This morning we woke bright and early at 6:30am and had a hostel breakfast. We had to be at our tour meeting point for 8:00am. After packing our day bag we left for the meeting point. We met our guide, Kay, and we hoped into the minivan to be taken to stop 1. Whilst in transit she told us some wonderful facts about Bangkok and Thailand as a whole. The taxi colours are based on the Buddhist colour belief wheel. Robin and I found out that as we were born on Sundays our lucky colour is red. The taxi colours are the lucky birth day colours of their company’s founding date! That explains the Bangkok technicolor taxi force. As we were out of the city and into more suburban living we began to notice miniature temple sculptures in the corner of residence gardens. Kay saved the day and informed us on their significance. These were spirit temples. The larger of the set for the gods where offerings to deities are to be placed. The smaller temple for the family and friends of the homeowner whom are no longer with us. They too receive offerings in exchange for looking over the living family.

Stop 1 was a train station in a small salt farming village. We hopped on the train and zipped through rice field after rice field. Since it is rainy reason there was no rice farming, much to the disappointment of stalks waiting to yum up the maggot shaped carb. As we began to close in on our destination the fields gave way to concrete buildings and finally a narrow street market. We hung out the window like refugee children saying farewell to their parents during the war as we waved and high fived the people down below. We swapped placed with the parents at the station as we too got to experience life on the other side of the track with the departing train. One lychee soda later and we were back in the mini van heading to the floating market.

Off the van and into a long wooden paddle boat. We traversed the narrow canals barely dodging the souvenir boats and sticky rice vessels. For 30 mins we floated leisurely ignoring the sellers (their prices too high) and enjoying the sun. The peace was rudely disturbed when a motor boat plowed into Robin’s right hand side. Kay was distressed asking if she needed hospital. She didn’t tis but a scratch. After some well needed pad gra pao and coconut ice cream we travelled back to the meeting point, tipped Kay and went on our way.

We sorted ID photos for Laos visa, had some dim sum dinner and rolled ourselves back to the hostel.

-M