Floating Market
The Floating Market which is sometimes referred to as the "Venice of the East" is a network of over 600 km of canals around Bangkok. It was interesting to experience, although I believe we went to an area that catered more to tourists. We were able to see people selling goods from their long boats , as well as see the shop owners who were set up along the the canals. I tried some fresh coconut milk straight from the fruit, and sipped from a straw, as well as the best fried bananas I have ever tasted ! A woman in a long boat made them and she is related to our tour guide. These yummy treats are simply Thai banans, some rice flour and fried in lotus oil. We also tried pamellos which tasted like delicious grapefruits without the sour taste. I was able to purchase some saffron and yellow curry and look forward to looking up some Thai recipes when I get home cook a Thai meal for my family.
Grand Palace
This palace was built a long time ago by Rama for the Crown Prince Rama but unfortunately he died at twelve years old . In present day, the
palace is now used for official Buddhist ceremonies for the Royal Family. There is a separate part of the Palace that is not open to visitors and is used as quarters for guests of the King, Crown Prince and the government. Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth, most recent US Presidents have also been guests at the Grand Palalce….Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush and Bill Clinton. There was a lot of Hindu influence throughout the Grand Temple in terms of architecture, statues and paintings. There are strict rules about men wearing shorts below their knees and women wearing long pants or a skirt with a shirt in which your shoulders do not show. One of the women in our group had long paints but the entrance attendent determined they were too tight so she had to rent a skirt ot go through the Grand Palace. I enjoyed most the monkey faced statues, which represent demons.
We then took a boat ride down the river and had a great view of the sky scrappers. It actually reminded me of riding in a Duck Boat of the Charles River with the skyscrapers of Boston in front of you.
Hi Mrs Verra,
ReplyDeleteI was wondering what the most life changing experience for you was seeing the Thai people? What memory will you take back to America about the people of Thailand and their quality of life they experience?
- Sara Cahill
Hi Mrs Verra,
ReplyDeleteExcatly when was the Grand Palace built? Were was it built? Was there anything that sculpters resembled?
-Sierra Schlussel
Hi Sara...what a great question! I am so overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of the Thai people with their smiles and kind natures. There is a calmness to the pace of life here that is so wonderful. My favorite memory is definitely visiting the school and playing frisbee with the middle school kids yesterday and sharing pictures of Hopkinton kids with them..
ReplyDeleteHi Sierra. The Grand Palance was built a long time ago (a few hundred) but it was actually never used as a palace because King Rama built it for his son, the Crown Prince but unfortunately he died at the age of twelve years old. It has been used in more modern times as the place where the Royal Family celebrates Buddhist ceremonies. There is a section of the Grand Palace that is also used to house important guests of the King, Crown Prince and Government. Queen Elizabeth from London and many of our Presidents have stayed there including Ronald Reagan, Hillary Clinton and George Bush. There are many statues that can represent lots of different things. Most of our Buddha and same are of Hindu gods such as Ganesh. There are also statues of Monkey gods who are demons.
ReplyDeleteWas the palace in very good condition or had the wind and time broken it down a little bit?
DeleteThe Palace was in very good condition. Very different than the temple ruins we visited later in the trip.
DeleteHi Ms. Verra!
ReplyDeleteI hope you're having a phenomenal time in Thailand! (It sure seems like it). You remind me of my mom, she really enjoys coconut milk too-we had a lot in India! I also though it was funny that you were eating the fried bananas from the boats, while I was eating them here! My mom makes a very similar version of what you described, so next time you don't have to go all the way across the world! I was also wondering-what does the average person not know about Thailand, that you learned?
~Eva Kuruvilla
Yes, the coconut milk is so refreshing in very hot climates like in Thailand and India! Always feel free to bring in some of your Mom's fried bananas! The bananas in Thailand are half the size as the ones we get in the states but more flavorful. I think that the people in Thailand are very well connected through their cell phones and tv's to what is going on in the country. There are some rural areas we visited but most Thai people live in small towns and cities like we do here. It is a modern and vibrant country that works hard to honor their ancient treasures and culture. I did notice that the protests get a lot more coverage in the western press than it does on Thai news.
ReplyDeleteHi, Mrs.Verra!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if there were any foods that you tried that you loved and if there were and foods that you tried that you didn't really like?
I loved the Mango Sticky Rice and did not like the jelly-like desserts. I am a huge fan of Thai food so ate very well!
DeleteHello, I'm curious about your favorite drink there as well as food. Did you just have American drinks like Pepsi and Coke or different and more intresting drink
ReplyDeleteMy favorite drink was drinking coconut milk straight from the fruit with a straw..very refreshing in the very hot climate in Thailand. The Thai coffee was excellent!
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