Bangkok - Day 2

26/12/2015

-- Panoramic View of Bangkok (one side) from water mark --

Got up and stepped outside balcony to see the view. Sunrise and view from apartment is spectacular. Mns & Srini garu went to markets and got Jack fruit and guava. We got ready by that time and we all went to Ibis for continental breakfast - went out and saw the beach front and back side of Ibis, took few photos.

 

 

--  View from our apartment --

Hired taxis to Damneon Saduak floating markets. On our way to floating markets we had fresh coconut water from street vendor. After waiting for half an hour, we finally hopped on to small boat to go on floating markets.

We went is around 8kms on boat. There are shops for souvenirs, food and cloths. Floating stalls are full of tropical fruits and authentic thai food. Our first break was at Coconut sugar making place. Coconut sugar is made from coconut flower extract and it will be boiled until it get solid. We tasted coconut sugar and bought peanut toffies and banana chips.

From there we went to Elephant rides. We all took elephant ride. Rathna and Barath went together, Mns and I went on other and Vedhu got a special one for himself. It is a different experience altogether as elephant went inside a creek and climbed hill.  I felt really bad for hopping on elephant. I will never again sit on any animal.

There are crocodiles, monkeys and baby elephants around the place. There is a Buddha temple in the middle of the water. We went there and found people feeding fishes and fishes come in 000's at a time. Whole ride took 3 hrs and it is completely different experience.

On our way to Bangkok, stopped again for coconut water and left in two taxis again. Driver took us to gems place for shopping. Driver told us that Sri Mahamariamman is a hindhu temple next to it. We went there for 5 min and saw beautiful lotus flowers everywhere. Shrines in the temple include Devi, Ganesha and Karthikeya. Everything is in Tai language which we did not understand.

Went home, took shower and went to Asiatique The River front night shopping markets. Water Mark apartments has a separate watermark ferry (free) which can accommodate more than 100 ppl.

Went to Indian restaurant for dinner and started to explore the place. Asiatique is a huge riverside mall combining shopping, dining, sightseeing, activities and events.. everything under one roof. There is plenty of authentic Thai street food to eat especially Sea food, drink, listen to acoustic music, shop, walk around, take hoverboard/kart/ferris wheel ride.

I found lovelocks at the clock tower area little fascinating. There are millions of love locks with peoples name on them.

We bought some gifts and went for Thai massage. I had full body massage for just 300 bath and it was too good. Rathna and Barath had foot massage.  At the massage parlor, I found foot massage with live fishes. It seems they eat dead skin. There are different elephant status all over the place with amazing colors and shapes. Back to apartment had good night sleep.