Date: March 17, 2007
Location: Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Thailand
Next Port: Port Kelang (Kuala Lumpur), Malaysia, March 20
Quick Summary: Larry took a tour of the unique Dammernsaduak Floating Market. He also visited Phra Pathom Chedi, the first Buddhist temple in Thailand where he saw the tallest Buddhist pagoda and a huge reclining Buddha. Then it was more shopping before the 4:00 p.m. bus transfer back to the ship.
Report: Karen was feeling a bit under the weather and decided to hang around the hotel this morning.
Larry headed off on an excursion to the Floating Market at Dammernsaduak – about 1-1/2 hours southwest of the city. There were only 8 people on the second bus which made it like a private tour. The guide, Song, was particularly knowledgeable.
We crossed west over the Chao Phraya River to Thonburi, where the king lived before building the Grand Palace on the eastern bank of the river. This low area is full of canals. Now that there are modern methods of flood control, greater Bangkok is expanding in this direction.
We soon saw vast areas where family units were mining sea salt. They build large 3-foot deep holding ponds into which they pump sea water to a depth of about 18 inches. The water then evaporates in about 3 months, after which workers “mine” the sea salt. The area also has refining and bagging plants, as well as soy and fish sauce manufacturing operations.
When we arrived in Dammernsaduak, we got into traditional long-tail boats. These are long, narrow boats with what look like car engines in the rear. The engines are attached to a long drive shaft that protrudes 3-6 feet behind the boat. The driver steers the shaft and propeller as a rudder, raising it in and out of the water to control the speed and direction. It’s hard to explain…but a thrilling ride. (See the photos.) There were only 4-6 people per boat. The boats really moved. We zoomed through narrow, mostly concrete canals…so the side wash was pretty rough…making the ride feel very tipsy. But none did.
The canals were like streets…lined with houses, some on stilts. As we zipped by we saw people eating, bathing, washing clothes, working on crafts, maintaining boats – and watching us.
We ended up at the floating market. This was one narrow canal which was lined on both sides by floating paddleboats. Many were laden with all sorts of fruits, vegetables, fish, and nuts. Others were floating restaurants, many with braziers. Both sides of the canal were lined with sheds where there were small tables to be used by those who purchased meals from the boat vendors. And further from the canal, there were other food and craft vendors. It was quite a colorful market. (Larry was definitely not tempted to eat any of the good-looking food after he saw some people washing utensils and dishes in the canal!)
It took us about an hour to reach our next stop, the Phra Pathom Chedi. This is the primal (first) Buddhist temple in Thailand. The original Indian style pagoda – 84 meters high – was started in the 3rd Century A.D. In 1853, King Rama IV began the restoration of the old pagoda. But then they decided to protect it by enclosing it inside and even larger pagoda. King Rama V completed the project. The end result is the tallest Buddhist pagoda in the world – 120 meters high. One does not enter the pagoda because within in it some of Gautama Buddha’s ashes are entombed. (He is generally considered the founder of Buddhism and the date of his passing is uncertain, but is believed to have been between 543-483 B.C.)
We walked around the base of the pagoda and our guide, Song, explained the different rules and living conditions of the monks and nuns who maintain this site. Their small huts were on the hillside below our walkway.
Song also described the meanings of the many Buddha statues surrounding the pagoda. In a separate building, we visited a very large reclining gold Buddha.
The drive back into Bangkok was about two hours due to clogged roads. By the time Larry returned to the hotel, Karen was feeling somewhat better. So he escorted her and Barbara for one final Bangkok shopping adventure to the Thailand Handcraft bazaar, just a few blocks away.
Then we caught the 4:00 p.m. transfer bus back to the ship. We arrived to a warm musical welcome by the ship’s band and many of the crew as they lined the entry to the gangway. This genuine welcome – and cool hand towel and a glass of champagne – made us feel good to be back “home.”
After dinner we caught part of a special musical program in the Horizon Lounge to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Some good fun.
Even though it was hot and Karen wasn’t feeling up to par, we both thought the visit to Bangkok was a lot of fun…providing some very memorable sights.
Karen and Larry
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Photos of our second day in Bangkok have been added.
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