On the morning of December 29th, we went to the Floating Market which was about a 90 minute drive southwest of Bangkok. We arrived quite early in the morning and took a longtail boat ride to the floating market. It was very interesting to see the homes of people who live along this river. You could see snapshots into peoples' lives that live very differently than we do. There were discarded bowls in the river, clothes - including intimate clothing - hanging out to dry, old grandmas washing their dishes, etc. I think I (Eileen) enjoyed this as much as the actual destination of the floating market. The river seemed to be their main transportation route. Once at the floating market you can rent a paddle boat for 30 minutes to take you around the floating market. The market is very touristy. You still negotiate the price at most of the shops, but the items are a lot more expensive than the prices you would find at other markets in Bangkok. While you are in your paddle boat, you can buy food, spices, really neat ladies's hats that can also be converted into a fan, knick knacks of all kinds (mostly junky) and other souvenirs from vendors on the side of the canal, or there is a place you can walk around at the edge of the canal and also buy from different vendors.
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| Picture of a longtail boat similar to the one we went on before arriving at the floating market |
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| View from the longtail boat ride on the way to the floating marked |
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| Another view from the longtail boat ride |
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| Vendor at the floating market |
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| Very busy canal at the floating market. This picture was taken after we went when it was a lot busier. It was like a big traffic jam of boats. |
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| Sign we saw at the floating market. The seller had a long line-up. We didn't try the coconuts though. |
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| Paddle boat that you can rent for 30 minutes to drive you around the Floating Market. In the background is another "stall" on a boat you could buy things from as you floated down the canal. |
In the afternoon we went to an elephant show, crocodile show, and a cultural show. At the elephant show, the elephants played some musical instruments, played soccer, and did a mock battle. At the crocodile show, two men wrestled with crocodiles and put their hands and head inside the mouth of the crocodile. At the cultural show, we saw some Thai dancing, a Thai wedding, sword fights, and Thai boxing.
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| Elephants playing soccer |
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| Mock battle with elephants |
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| Wrestling with crocodiles |
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| Thai dancing at the cultural show |
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| Thai boxing at cultural show. It was more humourously done than authentic. |
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