Discovering Damnoen Saduak Floating Market: A Timeless Thai Experience

Posted by Annette Johnson on August 19, 2024
Posted in: Bangkok, Thailand. Leave a comment

Back in 2008 I visited this floating market. Back then it was quieter and less touristy. Dread to think what it’s like now, so take a look at a time when it was for real and not the tourists!

Some info below:

Back in 2008 I visited this floating market. Back then it was quieter and less touristy.

The Damnoen Saduak experience can be an assault on the senses, with the twisty passages between boats and the jumble of watercraft all demanding your attention as your boat picks its way through the canal, the rising heat of the day (especially if you visit later in the morning), and the smell of the cooking food clashing with the damp odor of the canal water.

In the past, daily commerce in Thailand was conducted mostly along rivers and canals (or khlongs in Thai). Bangkok’s water network was busy and served as the principal means of communication causing Bangkok to be called as the “Venice of the East” by early European visitors.

Damnoen saduak Floating Market in Ratchaburi is one of the most popular floating markets in Thailand. Every day many Thai and foreign tourists travel here to shop, eat, and absorb the atmosphere of Thailand water markets that have been like this for over 100 years. Klong Damnoen Saduak is the straightest and longest canal in Thailand. The canal was built on royal initiative as King Rama IV of Thailand wanted to link the Mae Klong River with Chinese river ways to support transportation and trade. It took over 2 years to dig, and was eventually finished under the reign of his successor King Rama V. The canal is 32 kilometers long and has more than 200 branches. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market’s popularity grew to new heights in 1971-1973 when the river was full of farmers on their boats selling their wares. And that is the way trade is performed in this area until today.

The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is one of Thailand’s most famous and iconic tourist attractions.

It is located in the Ratchaburi Province, about 100 kilometers southwest of Bangkok, Thailand’s capital.

The market is renowned for its picturesque setting and the unique shopping experience it offers visitors.

Here are some primary details about the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market:

Floating Market Concept

The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is a traditional Thai market where vendors sell their goods directly from boats.

The market’s main waterway, Damnoen Saduak Canal, is lined with long-tail boats loaded with various products, including fresh fruits, vegetables, street food, souvenirs, clothing, and handicrafts.

Vibrant Atmosphere

The market exudes a lively and colorful atmosphere, with vendors wearing traditional Thai clothing and engaging in friendly banter with shoppers.

It’s a bustling scene, especially in the morning when the market is busiest.

Local Cuisine

One of the highlights of visiting Damnoen Saduak is the opportunity to sample authentic Thai cuisine.

Many vendors prepare and sell delicious Thai dishes like noodle soups, rice dishes, and exotic fruit juices.

The market is primarily known for its coconut-based snacks and sweets.

Boat Tours

Visitors can explore the market by taking a boat tour. These tours often involve navigating the narrow canals that connect to the main market area.

It’s scenic and enjoyable to experience the market and get close to the vendors.

Shopping

The market offers a wide range of products, making it a great place for souvenir shopping.

Traditional Thai handicrafts, silk scarves, wooden carvings, and other unique items can be found.

Cultural Experience

The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market provides insight into traditional Thai culture and the locals’ way of life.

It’s an opportunity to see age-old trading practices and interact with friendly vendor

Exploring Bang Sak Beach: A Secluded Gem in Khao Lak

Posted by Annette Johnson on August 18, 2024
Posted in: Phuket, Thailand. Leave a comment

Just a short view of Bang Sak Beach, my happy place in Khao Lak.

BANG SAK BEACH

Bang Sak Beach is one of the most secluded beaches of Khao Lak still visited by tourists. It borders Pak Weep Beach in the south and Ban Thap Tawan Beach in the north.

Bang Sak Beach is also called the beach of the locals. This is because there are no accommodations in the middle of the bay. Locals and fisherman meet here for a picnic or a cozy get-together on the beach or in the shade of the trees. Behind this stretch of beach there is a road with some small local restaurants. An interesting place if you are interested in local life and food.

In the southern part of Bang Sak there are only a few luxury resorts, these are surrounded by a few restaurants on the beach. Also in the northern part of the beach there are again a number of restaurants, small bars and massage facilities on the beach. There are only two resorts in this part of Bang Sak Beach. So here you can count on a quiet beach with total relaxation.

Bang Sak, like many other beaches in Khao Lak, is an ideal beach for a long beach walk with a stop at one of the small restaurants.

Entopia Penang: A Tropical Butterfly Haven

Posted by Annette Johnson on August 4, 2024
Posted in: ASEAN, Malaysia, Malaysia, Malaysia ASEAN. Leave a comment

Penang Butterfly Farm opened in 1986. At the time, it was the first tropical butterfly farm in the world. It was what you might expect from a butterfly farm until it emerged from its cocoon in 2016 having transformed into Entopia.

Entopia Penang is located in Teluk Bahang in the Northwest corner of Penang Island. The journey from Georgetown to Entopia Penang is around 20km and it takes around 45 minutes to get to Entopia Penang from George Town (depending on traffic). At Entopia Penang it feels like there is something living everywhere you look.

