The weekend market - a lazy day

No where planned to go today, so we got up at a respectable hour and took our time over breakfast. The breakfast room was packed with Japanese families, and this made the people watching more entertaining than usual.

We decided to take the "Sky train" to the Weekend market, that is to say, to the market that is especially noted for being held at the err... weekend. The Sky train is Bangkok's attempt to improve traffic congestion, it's an urban railway system that runs high above the ground, it's very cheap and clean, and busy, but it does avoid the traffic.

(... the train approaching platform one is a "Sky train...)

 

The market was a fascinating experience, really atmospheric, massive and not just a tourist site, you could buy almost anything. We came across an area that seemed to specialise in pets, and there were dwarf rabbits, (dressed in costumes...), puppies, cats and in the fish water section, terrapins, koi carp and sea horses. I' m not sure about the animal welfare issues but it was certainly interesting.

(Jan was concerned that the dogs and cats were suspiciously close to the deep fat fried fast food stalls!)

(The way into the market).

(There were hundreds of little alleyways like this).

(Street performers come in all shapes and sizes...)

 

Excitement levels have been high at the hotel today and yesterday. Some high ranking military officials from Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam have been staying, we saw them going out to a function last night, all festooned with medals,, and this morning they were having breakfast in a private room off the lobby. There are security guards with earpieces and badges in dark suits all over the place, at one point I said to Jan I thought the man in the gaberdine suit was a spy... She said to be careful, because she thought his bow tie was really a camera...*

 

Got my suit delivered this evening, very nice, it shall be unleashed upon the unsuspecting public tomorrow night.

It also rained for the first time today, and boy did it rain! Cats, dogs, kitchen sinks, the lot, we were inside watching and it was spectacular.

We are catching the train to Singapore tomorrow, and so will be out of wi-fi range for 3 days, expect a bumper blog when we re-emerge into civilisation!

 

 

*spot the reference and maybe win a mention in a forthcoming post... come on you lurkers!

 

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