boat – Snapping The Globe

Canal Life

Despite the day’s drizzly beginnings, it was shaping up to be much improved. Drawing back the curtains, I noticed that the clouds were parting and the sun attempting to make its presence known. By the time I had dressed and made it outside, I discovered the perfect fall day for a bike ride in Amsterdam.

Jumping on one of my hotel’s complimentary bikes, I headed toward the river IJ. The ferry quickly carried me over to the train station and there, I decided ride adjacent to one of the less trafficked canals that ring the city, the Prinsengracht. There was a museum in that canal that I wanted to visit.

Yes, in the canal…the Houseboat Museum.

Visitors to Amsterdam can spot hundreds of houseboats lining each of the canals throughout the city.

Some are basic. Some are unique. Some are small and others are large.

Regardless of where they are located and what they look like, the most common question in most people’s minds is “what is it like to live in one”?

The Woonbootmuseum, the only houseboat museum in the world, is the perfect place to have this burning question answered.

Over 2,900 houseboats line the Amsterdam canals. Many are traditional iron freighter ships with holds converted into houseboats and others more modern concrete-based rectangular houseboats.

With its origins as a barge, built in 1914, this vessel was tasked with transporting timber, sand, gravel and coal until the 1960s. Its conversion was conducted in 1967 to include a skipper’s quarters with sleeping bunks, living room, kitchen and bathroom and renamed the Hendrika Maria. With approximately 262 square feet of living space, its inhabitants enjoyed canal life until 1997.

Crossing the gangplank, I descended the narrow stairway into the living space. The first part of the houseboat I encountered was the sleeping quarters tucked away at the rear of the boat. A few years ago, we had taken a trip on a sailboat in the Caribbean and these small berths reminded me of our nightly quarters. A small stove and kitchen area completed the space.

Moving through the curtain, I encountered the agent behind a desk and purchased my entry ticket. A descriptive pamphlet was handed over to guide me through the various areas of the converted freighter’s hold.

Moving into the next room, I found myself in a very spacious living/dining area. It was surprising how large the area was and reminded me that this houseboat is equal in size of the average Amsterdam apartment…believe me, I have been to my friend’s apartment where four people reside!

Finally, heading to the rear compartment where the small bathroom is also located, I found another small sleeping quarter with an exhibit of houseboat models and an illustrated history of the boat. Crouching behind the sleeping berths wall, I found a viewing area into the bow with another sleeping berth and a television screen showing a film giving insight into the houseboat lifestyle. If you think that Amsterdam houseboat living is for you, keep in mind that in addition to insurance and maintenance charges being quite significant, there are no leases to be had in any of the city’s canals.

Since the space is a limited one, capacity is limited and guests sometimes encounter a wait to enter the boat. On this day, I was the only visitor and had the museum to myself! It was a most pleasing experience to envision how I would spend my days if I lived here since I was the only one moving through the boat!

Finishing my self-guided tour, I climbed the small stairway to the top of the boat and made my way back over the gangplank to where my bike was locked up next to the canal. Contemplating my next destination if I had been a first time tourist, it would have been quite convenient to walk the five minutes to the Anne Frank House or to the nearby Westerkerk church. Since I had visited these attraction in the past, however, I headed back the way I had come toward the train station. I had another destination in mind.

Parking my bike in the bike garage in front of the train station, I walked over the canal and into the Lover’s Canal Cruise office. With the weather cooperating, I decided that I would keep the theme of the day…Canal Life!

Purchasing a ticket for a departure at 5:30 p.m., I waited patiently in the adjacent café area until boarding time. Being one of the first passengers to board, I headed towards the rear of the long boat and took my seat, plugging in a set of headphones into one of the ports which offered information on the sites we would be seeing in nineteen different languages.

Soon on our way, we cruised into the river IJ, which I had previously crossed, passing the train station, the ferries and river cruise boats docked for the day. Back into the Oosterdoksdoorgang canal, we made our way past the NEMO Science and the Amsterdam Maritime History Museums.

Motoring along, as expected, we encountered a multitude of houseboats docked along the canals. With a much better perspective, I know could see the differences between the types of these water homes.

Passing under and near many of Amsterdam’s bridges, bikes lining their lengths, we also sailed by the Montelbaanstoren, the 16th century defensive tower which was once part of the city walls and other identifiable structures throughout the city; the floating Sea Palace Chinese restaurant, the Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge), the Hermitage Museum, Westerkerk church and my favorite, the dancing houses on the Amstel river.

These houses that lean…to the left, to the right, and forward…look like an architectural hazard to outsiders, but are normal to those residents of the city. Though I am not sure that if I had stood immediately in front of the houses on the street, I would have noticed how skewed they were, but from the water, it was extremely conspicuous.

If you are interested in a little history on these and many dancing houses in Amsterdam, here goes. Since all houses in the city are built on piles, which are drilled deep into the wet soil to keep them from sinking, the age and quality of the wooden piles cause the buildings to sink into the ground unevenly. Many of the houses along the canals lean on each other for extra stability, however, problems arise when houses are renovated. In other cases, you may notice that some houses lean forward, toward the street…not an accident…for centuries it was the custom to build houses leaning forward. For the residents who reside in these crooked homes, it must be quite the feat to walk around on a slanted floor when you’ve had a few drinks!