Entopia Penang is split into two main parts: The Nature land Gardens (conservatory) and The Cocoon Indoor Discovery Centre. We explored all sections freely, and without time limit. The Nature land Gardens consists of pools, waterfalls, plants, trees and bushes. There are many butterflies and insects living freely in this zone. Flower displays provide a landing pad for the butterflies and allow you to get up close to admire the intricate beauty of these creatures. With its vibrant tropical gardens and a kaleidoscope of over 15,000 butterflies, Entopia invites you on an exhilarating adventure into the heart of nature. From the captivating indoor conservatory to the sprawling outdoor gardens, this enchanting butterfly park offers an immersive experience like no other.

A haven for Butterflies and a great opportunity to see many of them close up but still in a fairly Natural environment. Me and my camera had a fabulous time!

Sun Beach-Trang-Thailand

Posted by Annette Johnson on June 3, 2024
Posted in: ASEAN, Thailand, Thailand South. Leave a comment

Hat Chao Mai National Park-Sun Beach 2023 Chao Mai National Park is home to several picturesque beaches, with white sandy shores and crystal-clear waters.

As you will see from this slideshow video. I can only say it is the closest place to heaven on Earth I have ever visited! No people, no traffic, no dogs, no buildings, no anything except beautiful nature untouched.

I visited here on my road trip to the southern part of Thailand in December 2023, I will after this visit be going again, if not just for the peace, the beauty of this amazing place.

This is the most beautiful part of Thailand you will ever see! Please enjoy!

Samila Beach-Thailand

Posted by Annette Johnson on June 3, 2024
Posted in: ASEAN, Thailand, Thailand South. Leave a comment

The busiest part of Samila Beach is the eastern end nearest Songkhla Town centre. In front of the famous mermaid statue is a long promenade ending in front of roundabout bearing the name ‘Samila Beach’. Lining the promenade are restaurants, shops and market stalls. At the beach end of the promenade is a large concrete pavilion.

Samila Beach is not a swimming or sunbathing beach. There are a lot of large ships in the bay. The beach is somewhere people walk along or sit around. People also come to exercise, ride bicycles, and even horses, up and down the beach side path. They also come at sunset to enjoy an ice cream, a sausage on a stick, draw pictures of the bay, or a drink.

Looking westwards along Samila Beach from the mermaid statue the bay curves gently northwards for just under 3 km. For the entire length of the bay there is wide border of pine trees all the way to far tip of the peninsular marking the end of the beach and opening of large river mouth linking the sea to the vast Songkhla Lake.

The famous statue on Samila Beach is the cat and mouse statue at the eastern end of the beach. This large statue was installed in 2000 to commemorate the local legend of the cat, the mouse, the dog and the magic crystal.

According to the legend a Chinese merchant ship carrying a magic crystal was passing by Simila Beach when the ships’ dog, cat and mouse, working together as a team, stole the magic crystal and made a bid for freedom by attempting to swim to the shore. Neither dog, cat, mouse or magic crystal ever made it to the beach. The dog turned into Tang Kuan hill, the cat and mouse turned into the two islands in the bay, named Cat Island (Koh Maeow) and Mouse Island (Koh Nu).

Ang Thong Waterfall

Posted by Annette Johnson on June 3, 2024
Posted in: ASEAN, Thailand, Thailand South, Uncategorized. Leave a comment

This is a little Waterfall by the side of a main road. Very easy to access. We visited it on our December 2023 Road trip around the southern end of Thailand.

The waterfall rock is dark greenish yellow color. The water in this waterfall looks like a pale gold color. This 10-meter-High waterfall are flowing all year around and the most significant to this fall is the color, the color of this waterfall is gold.

There are many picnic tables and Trees around the basin of the waterfall where people can relax and enjoy its surroundings. There is also a path for people to walk up to the top of the waterfall, but we did not as we were on our way to Pak Meng, which was still quite a drive onwards.

The Lebuh Pantai Fire and Rescue Station 2023

Posted by Annette Johnson on June 3, 2024
Posted in: Uncategorized. Leave a comment

Built in 1908, the Central Fire Station is Malaysia’s oldest surviving fire station. Up until the late 19th century, residents of George Town had to rely on the police to help put out flames, tackle wildlife problems and other emergencies.

In 1898, a fire brigade was finally set up, comprising 10 trained volunteers equipped with a steam power pump carted by four horses. It wasn’t until 10 years later, however, that the Central Fire Station was built. The largely Edwardian two-storey building was fitted with a Mughal-style watchtower – topped with a finialed dome – that was used for observation, training and to dry off water hoses.

The Central Fire Station remains in operation 115 years later, with some new additions. The original louvred wood shutters were replaced by colonial grid windows, and at the back of the building, a three-storey barracks was added to house firefighters and their families. But perhaps most striking is the new red and white paint job that accentuates the building’s symmetrical beauty and classic features. So striking, in fact, that the building got an honourable mention in Accidentally Wes Anderson, the bible of nostalgia aesthetics.

