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Published: March 6th 2011
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We have been quite busy over the last few days so I thought I would update it again before our train to Chiang Mai.
We bartered a taxi to take us to the station to book our overnight sleeper train, tried to charge double of course, they are meant to run on meter but they rarely do. Especially not to tourists. Booking the train was really easy, we went over to the tourist information and spoke to the nicest lady - she helped us decide what train we wanted, what time and showed us where to book the tickets. Then she waited for us to book them and then showed us what platform we would need to go too.
We also decided to buy a Thai mobile while we are here to make it easier to contact or be contacted on, we just went for a cheap Nokia, nothing flashy.
After all that excitement we thought we deserved an afternoon by the pool, the day before at the Palace had completely shattered us and the days just seem to keep getting hotter and hotter.
We spent the evening on the Khaosan Road (really famous for backpackers) it is packed with hostels
and guesthouses, market stalls, street food, bars, mc donalds, boots and seven elevens (convinience store - which seem to be everywhere). It has a really good atmosphere, you just have to be careful. The only downside are the beggars. They lie in the middle of the street so you nearly trip over them with the hands raised. It is quite upsetting to see.
We did a bit of an impulse thing and went into a tour agency and booked a tour to the floating markets for the following day. He told us we would be picked up 7am from our hotel in a white mini van!
6am and the alarm went off, I couldn't believe I was getting up so early, didn't even have to get up this early for work!!! We were waiting in reception area, there was a few people dotted around also with slips of paper from various tour agencies waiting for their pick up. Just after 7, loads of white mini vans turned up and different tour guides came running around, grabbing your slips looking at them then shaking their heads and giving them back to you. Eventually a lady came to find us and we
View from Rooftop
Our hotel is the white building on the right! jumped in her van.
After a couple of hours journey (listening to the interesting conversation of a chap from London and his Thai 'escort') we arrived at the Floating Markets.
We all clambered into a long tail boat, they are very thin and seated about 10 in rows of two. All around in the canal. in their own long tail boats and on both sides were Thai locals selling their merchandise. All the colours were really pretty, and as you can imagine I was in my element!! I had to keep reminding myself not to go to crazy, its got to fit in my rucksack so in the end I bought a pair of handmade flip flops (so pretty!) and a flower for my hair. The haggling was fantastic! They don't speak much English so they put the amount they want you pay in the calculator and hand it to you. For example, the chap wanted 350 baht for the flower, so I put 75 baht and he shook his head and put 150, I said no, and put in a 100 and said that's my final offer. Then they say ok and deal is done! You do feel a
bit bad because they don't have an easy life but we are on a budget and they still make a profit.
We were on the boat for about an hour, Andy bought himself some mango which we munched floating along. Afterwards, we were able to wonder around the market stalls by the canals, I've been looking for some light cotton trousers I keep seeing people where with an elephant pattern on. They are a bit groovy and loud but I like them! I was so pleased when I managed to find them!
We met up again with our guide and thought that's it we go back to the hotel now, but we were led to another boat, this one had a motor, so we all clambered in, I was pleased to see everyone else looked a bit confused too but I thought lets go with the flow. Andy and I got the two front seats which was great and sped along the grid work of canals, visiting the river village where the market people live, the houses are on the banks and the stilts go right into the water.
We were taken to a bar where they had a snake
show about to start but we didnt fancy that so we were picked up with a different tour guide as our one was going the afternoon activity with those that had booked it. On the way back, we stopped at a wood carving workshop, look at the pictures as it is so hard to describe how beautiful they were! The carvings were amazing, they are pure artists!
We arrived back in the afternoon and decided to chill out. In the evening, we met up with Steve who I knew from work as he had quit to go travelling too. We watched the football in a cool bar and had a few cocktails. He is planning to come to Chiang Mai soon so hopefully meet up again there.
So now, we are all checked out of the hotel and waiting for the train! Exciting! Bring on the elephants!
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Chris and claire
non-member comment
Wicked
Hi clare and andy. Thought I would try this comment thing. It looks amazing the Market and feeding the elephants. Nice bag and flip flops. Glad u r both having an amazing time. How much is 100 Bart in pounds? hotel looks nice. Like the pool to ur selves. I suppose now the travelling starts as u move around thialand. Beggars r not nice sad part of traveling but u will get used to it. Keep ur hands in pockets and don't let them grap at u. We like the look of those cocktails and Claire liked the look of the mango. Amazing carvings it reminded me of sunshine in st.lycia on the beech do u remember? Tk care stay safe lots of love Chris &claire xxxxxxxxxxx