On Friday night we went to the "red district", quite an experience with the lady boys and the market stands at night. They certainly transform from day to night. After a walk through there we went on to the "SKY" bar which was very cool. You could see a 360 view of Bangkok from the 65th floor outside bar. Didn't stay long. A Thai beer was $12 and had to be up early for the next days adventure.
We started out at the train market, this was interesting because there are stalls and stalls of fish, veggies, fruit, etc., but with very short notice a train comes through and the people pick up their market in the matter of minutes. We then went on to the floating market where we rode in a paddle boat through the canals. We stopped at a coconut farm which was amazing to see all the things the locals make out of coconuts and the process that takes place on the farms. Following the farm we went to one of the only Catholic churches in Bangkok....it was beautiful. It sat on the river and was over 200 years old. The stained glass in the church was amazing. We then went on to another market, a traditional Thai lunch and then a salt farm. The day was so interesting to see all the different agriculture and true Thai life.
After that, caught a flight to Chaing Rai where I will be for 5 days. The first hotel is lovely and I am getting ready for a bike ride to train and ride the elephants.
More later.
