Day of Touring

I woke up at 6:30 today, and starting my day off with a shower. Last night I bought a pre-peeled pamalo to eat for breakfast today. After packing up I checked out and took a motorcycle taxi to a bus heading to Bangkok leaving at 8:00. I was concerned at first, because I thought it was a straight shot with no stops in-between. But I found that they made several stops along the way to Bangkok, one of them being Nakhon Pathom. On the way to my city I talked to one of my friends who I met through Rotary. He went to Japan a year before before my exchange. I met up him around 10:00. He took me to his house where we waited for his girlfriend, Chin. P'Ga, my friend, and I watched Tv for a little bit while we waited, and I was reunited with his sister Bem. She went to Spain after I had returned to the US. Around 12:00, Chin arrived and we went out to eat lunch. We had Som Tum, spicy ground pork with basil, the same thing with liver, and other such delicious food that is difficult to explain. I felt stuffed and I was ready to sleep, but we still had a lot to do. We traveled about half an hour outside my city to a market along the river. We picked up lots of little snacks, mostly sweet ones. We then headed to the river and boarded a boat tour.

Duck

Bamboo shoots I think

More duck

Thai dessert

Delicious fried things

Polemo, like an orange but with white flesh

The boat we boarded

Our food haul

Chin doesn't like her photo to be taken

 A boat merchant

Bem always smiling

P'Ga is too silly, acting all cool.

White fish are rare, and it is considered luck to see one, let alone two. 

It was fun to watch the scenery go by and sit and talk with my friends. Most of the stuff I took pictures of in the market, I don't know what to call them, or how to describe them, but most stuff you are ok to buy and try. However, if you try and be safe buy trying something that looks western or more American, you will be disappointed as it typically won't taste that great. 

After the boat ride we walked back through the market, stopping to take some more photos. 

The dragons are just decoration. I think the dragon references old folklore. 

After we were done with the market, we went to my hotel to check in. The room is very clean and neat. It is unlike other hotels I have been too. The name of the hotel is Xen, and it is about 25 dollars a night. Around 6:30 we went to visit the Phra Pathom Chedi, or as the locals call it, Ong-Prah.

Made of jade

Ong-Prah is special. This city revolves around Ong-Prah, and we use it as a reference point because you can see it from almost anywhere in the city. It is the biggest temple of its kind in the world. 

After visiting Ong-Prah, we went to walking street, a weekend night market. I bought a shirt and we walked around, buying more food. I tried some passion fruit ice-cream which was delicious! We then stopped at a small restraint for some proper dinner. 

She is selling grilled beef, something very unusually
in Thailand

Peoples houses sit right about the hustle and bustle of the market.

people will sell there used cloths and shoes here as a way
to make money

The kind people who sold me their ice-cream. 

In the restraint. A tribute to the late king.

The owners of the eatery. 

Our food. It was ok, but I don't think I will chose to eat this
again. 

We could be models

Half an hour before the market closes, and the streets are dead. 

All in all it was a good day. I was happy I got to see my friends again, and laugh and talk. It seemed as though not a lot has changed from when I last saw them. They were so kind to take me with them today and do all of this touring for me. I am very grateful to have such nice, caring friends.

Wising for the best on your adventures, 

Cienna