Bangkok :: Part 3
Our final day in Bangkok was spent cruising the canals of the infamous Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. We arrived right when they opened (as advised by the concierge at our hotel) and by the time we left a couple hours later the place was really starting to fill up. It was a little more touristy than I had hoped, but the food definitely made up for all the haggling and repetitive products the locals were trying to sell. There were men & women lined up in their little boats with food fryers, little skillets on small stove tops, and big pots and pans serving up all of the traditional Thai dishes and honestly, some of the things I tried here made my life complete. Husband & I are obsessed with Thai food. It was one of the main reasons we chose to visit the country! There are some Sundays when we are at home that we dedicate to going to the local Thai Temple just for the homemade/ authentic meals. Look up the Thai Temples where you are, and try it at least once, you will not be disappointed. Anyway, back to the market, they really had a lot to offer such as Thai silks, plants, hand painted hair accessories, hand carved elephant & buddha sculptures, etc… we didn’t really have a ton of space for souvenirs but I did get a head scarf and some traditional Thai candies to bring back to the states with me. We had a great time even though it was hotter than heck! The locals continually offered their cheap beer which kept Husband happy and I got to shop… It was a great day!
And finally, the moment you’ve all been waiting for… Ladyboys!
Now this was truly an experience to be had (although Husband seems to think differently)! I loved it! Some of these Ladyboys were much more beautiful than most people I know! No joke, if you saw these performers in regular attire, walking down the street, there is no way that you would know that they were not female (well, some “technically” are female). The show was a little cheesy, I will admit, but it was so mesmerizing. You couldn’t take your eyes off of them! It was quite a show! ;)
^^ Yep. I had to. ^^
Greetings from Bangkok :: Part 2
Lumphini Park is to Bangkok what Central Park is to New York City. It’s a large plot of beautifully manicured landscaping with plenty of shade, cute little lakes, and random shelters to hide from the rain when needed, tightly surrounded by all the skyscrapers of downtown. When researching the top “must do” things to do in Bangkok, this was in the top 3! And I can understand why now that I have been there. It’s amazing! We spent a good afternoon here and enjoyed every second.
This little guy (he was HUGE) came out to greet us while we were in the park. There are hundreds of them throughout Lumphini Park but they really stay to themselves and didn’t bother anyone. They are alarming and dreadful in appearance, but Husband was deeply fascinated so we stood around and watched them roam freely. Eeeek! Click the link above to read more about these little creepers.
On another note, our hotel was located right next to the U.S. Embassy so every time we left I would see this amazing street art that was done in collaboration with the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Two Nations. One Friendship. 180 Years. campaign. Pretty neat!