Days 19, 20, 21, and 22:
Now, we acknowledge that Thailand is the Land of Smiles - its people are very hospitable (and sometimes aggressive, when selling in the markets). But we respectfully would like to rename it "The Land of Markets." Over our last 4 days in Bangkok, our generous hosts, Thana, Annie and their two fabulously American children (they are Thai, actually, but speak better English than we do!) have treated us to the world's best bargain shopping and some of the greatest meals we've ever taken. Indeed, they drop us off at our hotel every night around 10, completely full and exhausted, where we literally fall into bed.
We have shopped til we dropped at the famed Chatachuk Market on the north end of Bangkok, at the floating markets of Ratchaburi and quaint little Amphawa. We've shopped in the wholesale markets (Platinum and Indra Square) in downtown Bangkok (you don't need a license here to buy wholesale - only quantity and a great bargainer like Annie!). In Bangkok you can buy ANYTHING at almost anytime, for CHEAP, cheap prices. There is also a street market in Chinatown that goes from midnight until 7 am. We've bought jewelery, we've bought clothes, bags (are you surprised), bowls, wine holders, silk pillow covers, a wooden foot massager.
Sue's bag count: 5 (She's shown SOME restraint.) Sean on the other hand - his T-shirt count is up to 15. But he smiles and says, "There are still a few days left." He's actually connected with some independent designers, who he hopes to form ongoing relationships to style him for his gigs.
We have also eaten and sampled much of what Thailand has to offer with regard to food. Countless fruits: dragon foot, the ever-stinky durian, cherries, pamello (our favorite), coconut, guava (also called farang, which also means foreigner), papaya, rambutan, watermelon, langon, lychee, and pineapple, to name a few. We've eaten countless of types of fish, crabs, giant prawns, squid, octopus. TONS of chilies (green and red), garlic, ginger, lemon grass, Thai basil (which is food for the gods), oyster sauce, garlic sauce. Fish cakes, noodles of many forms, pumpkin, lotus, kale and other greens. Our favorite sweet treats from Thailand - tuay, this AMAZING coconut custard with coconut sugar on the bottom, kind of a creme brulee, but not really, and smaller in a thimble cup. (We ate that in the the old imperial city of Bang Pa-In; you can't find it in Bangkok, apparently.) Our other favorite sweet treat is this coconut and bean ice pop, which we had in Ampahwa - to die!
On Sunday evening, we embarked on a lovely dinner cruise along the Cha Phraya River with our hosts, including Annie's two children Joey and Joanne, our new Thai brother and sister. We were glad they joined us, considering they had to stay up late that night to cram for their exams the next day! We got to see Wat Pra Kaw, Wat Arun (which is totally made out of ceramics), and numerous bridges and the skyline of Bangkok.
We headed out of Bangkok on Tuesday, the 26th, to Bang Pa-In and Ayuthaya, the old capital city. Bangkok was a bit chaotic, with the 3-month long protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy having escalated into the take over of 7 government buildings, including the Government House (their White House) and the national television station, NBT. Rumors are swirling about a coup, but the military denies that that will happen. All has been relatively peaceful, but traffic was stalled throughout certain parts of the city. (On Monday it took Annie two hours to reach our hotel, which would normally take about 20 minutes.)
On Tuesday evening, with a coup brewing outside, Sean, Thana, Annie and I, treated ourselves to a 2-hour Thai herbal massage. Picture the 4 of us in pajamas laid out on mats in a room, each with two masseuses, pounding and bending and stretching and poking us until we couldn't move. Then the second masseuse would apply steamy hot herbal packs to our beaten muscles. It was heavenly. Sean said afterward that he felt great, but at times felt as though he'd just been in a Muay Thai match (Thai boxing). Total cost: $25 each. Wooooorrrrk!!!!!
On to the north and Chiang Mai!
Thai phrase of the day:
suay - beautiful
[Note: Battery dead on our camera. Need to re-charge. Will post photos soon.]
