The Marketplace Train

 I saw this advertised and I was sure I wanted to go here. This is an active marketplace that has a train run through it 2 times a day. 

The train whistle blows and the train S-L-O-W-L-Y moves through the marketplace.

We will see if the video will load. But in the meantime, here are some of the foods they sell at this marketplace. 

Lemongrass and ginger root

Fish

Water snakes (eel?)

Pig feet and other meats

Vegetables 

Flowers. I think mostly to honor the Buddha.

Various fruits. The orange colored fruit is actually a pomegranate. And the brown balls are lychee fruit. 

Watermelon, limes and passion fruit?  There are so many new, and delicious fruits here in Thailand that I want to learn about and taste. There will be another whole blog on Thai fruits

The Buddha and The Temples

It is an interesting fact that 98% of the Thai people are Buddhist. Thai people are known as the smiling people. I have never met a kinder, more helpful people! I have had total strangers go out of their way to help me. On several occasions. I feel very welcome here!

 

In front of a gold Buddha 

You can get and put gold leaf on the Buddha. Depending on where you put it is what help/support you would like from Buddha. 

You can donate to drape a Buddha in the marigold colored drape. You can also donate to get a lotus flower candle to light and float in water at a temple. You pick the color of the candle by what day of the week you were born. 

I am taking a tour of active temples here in Bangkok in 2 weeks, I will have a lot more photos then

Ayutthaya 1300 a.d. Temple Complex

 So, we took a day trip to Ayutthaya, where the king lived in the 1300’s. It is now a UNESCO world site. 

At that time this is where the king lived. All of these buildings were covered in gold. I’ll bet it was a beautiful sight! 

When the Burmese came into Thailand they cut off the heads of the Buddhas. 

Here is another temple that we visited in this area. 

 

I love this image. The Buddha in the tree. 

A hand of a very large Buddha 

This is what the temple complex looked like, 

back in the day.

It is a show of respect if you donate

You can place a gold robe

On a Buddha 

 

You are looking at an original wood beam 

Dating back to the

1300’s

Shopping in Bangkok

 Bangkok has the biggest shopping malls I have ever seen! I originally came to CENTRAL WORLD mall to go to the Apple Store to work on my phone but then I walked into the Central World mall. 

First of all, it is 7 stories tall! 

And it has everything imaginable. It has a nice French restaurant 

A gym

A children’s play area

A pharmacy

You can get a massage

Or see a movie (in English too!)

What a great way to spend the day!

The Floating Markets

 So, we, my brother, his fiancé and I, took a tour of the floating markets of Thailand. What an adventure! 

We are heading out on our adventure! 

As you can see, there is a border on the edge of the canal. Sometimes it is wood, as in this case.

Sometimes it’s stone. Often times there would be a shrine of some kind near the shore.

Sometimes it would be a home 

Or maybe a store front

Sometimes a beautiful garden

But this is where they transacted business

We’ll see if the short video takes

The Smiling City - Bangkok

 Hi all! So, I’m almost to Bangkok but had a layover in Manila.

It was 5:00 am so I had breakfast and tried some of their local fare.  The sausage seems to have some kind of starch in it besides the meat. Then there was a chicken burrito, garlic rice (yum!), flan (one of my favorites) some rice paper wrap over meat and a dessert that had chocolate on it. They don’t have Diet Coke in the Philippines, so I had a no sugar coke. I love to try new things in a new city. 

Then we were off to Bangkok! 

So I can’t get a feel of the city st first glance. In Paris it was the Eiffel Tower. In Istanbul it was the mosques. Bangkok is hiding its treasures to show me later.

All went well through customs, I met a lady who is from Thailand and married a Canadian and comes back to Thailand every year. She gave me several good ideas of what to see and do while I am here. I got an AOT Limosene and came directly to my condo. 

So, here’s the view from my living room. I’m on the 15th floor and have an incredible view! I’m looking forward to discovering this intriguing city! I have lots to tell you already and it’s only been 3 days! 

So off we go!

The Boarding Process

 I’m getting so many texts from people wishing me well. They can’t believe that I’ll be gone for 6 months. It goes by fast. I’ve never been to Asia before but am already having some interesting conversations with fellow travelers, the economy (and oil) situation in the world and how all that is going on is affecting their country. I was told, by a gentleman from the Netherlands, that Spain is doing well, as far as the heating oil situation is concerned. I didn’t know so I packed LOTS of warm clothes. Shorts, t-shirts and flip flops for Thailand and boots, gloves, jackets and scarves for Spain. And did I mention, I speak intermediate level Spanish?