City of Angels
Krung Thep
Sep. 28th. Wednesday:
GypsySoul:
It is monsoon season in Thailand. This year has been unusually wet throughout the world and the forecast for Bangkok was 80% rain every day. We were praying for good weather but also packed an umbrella and some ponchos. When we started walking towards River City Mall, I was looking for rain clouds. We knew God would take care but was also cautiously scanning the skies. The sun was shining!
Praise God for a Glorious Morning!
Swarna:
Two minute walk from Talakkia Hotel was this River City Mall...Perfect Location for a Hotel...Hats off Mika for all your hard work and reserach on this...As we went there, a Get your guide Van was waiting on the mall entrance...Our Guide was a sweet Pattima Sarah and She was very friendly...She kept calling us INDIANS though...Took Printouts and IDs but there never asked for anything...Just a name was enough....
GypsySoul:
Pattima!!! She's probably younger than me!
We boarded a comfortable van and drove over to a train stop near the salt mines.
On the way we stopped at Peepee island and also grabbed some blue butterfly drink(sangu poo juice)
Swarna:
We went on a long drive enjoying the scenic and Industrious Bangkok...The architecture on the tall buildings were breathtaking, especially the one that looked like built out of Lego blocks...Our Guide Sarah told us many things abt Thailand ...Abt Thai Language and So on...Was surprised ...Ma Maa Maaa Maaaa and so many more Mas had different meanings.. Learnt Thankyou in Thai ...KOB KUN KA...If You are a girl ,u end the sentence with KA and a boy should end the sentence with KARB ...Interesting!!!
She took us to a salt field...Uppalam...
Thuthukudi la pirantha pengal flight yeri poi uppalam ponom nu yaar kitayum sollidatheenga...
GypsySoul:
Haha! 😉
Salt mines were a little muddy because of monsoon but overall it was a beautiful place to hangout till the train arrived. We learnt that the black salt is more expensive than the white salt. We also walked around a small salt processing shed before we crossed the road to get to the train station.
That train station is where we saw the picture of the Constipated King for the first time! King Rama X.
Throughout the trip he watched us with his riveting eyes from the sides of the buildings, from the front of the monuments and from Thai Bahts!
Swarna:
Then they took us on the Train...It was nice watching the suburbs of Bangkok from the Train...It looked like our Indian village side with Palm and coconut trees...And as the market neared it got very narrow and exciting....We could even touch the shops from the train...It was really amazing to watch How skillfully they handle the Big monstrous Train piercing right through the middle of the market...
GypsySoul:
We boarded the train and went through rural Thailand, lush and green. Vast paddy fields were laced with coconut trees. Then we reached the destination - the Maeklong train market! We could see the stalls, vendors, and their wares precariously balanced so close to the tracks as the train rolled into the station.
Papu became more adventurous than me - touching the stalls from the moving train and touching the moving train from the side of the stalls!!!
Swarna:
This Kung fu Coconut Lady was a true delight and she made the market trip extra colourful....She created a new experience for us ...Have had thousands of Elani but never like this cold dramatic Elani......This memory will always be cherished...
GypsySoul:
Sometimes, in life, we need to be at the right place at the right time to see and experience special magic. Kung fu Coconut is one of those moments! The ice cold chilled coconut with an awesome display of machete wielding skills and drama, right in the middle of the train tracks! Now that is priceless!
Experience of a Lifetime!
Swarna:
Mika wanted to stand safely under the tent while the train crossed again...haha...Never realised the tents come down when train crossed...She owes me one there..haha...We stood in a good place and watched the train go by...Even touched the train...
GypsySoul:
The Shops were set up edging all the way up to the train track. The awnings from both sides were touching on top forming a shady canopy. The only place left for us to walk was the actual train track. There were fruits, veggies, fish and snacks stacked on boxes and trays neatly arranged on both sides of the tracks. Hawkers were calling out to the customers and the echoing sounds resembled the din of any regular local market. But our hearts were pounding with the anticipation that a train could come barreling down the tracks towards us any minute. Where will these baskets and bins of goods go? Would we find a place to perch away from danger on time? How can the train fit inside this canopy? Would we get rolled over? I am sure hundreds of clueless tourists like us get flattened every year on these tracks!!!
I thought we should find a good shady spot under the awning and watch the train go by. Never dawned on me that the train can't fit inside the canopy!!! My brain was also on vacation, I guess 😜
There was a loud announcement on the speaker and slowly the awnings started folding down on either side. The tables on wheels were rolled back with boxes of goods and all. Suddenly, standing on the track, we could see a wide clearing along the track just enough for a train to pass through.
Here comes the choo choo train!
When the train passed through, the canopy came back, the tables were pushed back against the tracks and everything methodically went back to business as usual within seconds!
Back to normal life!
Swarna:
We returned back where the tour guide asked us to meet at 11:30 am and She took us to the floating market...She was so sweet and She gave cold water bottles and Also some yummy fried banana,pumpkin and sweet potato fritters...
GypsySoul: On the van ride to the floating market Sara kept handing bags of fried snacks. It was sweet but not overpoweringly sweet. It was so good and we had so much of it that we kept taking handfuls and sending some back. She entertained us by telling us some more fascinating facts about the history and lifestyle of the Thai people.
What is the full name of Bangkok?
Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.
The city holds the world record for the longest name of a place.
Thai people call it short as Krung Thep - the City of Angels
We call it Bangkok - Where dreams come true!
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