A Strathclyder Reunion

Bangkok, Day 4. So today was AMAZING and quite unexpected.

Well, I still woke in the middle of the night, but today was different as we were meeting some Thai friends. R had arranged to meet two of his former PhD students who live and work in Bangkok. I'll refer to them here as Dr. K and Dr. P.

They picked us up from the apartment at 9 am and it was so great to finally meet these lovely ladies that I remembered hearing their names at times from R, but I had no 'faces' to put to them.

Off we went in the beautiful air-conditioned car with Dr. P driving. We were heading to a floating market, and on the way there, we drove past several areas that Dr P and Dr K pointed out to us and explained the best way to get there and when to go. Bangkok is such a crazy and busy place for driving, but Dr. P was very used to it all, and it was such a pleasant and relaxing journey. We had a quick pit stop at a huge mall area (it was strange as it was just like the big malls you see in the States).

Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market

We arrived at the Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market around 10 am (I think) and it was already very busy with people and cars. It's worth noting that this market is only open at the weekends and not during the week. However, it was a brilliant market and there were so many stalls selling amazing fresh food dishes and vegetables. Note: this was a very different market to the one we had gone to the day before (Khlong Toei)!!

Canal Boat Trip

Drs. P & K then sorted us all out for a boat tour in one of the long boats, which took us along the canals where we could observe the local areas and see various local vendors at some of the stop-off points during the tour. We visited a lovely little temple area, saw a smaller market and then we stopped off at an orchid farm (Niyom Orchid Farm). I've never seen so many beautiful orchids in one place. It was quite an eye-opener to see 3 young boys happily swimming and playing in the canal water, though it would not have been us! I also loved seeing the banana trees with all the banana hands growing. After the boat trip, it was time for some delicious Thai food - yum!!

Food

Not only did we get the opportunity to taste a lot of little food samples from the vendors before the boat trip, but then we got a proper sit-down food experience.

Wow, wow, wow!!! I'm not quite sure where to start, as our amazing hosts did all the ordering and suggesting of foods for us to try. These included a glass noodle and prawn dish (goong ob woon sen?) where these huge fresh prawns were steam-cooked in a pot with garlic, ginger, pepper and noodles. This came with spicy green garlic and chilli sauce, which was to die for! I can hardly even remember what R had, as I was so entranced with the prawns. There were also several other dishes, of which I cannot remember the names, but there was a pad kaprao, I think, spring rolls, another chicken dish and some other dish with balls. Just so much delicious food and then afterwards, we also got to try a mango sticky rice (another ticked food item off the list). That was so lovely and sort of reminded me of when I was a little girl and my gran would make her homemade baked rice pudding, which she would then add some tinned fruit to. The tastiest and softest mango, with the little bean topping bits, again we were both in our element (despite being full to the brim!)

This is a good post which covers the market in more detail, and this one too if you are interested in visiting this market.

Icon Siam

After R and I managed to waddle back to the car, the Drs. duo then whisked us off to the amazing (I need to try and find some new words!!!) Icon Siam shopping complex. This place is MASSIVE and it is right overlooking the Chaophraya River. It has all the very fancy and upmarket brands, loads of food places, stunning toilets, regular events on, but it also has stunning architecture and design features, and simply jaw-dropping gorgeous views of the river and city.

After a long and wonderful day, our lovely 'Thai daughters' dropped us back at our apartment. Words cannot express their kindness, thoughtfulness, generosity and hospitality, and we were thoroughly humbled and honoured to spend a fabulous day with them. R has deemed them the best tour guides in the whole of Bangkok! We had such a laugh with them and we could not imagine how different a culture shock it must have been for them to live and study in cold, expensive, lack of choice Glasgow during their PhDs - for that we offered our profuse apologies - we totally understand now!

We hope to catch up with them again towards the end of our time in Thailand, but in the meantime, all I can say is that it was an absolute pleasure and "kap khun ka" Dr. P and Dr. K.