Back in Bangkok

Earlier this month, I was back in Bangkok - but this time with Greg and Cynthia, their first time to Thailand. We spent our first few days around the city doing some shopping, getting massages, and visiting all the famous temples.

Our first stops were Wat Po, The Grand Palace, and Wat Arun.

The temples from afar look pretty, but it's not until you get up close that you can see exactly how much detail and work went into building them.

Inside the temples can be equally as impressive with buddha statues - big and small, gold leaf and jade - sorry no photos are allowed of the famous jade buddha.

The reclining buddha is absolutely massive and it is practically impossible to take a full body photo, but the crowds of pushing tourists trying to also get the exact same photo make it even more challenging. 

Greg and Cynthia also did some shopping at Patpong night market. 

We took a day tour to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. On the drive outside the city we hit some scattered rain showers but by the time we arrived at our long tail boat the weather had cleared up - for a bit anyways. 

The first thing we did upon arriving at the market was to get some coconut pancakes. This was my first time to try them and they were so good - so good that I got seconds later! The lady had a large gas griddle on her boat and a long bamboo pole with a basket on the end to transfer the pancakes to her customers' boats and collect their money. 

After we had our coconut pancakes, the rain started up again. As the next thing to do was to take a boat ride along the canal in an open top paddle boat, we decided to do some shopping first in hopes that the rain would stop.

After the rain died down a bit, we got into a paddle boat so that we could visit the canal stores. Most of the booths along the canals were lined with tourist souvenirs. Something caught Cynthia's eye, so we pulled the boat over for a closer look.

After touring the market we had a traditional Thai lunch. Greg had his staple Thai dish - sticky rice with mango. Our tour guide always takes her tour groups to this particular stall. I mentioned to the tour guide that the ingredients were very fresh and before we knew it, we were being invited to check out the owner's personal garden where most of her vegetables and chilies come from.

We were given the option of taking a detour on the way back to Bangkok to see the train tracks market. Having seen it online but never in person, I jumped at the opportunity. The local market is set up along the train tracks and when the train comes (twice a day), the vendors have to quickly move all of their wares that are in danger of getting hit and damaged by the passing train. However, some things were left in place as the train passed by above them - missing them by mere inches.

This was a true local Thai market, they even had frogs for sale - with and without skin. I don't think even a Coke would help wash that down!

Just before the train came, an alarm sounds giving the vendors warning.

Passing just above the fruits and vegetables.