31%20(11).jpg) When we went inside I could smell the wax they polish the wood with to keep it protected. All around me was wood. From artwork with the most refined details to big furniture in all forms. ![IMG_0542.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWuk5E5Qfa7ASh1U7YBjkXUmSS95fJdW2j5kRQXti7jVX/IMG_0542.JPG) ![image-2017-07-31 (15).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbVLRDkXbXisZth2C1xzECzouYUs5rmjjSgGy4JAtNwXc/image-2017-07-31%20(15).jpg) ![image-2017-07-31 (17).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmUWBKU5XG9EtguWvtk7gJnQ96zCtWkFHWRU7nS83iHwg2/image-2017-07-31%20(17).jpg) ![image-2017-07-31 (12).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmRW1vtV3BT8YGiW7T5g7TVWqPkJW1M3Ktxcj6ttCF2Mhv/image-2017-07-31%20(12).jpg) ![IMG_0555.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPcgGomBt2Y963UpzqAGnUJMDcaxFTV6SXny1KpBXkn9T/IMG_0555.JPG) ![IMG_0565.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmaZ3Qt5CbrSFk9G814V4QW5Bcr42fs6hEu1Bfx1FkogK7/IMG_0565.JPG) We found our table! Beautiful right? :) ![image-2017-07-31 (20).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbR8dcXMZxnXqfknRBJ7rAHtApyAcjZtY4xabUnZD1ztH/image-2017-07-31%20(20).jpg) *PS: Does anybody know what this is? It is made from bamboo. If you know, please let me know in the comments!* ![image-2017-07-31 (18).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmSWhpnTw4zHWbP2bJCtHm186oHHqWnBp6XuFFFxZ8hN7s/image-2017-07-31%20(18).jpg) **Thank you so much for reading!** **I appreciate an upvote if you liked this post and a follow if you want to see more :-)**