SEA Trip by Any Means

Damnoen Saduak, August 28th 2011

I was excited to find out that the train from Butterworth in Malaysia to Bangkok passes Ratchaburi which is the province (?) of Damnoen Saduak where the popular floating market is. I grabbed my chance.

I booked a private tour to the floating market for 400 bahts from Maikaew Resort.

Off I go into the river.

Here's my sailorman. When he asked me where I came from and so on, he said his farther was Chinese (too).

Interestingly, the floating market here isn't like the floating market I saw on Mekong River in Vietnam. Not at all alike. The floating market here looks like created by purpose for the sake of tourism. Vendors of various souvenirs lined up endlessly along the riverside, from blouses, hats, handbags, statues, to money changer. You name them.

Spices! Too bad I couldn't get a clear shot of the bottles of spices. I never knew there were that many kind of spices.

Merchandises are not only from the deck along the river, but also from other boats, such as this one. You stop beside the boat, order your menu, and eat on your boat.

Occasionally vendors buy from each other.

Fruit vendors are for sure everywhere.

At times the river became cramped up with boats floating from both directions. It's interesting to see how both sides try to work their way out together whereas the condition often looked hopeless.

Since the moment I stepped off the train in Ratchaburi, I had been deeply impressed on the hospitality of Thai people. Here, paddlers would great one another whenever they cross paths. Thai people, to me, seemed to be always smiling.

You know me. I certainly wouldn't miss this out. I stepped up from the boat onto the deck of the coffee shop to watch how my coffee was brewed. Next to the coffee brewer I saw an empty used glass covered with ants. Spontaneously, "Ants! Ants!" I half screamed.

Much to my astonishment, the coffee vendor laughed out loud and put the glass away. The way he laughed was as if I were a kid who had discovered something on her dad's table. Ah, anyway I was sure that the ants didn't crawl neither on the coffee brewer's tap or on my glass.

On the way back, when I passed by this coffee shop again, he waved excitedly at me. You know what he said?

"Ants! Ants!"

The coffee itself was good. Thanks to the ants?

My paddler offered a visit to a coconut farm which I welcomed with great enthusiasm, not because I'm a fan of coconuts, but because I was hoping to find coconut soap like the one I bought in Mekong Delta in Vietnam. Mom found that soap very acceptable and every time I went back to Vietnam, she always asked me to buy her again, but I could never find it.

Welcome drink was always ready for all guests. All kinds of snacks made from coconut are available here. Plus, the popular virgin coconut oil.

I looked round and round and round. No soap.

Preparing the ingredients for coconut snack.

After stirred on the fire, now the mixture is ready to be shaped one by one.

It isn't as easy as it looks. Any guest was free to try to shape the coconut snack.

Back on the boat, back to Maikaew Resort.


These are something familiar to my Indonesian eyes. Same, same, but different...

I asked my guide, "Is that about an election?"

"What?"

"Uhmm... I mean like... chose, chose... head...?"

"Yes, yes! Like that!"

Nearing Maikaew Resort.

I'm back.

In next post I'll tell you something about the resort itself. Just stay tuned! See you there!