There was a total of seven of us, from different hotels. Around 7:00 we finally headed out of Bangkok and on to our first stop - a coconut sugar plant. OK, not very exciting and of course they were trying to sell us stuff. I did buy something - a diet coke. The caffeine in my tea just didn't do it for me (though I think all of us fell asleep on the trip). And I did a bit of bargaining.......but only because the soda was 30 Baht and I had 29 Baht in coin or a 1000 baht bill. She took the 29.
Next stop, the pier for the boat trip to the floating market (the guide & driver drove the van
, we took the boat). A traditional floating market is just that - a market on the water. In the past, most of the Thai people lived in the countryside along canals, so they took their boats to the market. Many of the canals have been filled in or are no longer used, but a surprising amount still are and I noticed addresses on several of the houses - though no "street" signs that I could see. Along the canal, some of the houses were barely shacks, others mansions behind gates, though most were in between. And there were businesses along the canal as well, such as a Pepsi distributor.Once at the market, I bought not a thing. Partly because I was terrified of bargaining and partly because I just wasn't in the mood and it was too hot, plus I was tired (never a good combination with me). And the shop owners would reach out and grab your arm to get your attention - and I just *love* having strangers grab me. Brush past me in a mall or on the monorail, fine. But don't be grabbing my arm. Took a lot for me not to flinch every time it happened. The market over all was very interesting, especially since some of the shops are still on boats.
The next
stop was the Royal Thai Handicraft Center and this was really amazing. The craftsmen primarily made furniture, but with amazingly intricate wood designs, all made by hand. There are - big surprise - a shop, but I did some purchasing as it was all fixed prices. Yahoo! And I found a thimble in Thailand.....not that it says Thailand, but there's an elephant, so I should remember.Back in the van again and we headed to Nakhon Pathom, home of the tallest Buddha and built by King Rama IV - AKA the king in "The King & I."
Finally, lunchtime! On to the Rose Garden Riverside we went. I'm sure you'll be very surprised that I had pad thai for lunch :) Also had rice with chicken, a salad, bread, and yummy desserts - fresh fruit and palm sugar pudding - yummy! It was of course the wrong time of year for roses, but they did have a lot of orchids. And we saw a short elephant show and then a Thai village cultural show with dancing and music, depicting life in a village - waking, monk's ordination, wedding, traditional Thai boxing, and more. There was of course shopping, but I didn't even look.
It's the rainy season here in Thailand and it poured while we were eating lunch and then was raining lightly while we wandered around the orchid garden, waiting for the show to start. I don't think it had rained in Bangkok, though.
Back in Bangkok now and am just about ready to head for bed, as I am exhausted. Dinner was mainly snacking. And I ran a quick errand along the monorail.
I took tons & tons of pictures today. Don't worry, I haven't uploaded them all. And I took so many, my battery is about to die. And guess where the charger is? Back in Singapore. Oooops. So I went to the hotel gift shop and bought a disposable camera for tomorrow. I'm sure MBK has the appropriate charger or battery, but I discovered this after the earlier errand and I just didn't have the energy to go out again. And tomorrow I go to the royal palace and the temple, so I really wanted a camera.
Pictures: Beyond Bangkok
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