Monday, December 13, 2010

2010, Day 346 - Bangkok, Day Two

We had a relatively low-key day today. After posting yesterday's photos I returned to our room to ponder what to do with the rest of the day. In planning this trip I tried to allow days for spontaneity and this was one of those. I perused my guide book and the sample itinerary that Choy put together and ultimately arranged to go to Damnoen Saduak floating market.

Getting to the market took some time, almost an hour, as we left the city and entered rural Thailand. Eventually we arrived and were able to get a ride on a boat through a network of canals lined with homes and surrounded by banana and coconut groves being worked by the residents.


A fisherman and his wife mending their nets.


Harvesting coconuts.

The market itself was a busy affair, it teamed with boats laden with produce and is surrounded by stalls selling spices, food and kitsch geared towards tourists. Not only was it congested but the mix of motor driven boats with ones being paddled dampened the serenity of the market and produced unpleasant gas fumes.

Still, it was a fascinating place to watch people and I enjoyed seeing the faces of the little old women selling their wares. I find elderly Asian women comforting, I think because they remind me of my grandmother who was an incredibly sweet woman.


Scale at the ready, prepared for the day's business.


A woman looks on as her lunch is being made on a propane stove mounted in a boat.



Before leaving the waterways we stopped at Wat Prok Cha Roen Name. The blue sky and the scattered clouds made a nice backdrop for the temple but other than that it was rather unremarkable.



By the time we returned to our vehicle and arrived back in Bangkok it was early afternoon so we decided to schedule a massage. Once that was accomplished we ate a little lunch before our respective appointments and spent the rest of the day reading and relaxing around our hotel. I wish I could say otherwise but I think we're both still a bit jet-lagged.

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