Now, we acknowledge that Thailand is the Land of Smiles - its people are very hospitable (and sometimes aggressive, when selling in the markets). But we respectfully would like to rename it "The Land of Markets." Over our last 4 days in Bangkok, our generous hosts, Thana, Annie and their two fabulously American children (they are Thai, actually, but speak better English than we do!) have treated us to the world's best bargain shopping and some of the greatest meals we've ever taken. Indeed, they drop us off at our hotel every night around 10, completely full and exhausted, where we literally fall into bed.
We have shopped til we dropped at the famed Chatachuk Market on the north end of Bangkok, at the floating markets of Ratchaburi and quaint little Amphawa. We've shopped in the wholesale markets (Platinum and Indra Square) in downtown Bangkok (you don't need a license here to buy wholesale - only quantity and a great bargainer like Annie!). In Bangkok you can buy ANYTHING at almost anytime, for CHEAP, cheap prices. There is also a street market in Chinatown that goes from midnight until 7 am. We've bought jewelery, we've bought clothes, bags (are you surprised), bowls, wine holders, silk pillow covers, a wooden foot massager.
Sue's bag count: 5 (She's shown SOME restraint.) Sean on the other hand - his T-shirt count is up to 15. But he smiles and says, "There are still a few days left." He's actually connected with some independent designers, who he hopes to form ongoing relationships to style him for his gigs.
We have also eaten and sampled much of what Thailand has to offer with regard to food. Countless fruits: dragon foot, the ever-stinky durian, cherries, pamello (our favorite), coconut, guava (also called farang, which also means foreigner), papaya, rambutan, watermelon, langon, lychee, and pineapple, to name a few. We've eaten countless of types of fish, crabs, giant prawns, squid, octopus. TONS of chilies (green and red), garlic, ginger, lemon grass, Thai basil (which is food for the gods), oyster sauce, garlic sauce. Fish cakes, noodles of many forms, pumpkin, lotus, kale and other greens. Our favorite sweet treats from Thailand - tuay, this AMAZING coconut custard with coconut sugar on the bottom, kind of a creme brulee, but not really, and smaller in a thimble cup. (We ate that in the the old imperial city of Bang Pa-In; you can't find it in Bangkok, apparently.) Our other favorite sweet treat is this coconut and bean ice pop, which we had in Ampahwa - to die!
On Sunday evening, we embarked on a lovely dinner cruise along the Cha Phraya River with our hosts, including Annie's two children Joey and Joanne, our new Thai brother and sister. We were glad they joined us, considering they had to stay up late that night to cram for their exams the next day! We got to see Wat Pra Kaw, Wat Arun (which is totally made out of ceramics), and numerous bridges and the skyline of Bangkok.
We headed out of Bangkok on Tuesday, the 26th, to Bang Pa-In and Ayuthaya, the old capital city. Bangkok was a bit chaotic, with the 3-month long protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy having escalated into the take over of 7 government buildings, including the Government House (their White House) and the national television station, NBT. Rumors are swirling about a coup, but the military denies that that will happen. All has been relatively peaceful, but traffic was stalled throughout certain parts of the city. (On Monday it took Annie two hours to reach our hotel, which would normally take about 20 minutes.)
On Tuesday evening, with a coup brewing outside, Sean, Thana, Annie and I, treated ourselves to a 2-hour Thai herbal massage. Picture the 4 of us in pajamas laid out on mats in a room, each with two masseuses, pounding and bending and stretching and poking us until we couldn't move. Then the second masseuse would apply steamy hot herbal packs to our beaten muscles. It was heavenly. Sean said afterward that he felt great, but at times felt as though he'd just been in a Muay Thai match (Thai boxing). Total cost: $25 each. Wooooorrrrk!!!!!
On to the north and Chiang Mai!
Thai phrase of the day:
suay - beautiful
[Note: Battery dead on our camera. Need to re-charge. Will post photos soon.]
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