Water World

Photo credit: RABolo

Our first stop on our second day was the floating market.  If we had enough time, then we would have wanted to go to Damnoen Saduak for the commonly visited floating market in Bangkok.  It’s the one that often gets featured in travel magazines and shows.  But since we have an entire temple run to squeeze into the IT of the day as well, we opted to check out the nearest one in Chao Phraya River. 

I was hard-pressed at trying to remember the right path to Phra Athit Pier where Jeni and I took our boat-ride that last time.  I was never reliable when it comes to directions and judging distance.  And the pier is not exactly easy to find, particularly.  From what I can remember, we had to cross Khaosan to get to that alley lined by shops, hotels and restaurants.  I knew we had to exit the alley to another main road and then cross and squeeze into a tinier pathway.  

It was hard trying to retrace the steps that one took several years back but I managed.  I had to walk way ahead of the group though to check every twist and turns.  I could see Ate frowning, probably not trusting I could lead them to the right place.  I heaved a sigh of relief when finally, I came across the sign leading to the pier.

Flags buntings over our heads (Credit: Tunga)

 What was interesting about that little alley leading to the pier was that there is a restaurant there which had buntings of flags from all over the world.  Tunga took a picture of the Philippine and Australia flag.

There were other tourists at the pier.  They must be waiting to take the regular boats that ply the river.  These boats take one to certain drop off stations in some district in Bangkok.  It’s actually one of the best routes to take if one is to avoid traffic.

Since we are there for the floating market tour, we chartered a ride.  We rented out a sizeable boat for ourselves that would take us to the floating market and then back.  I told the man at the counter that instead of bringing us all the way back, we would want to be dropped off at the pier closest to the Grand Palace.   It’s where we will start our temple tour and move from thereon.

Credit: Tunga

Floating Market.  Getting to our own boat was quite tricky.  We had to step on another boat docked closest to the pier, and the water was not exactly placid.  Before long, we were already off.  The ride was bumpy due to the choppy waves.  I could see Mama, Ate Tata, Ate Gaga and Tunga getting a bit scared.  I remember feeling the same during my first ride. The water, being murky and brown, is not exactly inviting.  And although it was impossible to judge its depth, one could readily tell that it is deep.  Encountering much bigger boats along the way that sent big waves our way also did nothing to calm our fears.   It got better only when we steered off the main river and entered a much smaller channel. 

It was exactly as I remembered it: passing by some interesting houses with interesting architecture.  A number of them have “okir” carvings that lent interesting details to the houses.  Each house also has their own “mini-piers.”

Credit: RABolo

I laughed when they remarked the houses and the environs are very similar to the ones we find back home.  I reminded them that Thailand is also a TWC like the Philippines.  What was distinctively different though were the “mini-temples” in each of the houses we passed by.  These “mini-temples” are actually more like raised altars that are placed near the river.  As it was still early, we saw a few who knelt in front of these altars and offered sacrifices. 

Fish-attack.  Nope, we were not attacked by fishes but at one point in the river, the “driver” docked us where there is a girl with a long stick and a pail.  I wondered what they were for.  Since the driver had trouble speaking in English, he communicated to us by gesturing.  He pointed to where the girl stood and I saw behind her a table filled with bread.  The sign read 10 baht.  We had a hearty breakfast so we hardly need any bread.  I started gesturing, “no” when the driver again pointed to the side of our boat.  I was surprised to see a big school of fish.  They looked like our local, “hito,” only they were much bigger.  I finally understood and so we bought a pack of bread and divided it among ourselves.  We then threw it into the water to feed the fish.  The reaction was immediate.  Each of the fish scrambled for a piece of morsel.  And there were a lot of them!  They were huge too!

Credit: Ate Tata Manayaga

Floating Retail.  Before we reached the floating market proper, we came across enterprising women in boats.  They approach us, offering us their wares.  Most of them were souvenir items.  One of the ladies though sold fruits and drinks.  Tunga took a fancy to some re-packed fresh jackfruit and bought one.  Ate Gaga bought bananas which we readily sampled.  It’s of the senorita variety, quite small but they were tasty.  We also bought some souvenir items.  Ate Gaga and I bought a lucky Buddah statuette each. Ate Tata bought a replica of the floating market. 

Credit: RABolo

Restaurant A-Float.  We made our way to the floating market and came across some floating restaurants.  What’s interesting about them is that they are big enough for some tables and chairs or benches to fit but all the cooking are being done in canoes floating beside it.  The canoes displayed different meats and seafood – shrimp, crabs, etc.  The chartered boats would then take the tourists there and the tourists would point at the meat or seafood and have them cooked.  Then they eat them at the floating restaurant.  I thought it was quite a feat to accomplish, cooking atop a canoe constantly moving because of the waves but the women did it quite well.  I guess they had had lots of practice.

We ended the tour by asking to be dropped off at the jump off for the Grand Palace.  Our day has just started and we are already looking forward to the temple tour.