The fire station is one of 82 historic buildings listed as Category 1 in the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site. More recently, it was known as the Beach Street Fire Station up until 2019, when it reverted to its original name.

To commemorate its storied past, the station’s squad – led by former station chief Mohamad Rafizi Arafpin – have set up a mini gallery on site. Items on display include old photographs, a vintage bicycle fitted with a water hose carriage, as well as different types of firefighter garb. Young visitors can even put on a kids’ uniform and sit in a fire truck – a front seat glimpse into the life of a hero.

Sanur Beach Bali

Posted by Annette Johnson on June 3, 2024
Posted in: indonesia. Leave a comment

Sanur Beach has a lengthy shoreline (about 7 kilometers) with a paved footpath that runs the length of it, making it ideal for an early morning walk, jog, or bike ride. Which is exactly what I did when i took these photos during my walk.

It’s a beautiful course flanked by fishing boats, hotel gardens, and beach eateries, with views of Mount Agung volcano in the background on occasion.

Although it was shrouded in heavy mist during my visit, so I really didn’t get to see it at all. But as you will see from my photos the weather at the beach was stunning with a beautiful cool breeze, and lots of lovely small cafes and restaurants to stop and refresh at along the way.

Padang Galak Beach-Bali

Posted by Annette Johnson on June 3, 2024
Posted in: ASEAN, indonesia. Leave a comment

Padang Galak Beach is Sanur’s northernmost beach, where experienced surfers can enjoy strong waves most of the year.

It has a narrow shoreline with concrete wave breakers adjoining a beach footpath. The area enjoys strong winds (10–20 knots) from June to August, making it a popular spot for Bali’s traditional flying hobbyists.

Also known as the black beach, on account of it’s black volcanic sand. A truly bracing but wonderfully free-ing place to be. Padang Galak Beach hosts the annual Bali International Kite Festival, usually in July or August, depending on weather conditions. Hundreds of competing kite troupes gather from all over the island to pilot their traditional kites at a spacious grassy beachfront field. The troupes often compete against international teams flying modern kites of various shapes and sizes.

We were too early in August for this event, but saw lots of kites all around The beaches on the Sanur coastline

Pantai Duyung -Bali

Posted by Annette Johnson on June 3, 2024
Posted in: ASEAN, indonesia. Leave a comment

Duyung Beach is located not far from Sanur Beach and is actually part of the same coastline. You can even find a pedestrian path that connects the two beaches, with just a 5-minute walk between them.

Duyung Beach is quieter and less crowded, making it suitable for those who want to enjoy a relaxing time at the beach. The peaceful atmosphere makes it an ideal spot for families with children to play in the sand and swim in the calm waters.

Moreover, Duyung Beach is a great location for photography enthusiasts as many fishing boats often dock along the shore, providing a unique charm. Plus, water sport of Paragliding. I got some beautiful Photos of the seascape and hope you enjoy them too!

Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue or GWK in Bali

Posted by Annette Johnson on June 3, 2024
Posted in: ASEAN, indonesia. Leave a comment

It took 28 years to build this massive statue of the Hindu god Vishnu riding a mythical bird.

It is the tallest statue in Indonesia, the world’s tallest statue of a Hindu deity, and if you include its massive base. If you include the huge base on which the statue stands, its total height of 397 feet (121 meters) ranks it as the fourth tallest statue in the world. The entire structure was built from 754 modules, pieced together to form a gargantuan statue weighing more than 3,000 tons, with a steel frame covered in a copper and brass skin.

On top of Vishnu’s head sits a 3.5-ton crown covered with gold-plated mosaics. This is set in an area of ​​ 60 hectares, and houses some other very large statues, such as the Garuda’s head, and Vishnu and the dancing Garuda.

I Hope you enjoy this journey round the park with me!

Yeh Pulu Temple- Nr. Ubud – Bali

Posted by Annette Johnson on June 3, 2024
Posted in: ASEAN, indonesia. Leave a comment

One of the less visited places, it does not make it less at all. The walk there through the Indonesian countryside made it not just beautiful, but insightful into rural Indonesia. We were the only people there and loved it. Especially catching the boys flying their kites in the fields.

Yeh Pulu Temple located at the Bedulu Village nearby Ubud. Inside the temple, you will find a wall that stretched along 25 meters with beautiful reliefs telling about the ancient Balinese’ life. There is also a cave in the area, believed as the meditation place of King Bedahulu at 1343. Therefore, it’s not strictly a temple, more like an archeological site, which does not make it a less interesting site to visit.

The Balinese still come to worship the Ganesha Statue, that’s why probably people call it a temple these days or in Indonesian: Pura Yeh Pulu. The name of this temple was derived from two words Yeh means water and Pulu means as a container used as a place to keep the rice for locals.

That is why we can find an actual container in a shaped like a barrel at the spring of holy water. During full moon or the anniversary of the temple, many worshippers from near villages come for praying.

The Goa Gajah Temple is also nearby, therefore it’s very convenient to visit also Goa Gaja. Both are impressive and give you a deeper insight into the culture and traditions of Bali.