Bangkok Markets

Bangkok Markets

October, 2012 

We spent the day in Bangkok doing the markets and seeing amazing things. There were Chinese, Indian, textile, shoe, fish, garment, vegetable, amulet and flower markets and each was more amazing than the last.

Man this load is heavy!

Need flip flops anyone?

Bolts of fabric on a motorcycle and stacks of banana leaves

Huge baskets of veggies

Hot hot peppers

Don't I look pretty?

A gift for the Buddha

Piles of orchids everywhere

 

Flower arranging

A monk's pet pig

Polka-dot Pig

Our favorite sighting was a saffron-robed monk with a pet pig all dressed up in a pink polka-dot coat with red stuffed monkeys riding on its back and a flower hair clip that kept falling off. They were going through the impossibly crowded market when the pig stopped to drink some water, and the monk could not get the pig to follow until he gave him a smack which got the pig moving again. No leash or prod, just calling to his dear little pig to follow him made everyone stop and look with smiles and giggles.

 

Life on the River

A beer on the river

Food stand via boat

We finished off the day of markets with a boat bus back home and beer at a restaurant on the river over looking a beautiful bridge all lit up over the river Chao Phrae. While we are drinking our beers and watching the boats go by, a small fishing boat with a woman squeaking a rubber duck and a bright light approached. She had a food stand in her boat complete with a charcoal grill and noodle maker and raw meat hanging from clothes pins. She paddled up to the restaurants and took orders from the customers seated by the river. Then she proceeded to cook the meat and make the noodles while she kept the boat steady with her paddle. When the food was done she put it in a plastic bag along with the sauce and put the bag in a basket at the end of long stick that she raised up to the diners, who took the food and deposited their money in the basket. This was perfectly acceptable to our waiter who put in his own order too. It was an amazing vision of skill and entrepreneurship.