1/11/08

Floating Market (Damneon Suduak region)

This is about 60miles west of Bangkok. We had met the minibus at 7am so that we arrived early to the Floating Market when most of the trading takes place and before the temperature rose!

We paid 150baht to get on a long boat as shown in the picture. The driver had a single paddle to steer and move us through the market. The river was very corwded with traders and just as we had set off one of the traders in their boat had pulled our boat in to them with the use of a metal hook! Most of what was being sold were nic nacs but there were other traders selling fruit such as coconut and even some with small kitchen stoves and frying pans selling fresh noodles and fried rice.

The boat then took us further past the market area to the locals village huts positioned on the water which was an eye opener. As Caz said - well its not far from work!

Off the boat we had a quick look by foot around the remaining land market. I had only looked in the direction of some long trousers and the owner was over like a shot wrapping them around me and asking me to buy. The price of things is extremely marked up and this was highlighted by her saying 1200baht initially for the trousers, then 'ok 800baht', then 'ok 600baht', then 'ok 300baht final'. I said no thankyou and that I'd think about it and carried looking round the market. On our way back to the groups meeting place the women had somehow spotted me and came running after me waving the trousers in the air saying 250baht!

Once the group was together again we had a short trip on the long tail speed boat aruond the village again. Then it was time to return to the minibus for the next part to our trip.....The Bridge Over the River Kwai.