We
woke up at 7am and got ready to visit Wat Cherng Lane (Floating
Monastery) which is located in the outskirts of Bangkok.
This is a special monastery because it is technically floated
in a large pond of a canal leading to Chao Phraya. It was
also interesting to note that someone had re-discovered
the monastery 15 years ago and found 3 headless Buddha statues.
After a notice was given out to the neighbourhood saying
that a monastery was to be re-built, the Buddha heads were
promptly returned.
Something was bothering me throughout the trip so far. It
was supposed to be a spiritual trip (its a taboo to drink
in Buddhism) but I felt ashamed because I kept thinking
about drinking. As we were in a group, there wasn't much
of a chance to grab a drink till we were out in MBK center.
My mum and me broke off from the main group and went for
dinner at a nearby Thai Steamboat restaurant. We sat down
and I told myself that I will just do one bottle of Singha.
A lady came and I tried ordered a large bottle of Singha
subsequently. The lady shook her head and mumbled something
in Thai. As she was wearing a Leo beer t-shirt, I thought
perhaps this restaurant doesn't sell Singha and I suppose
a Leo will be fine. She shook her head again and tried to
draw crosses on the table. I turned my head and saw crates
of beer well stocked in the fridge. Why isn't she selling
me the beer? :(
After some more hand gestures, I finally realised that she
was trying to tell me that the government had banned the
sale of alcoholic drinks for the weekend due to polling
day. This means I will be unable to get a drink anywhere
(including all 7-elevens)!!
May as well, I guess. This saves me from all the pain in
thinking about beer. I have to quit it someday anyway. |
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My mum
at Taling Chan Floating Market. As this was in the outskirts
of Bangkok, there are less farangs and tourgroups hang around..
Background shows a huge shade built across the road with
busy shoppers. |
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It
was a Saturday morning and the market was filled with people
enjoying a morning meal. The wooden shelter is actually
nailed down into the river, with the stalls (see picture
below) floating by the side. |
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A "floating"
stall selling barberqued fish at 100B (cheap!). The large
fishes are covered by salt and grilled to perfection. The
lady also sells bbq prawns (on the left). |
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Yes, authentic
Phad Thai at 30B per plate!!!! The noodles were fried with
shrimps and covered in a fried egg. It was delicious. The
noodle soup (20B) was normal though. |
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Democracy
Monument, central Bangkok. Folks from various religious
groups of Thailand got together and prayed for democracy.
This was in view of the snap polls called by Thaksin. |
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Mum (covering
her face) and me working along a road in Bangkok. You can
practically see the dust hovering in mid-air. |
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A couple
waiting for a bus in front of a 7-Eleven while I stood from
a overhead bridge. |
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Seperated
by a piece of red cloth, Bangkok became beerless overnight.
This was found on the beer racks in TOPS (MBK center), central
Bangkok. |
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Be Mindful!
I saw this beside the sink in the house (and the washrooms)
of our Thai contact. Was pretty impressed by the constant
desire to remind oneself to be mindful. Perhaps I should
do that myself. |
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Welcome
to the vast lands of the northeast. We were in Khorat Province
after a 3-hours drive. I don't know why but the area reminds
me of cowboys and Brokeback Mountain. |
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