Day 3: Bangkok to Damnoen Saduak

We left Bangkok past 7am .Headed to western Thailand - the Damnoen Saduak in Ratchaburi province. It was about two hours away from Bangkok. The weather was extremely hot and the AC wasn't working, imagine 15 people in a van sweating. 

We reached a pier where they served us coffee and a tiny slice of watermelon, I guess this is the part of the tour package where they mentioned fresh fruit will be served. We had our bathroom break instead while we were waiting for our motorboat. The motorboat took us into the floating market. So we got to get a glimpse and breathe the Thais life along the river. Since we chose to sit in front of the boat, water was splashing from the sides every time the boat picked up some speed. It was a fun ride. 

We arrived at the  legendary floating market, where it seems there were more tourists on a boat than vendors on a boat selling local fruits, foods and products. Everything was pricey so we just bought mangoosten. I believe TR and me were the only ones who bought something while on the boat. 

Our boat took us around before they let us explore the floating market on foot for 45 minutes. We didnt manage to get any because they weren't that cheap. We only had our lunch at a mini restaurant there where we were told the young coconut water costs 50 bahts (it was 40 bahts) but charged us 60 bahts after having it. Nice business!

We left this Little Venice of Asia to visit elephants camp called Chang Puak. Bought ticket to a 30-minute elephant ride around the man-made jungle and canal.

TR and me

Our mahout asked us to pay him 100 bahts if we want him to take our photo (that explains a lot why he hid his face with a hat on photos) so we said no and asked the facilitator instead. 

While riding off, he (the same mahout) asked us to give tip for the elephant (we gave 20 bahts, BTW). The ride left me feeling guilty.. Wish I had fed the elephant instead.

We returned to Bangkok and roamed around the street next to Khao San road before going back to hotel. I managed to buy at least one Thai harem pants. Since we had already checked out in the morning as the hotel did not let us have a late checkout, we only freshened up at the hotel lobby's toilet before leaving to airport. I seriously never felt so unclean and smelly in my life till that day.. LOL

◄  Last Night in Bangkok

Bangkok After Sunset - 2nd Night

On our 2nd night, I had my first ever (!) body massage session, authentic Thai massage at that (no, it's not the one with happy ending, LOL). So soooo relaxing.. I want more.

Tea and mango were served after the massage.

Evening - it was raining but that didn't stop us from walking to Khao San Road, known as the centre of backpackers, dancing, partying, barbecued insects/exotic snacks, market stalls, restaurants, bars, tattoo salons, massage parlours, budget hotels/guest houses and anything goes. It was 5-minute walk away from the hotel.

Khao San Road

We walked, bargained, stared and listened to every different band playing almost right next to each other (it's chaos!) before we decided to eat dinner. We chose the resto across the live music bar to enjoy free music. When we were about to pay, I checked our bill which I normally just pay whatever the total, I noticed that the total has a 100 baht excess. We called the attention of the waitress and the bill was corrected immediately.

At the resto where you should check your bill before paying!

Then we spent the whole night hanging out by the same bar across as they started playing reggae music. Most of the people passing by stopped to dance/listen and some stayed and drink beers. While TR had 3 bottles of beer, I only had a glass of mojito, LOL. We went back to hotel past 1am.

The bar at Khao San Road where we spent the rest of our final night

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