Globe-trotting Thailand: On Elephants and Floating Market

December 27, 2013

Globe-trotting Thailand: On Elephants and Floating Market

The sun's scorching heat has finally made me come to my senses that I am not in the coldest capital anymore. Say hello to.. Thailand.

Captured Image of the King going to Pattaya

The weather is so good that I can still feel the sting of winter from my second home and at the same time can experience nostalgia from my comfy home. I must say this can be a very nice transition before my mind could totally experience the weather shock. Well if there's more appropriate term for that, kindly tell me.

Temperature check: 19 deg Celsius. Not bad.

It is on my bucket list that I would want to travel to SEA countries (South-east Asian that is: Thai-Viet-Camb) all at once thus knowing that I will be spending few days here before I head back to the Philippines is like fulfilling a part of that list. Oh well, thanks to Korean Air and a couple of luck that we got the cheapest fare from UB to BKK. More than that I can say that it was the Lord who allowed me to experience this never-before opportunity to experience a side trip to Thailand before heading back to my home country. Ikaw na nga, Lord!

My excited little feet could not wait to step out and gush to Thailand's colorful culture thus I managed to do a little research over the landing-place. Bangkok, locally known as Krung Thep Maka Nakhon or just Krung Thep is Thailand's capital. Unbelievably saying, the city is included in Guinness Book of Records having the longest city name, "Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit." The meaning is pretty much the uncondensed history of the city rather than a word: “The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city (unlike Ayutthaya) of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn.”

The happy city -- that is. No wonder why the city is also called the Land of Smiles. As one of Asia's main travel hubs, Thailand appeals to entail warm greetings, spicy delicacies, golden buddhas and long-established temples, chummy elephants, rich and colorful hill tribe villages, first-rate shopping, phenomenal floating markets and off the wall hideaways.

Sooo. Our first stop for today: See elephants.

At Nongnooch Tropical Garden
Pattaya, Thailand

I couldn't hide my excitement on this picture. Oh well.

Ate Berlie and I on the trunk

That awkward pose with dumbo
(look how stiff my legs were! haha)

Pattaya, more than an hour ride from Bangkok is located in the east coast of the gulf of Thailand. Its crescent-shaped bay is known for its stunning beaches and night life. Not just that, Pattaya also caters the biggest and most beautiful garden in South east Asia: The Nongnooch Tropical Garden. Pronounced by the locals as Nongnuut, Nongnooch is famous for its remarkable Elephant and Thai Cultural Show.

While waiting on the Cultural Show
L-R: Jessie, Berlie and Jep

Got a glimpse of their traditional boxing known as Muay Thai

Nongnooch's plant sculptures

Ate Berlie and Jessie in the bed of flowers

There are a lot of pictures taken in the garden but unfortunately got corrupted upon uploading.
Few pictures were left and that's the saddest part of this journey. Sigh.

And our next destination: Floating Market.

Long ago, people of Thailand consider themselves as the water lords during the time where water transport played an important role in their daily life, which serves as one of the most important factor in their culture. Rivers network a series of businesses and markets even to date. They believe that water is less accessible to animals, and it helps to make their room cool. Today, most floating markets primarily serve as tourist attractions and mainly found in neighboring countries including Indonesia.

L-R: Nelly, Jep, Berlie, Jessie's mom, Jessie

Upon riding Thai's traditional long boat

The colorful journey brought us to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, almost two-hour ride from Bangkok, in Rajburi province.It is said that goods are sold in old traditional way either from their patio or boats. The river packed with long, wooden boats with goods -- from traditional thai food, fruits and vegetables, thai silk, paintings, even souvenir items. It brought us to a whole new and consciousness-expanding dimension.