Spring Breakin' Thailand Part 3

THE OPEN MARKETS

Just outside our hotel was a huge busy market of clothes. It is where vendors come and order in bulk for their stores. We never got a chance to look around there. And somehow our bus would maneuver and park right among the stalls.....it was crazy. The evening our group went to the Night Bazaar we hung out at the pool, ate real food, and grooved to the DJ and a really good guitarist. All the waiters and waitresses couldn't get enough of the boys they just adored them. Apparently it was time well spent because the group didn't return until midnight and we had an early star the next day.

We did go to Chat-u-cahk the largest and most famous weekend market and we weren't disappointed at all.

We bought these really beautiful carved wooden vases and they go perfectly with the decor of our home. I bought a couple of sun dresses for about 5 bucks each...they are way cute. Chris got the exact hat he been looking for that would have easily been $30.00 at REI but it cost us $2.50. There were deals to be had everywhere and you must bargain. Because language is sometimes a barrier you negotiate with a calculator....the vendor types in a price then you type in your counter then they put in a final offer, done. Everyone is happy.

3 little boys and shopping is never a good idea so we just told them to keep a look out for Ben 10 shirts unfortunately we found them right away and had no more negotiating power. It is fun to see them super excited though. Then just as we were meeting our group we came upon more Ben 10 stuff so of course we HAD to get the undies and PJs.

We were there for about 3 hours which wasn't enough for Chris and I but the boys had had enough. Plus it was pretty hot that day.

We could not pass up this Fresh Strawberry Smoothie...it did not disappoint.
We passed on the freshly cooked prawns but loved the spring rolls.
We topped it off with some cupcakes that looked gorgeous but were only ho hum.

Our last day was full. We rode out into the countryside to visit the original floating market.....going back 300 years. There is a newer one closer to Bangkok so that tourist don't have to go so far but we're glad we did. Before we got dropped off at the market they took us on a boat ride through the village.

Some stalls were set up so they could only be accessed by boat. Others you could just walk around on the rivers edge.

These women were actually frying bananas and selling them from their boat.

This was one of my FAVORITE places.

Unfortunately we only had enough cash left for a lunch of strange fruits and ice cream.

Oh the things I would have bought if there had only been a darn ATM near by.

SCARY STUFF

Buying meat that has been hanging around in the heat and I mean HEAT all day just doesn't seem appetizing at all.

I took this one because right in the center of the picture are real whole chickens but they looked just like the fake rubber chickens.

Along our last boat ride to the floating market I kept seeing signs for a Snake Show which we weren't interested in going to. So they brought the show to us. Zach and Ethan have both developed a healthy fear of snakes from me so we didn't get too close. But several of the women in our group did such as this one.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

We also stopped at a coconut farm. I had NO IDEA that they make coconut sugar (similar to brown sugar). The samples were tasty. They get juice from the plant shown.

They also scrape some of the coconut out of the shell.

Then boil and stir, boil and stir.

They also use the shells to make these fab purses and cute animals not like the monkey banks you get in Hawaii.

Our very last stop before heading to the airport was to an incredibly impressive place. It is a Thai Handicraft factory where they make wood carvings and furniture.

You can see the sketch taped on then they just carve it out so it becomes 3D. Some pieces were enormous and took two craftsmen 9 months to do.

Here's a finished project.

This beautifully crafted wood was made into a rocking chair!

The prices were not bad and they included shipping anywhere in the world. We fell in love with a few pieces but alas this home is too small and we have no place to put them.

That's it....that was our whirlwind trip. It started off a little rough but by the end I REALLY enjoyed myself. However, for Chris the jury is still out.