Chatuchak ("JJ") Market

On Sunday we went to one of the largest markets in Asia... Chatuchak or JJ as it is called locally. It is held every Saturday and Sunday in a large space near a park in the suburbs. We went rather early around 9:30am before the big crowds hit. And yet you can see above the crowds on the street leading to the market.  You can find almost anything there and it is fascinating to stroll thru the large and small roads and alleys. Watching the people is most intriguing aspect of the experience. I bought a sunhat and a long sleeved shirt for my upcoming 4 days in northern Laos. T-shirts of all kinds are available:

This is a lady who was selling mangoes...the Mango Lady:

Even found a San Diego Chargers fan:

 

Some sales people at different kiosks:

Yes that last guy is selling cooked varieties of insects!

At one restaurant a large pan of rice, peppers, pork, chiken and chilli paste was being served up:

There were various crafts availble some quite beautiful like these Buddha artifacts:

Or this needle point demonstration for young and old:

As is common the Thai people bring their kids with them while they sell their wares:

Other items that were available:

All in all, this is a fascinating place to spend a day.

Nongnooch Gardens near Pattaya

I have been in Pattaya ( about 2 hour ride southeast of Bangkok) for 4 days now. So I avoided the big anti-government demonstrations there yesterday. I am due to go back to BKK on Friday, but if things get crazy then I will stay away from there.
The routine is similar with some beach days...it is unusually cold and windy hear but temperature in low 80s F and the sun is warming. It does get to below 70F in the nite. Brrrrrrr!

The beach:

Yesterday a friend and I went to a place about 30 minutes south of Pattaya called Nongnooch Gardens. It is a mixture of European formal gardens, zoo and elephant camp in a carnival, circus-like setting. It was interesting but unsettling because everything was very unnatural to entertain the tourists.

The gardens were beautiful:

They had a beautiful tiger with which you could have your picture taken (for 100 Baht):

And an elephant show that had every trick in the book: painting, soccer, basketball, dancing, lifting visitors by the trunks, feeding them bananas, with the animals (elephants dressed in silly costumes:

There was a mock war scene at he Thai cultural show:

And for an extra fee you could take an 20min elephant ride on the paved grounds:

Among the most interesting items were the children visiting:

I think visit to the Elephant Camps around Chiangmai are a better, more natural experience.

Dinner Cruise on the Chao Praya River

On Thursday evening I went on a dinner cruise on the big river that runs thru Bangkok.
There were lots of lights. Above is one of the newest bridges across the river...Rama 8 Bridge.
It is named after the last King...the present King is Rama 9. They had a nice light show that was very spectacular. The food was mediocre as with most dinner cruises.

The bridge from the front deck of the boat:

Other sights along the river:

The Temple of Dawn...Wat Arun:

The Grand Palace was illuminated as well:

All in all, a very pleasant evening on the river. It's a bit cooler on the river and the sites were lovely.

Back in Thailand

I arrived yesterday afternoon in Bangkok after a long day of traveling. Started in San Diego then to Los Angeles then to Taipei, Taiwan then finished up with a 3 1/2 hour hop to Bangkok arriving at noon. About 28hrs of travel from the time I left my house to arrival at hotel!

I got my Thai SIM card for my iPhone at the shopping mall so I could communicate cheaply. Then I took a nap, went out to dinner about 920pm. Slept okay when I got back around midnite. Woke up at normal morning time for Bangkok. And I think my system is on the Thai time zone.

On the way to lunch today, I ran across this little girl just sitting on the sidewalk with no adult around her:

 

But I did get her to look at me:

 The photo at the top is me posing with a mysterious animal that I have seen displayed every Christmas season. A rabbit? A Panda bear? Any ideas?

Now for another nap.