It was a beautiful afternoon and we encountered many other cruise boats making their way through the city’s canals. It was a perfect way to enjoy the early autumn weather while seeing so much of the city. While it was not my first canal cruise, it was one that I enjoyed the most as it was not planned, not crowded and I had one of the best seats on the boat!

When you find yourself in the “Venice of the North”, take a canal cruise to get acquainted with the city. Whether it be a city sightseeing tour during the day or night, a dinner cruise or one of the holiday Light Festival cruises, its the perfect way to see the sights!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

The Houseboat Museum (Woonbootmuseum)

https://houseboatmuseum.nl/
Address: Prinsengracht 296 K, 1016 HW Amsterdam
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 1000-1700. Closed Mondays.
Admission: Adults, €4,50, Children (ages 5-15), €3,50, Children (under 5 years), free

Lovers Canal Cruises

https://www.lovers.nl/en/
Address: Prinsengracht 2571 Amsterdam, Drenthe The Netherlands
Hours: unknown
Admission: Cruise prices vary, €15-€80. Check website for specific cruise prices.

Baobabs, Bats, Birds and Boats

Three whole days in Senegal!

That much time in Senegal nowadays is a rarity for me and I was excited for the possibilities it held. Until…we found out that my company had changed our hotel at the last minute due to a problem with our regular one. The one we were being moved to was in the middle of nowhere! Nothing to do but hang at the overly crowded pool and stare out of my dusty window at the highway.

Thank goodness, I have a good friend who operates his own tour company, The Motherland Experience! After contacting Mass Kane, my friend Amy and I quizzed him for some different tour ideas since we both have done quite a lot within the country.

We perused a few different options that he presented and finally decided on the Saloum Delta. Located on the southwestern coast of Senegal, this is the area where the Saloum river meets the Atlantic Ocean. What interested us most was that we were told that if we made it there on time, we might be able to participate in the drum mass at the Catholic church. Now that was something I was wanting to see…and hear!

Leaving early in the morning, we began the long drive, past the resort town of Saly toward Fatick. In Mbour, we stopped quickly so that we could get a glimpse of the Grand Mosquee de Gandigal-Est. Though we could not get closer than the front gates, past the tall palms that line the front walkway we could see that it was a stunning piece of architecture with its twin minarets reaching skyward. A little further, we drove down a narrow dirt road to check out the Catholic Church’s steeple towering over the trees. Attracting a great deal of attention, a group of young girls came over to say hello. Wanting to practice their English, they giggled and asked me my name and insisted we all take a picture together!

*Catholic Church and local school girls*

Continuing on our way, we reached Fatick, where witnessing large crowds walking through the muddy streets and congregating in a large field, we learned that the community was hosting a festival. While I am sure that it would have been interesting to take part, we had a destination in mind, so after stopping to watch a few minutes of a wrestling match in the field, we headed out.

A short time later, we pulled over again.

Now, there are baobab trees everywhere in western Africa and I have seen some gigantic ones during my times there, but the tree located here? It was one of the largest baobab trees I had ever seen. Mass wanted us to see this magnificent beauty so we all jumped out and began to take pictures. On one side of the tree, we noticed a hole…the entrance to the inside of the tree! Many of the baobab trees are hollow and as they are considered sacred, they are often used for burials of the village elders, but we were invited to climb inside as it was empty. Well, I am not one to pass up a challenge, so I readied myself, hike up a leg and attempted to follow the directions of the Senegalese men offering to help me inside. It is was not the most elegant of entrances and I actually got stuck for a moment, but finally after wiggling a bit, I made it in!

Very dark and damp, it seemed more like a cave and realizing that I was feeling drops of what felt like water, I looked up. Well, what do you normally find in caves? Bats! Hundreds of bats were circling above me and were attached to the inside of the tree. And that water? Well, you know…not water.

Getting out of there as fast as I could, I prayed that I didn’t contract any airborne illnesses from the bats and headed over to the nearby stalls to check out some of the local crafts for sale.

Finally, we were on our way once again and after a few short miles, we arrived at the Somone Lagoon. Herding us down to the boats, Mass greeted the boatman and we were on our way through the Saloum Delta.

The delta is the perfect place to see a variety of wildlife and birds among the mangrove trees. We glided through the calm waters admiring nearby houses and wharfs. As the boat eventually slowed, we pulled up to a small beach onto Morloth Island. On the shore was a small hotel with woven hammocks swinging in the breeze under a grass hut. This looked like a place I could hang out for a couple of days!

Quickly guided to the rear of the structure, we were loaded onto a horse-drawn cart with a few other visitors. Heading out, we bumped along the dirt road until we reached a small, quaint village.

The narrow road, lined by high walls, protected the cinderblock structures behind them and after a short ride, we were pulling into the main part of the village. A white, weathered gazebo stood in the center, obviously the place for village gatherings and we spotted a minaret towering above the village mosque. Children walked together in groups and many local artisans attempted to attract our attention to sell us their wares. A little ways up the road, we were shown the marriage trees. These trees had grown adjacent to each other and intertwined. With their tall roots extending from their bases, it was a great spot for photos.

A short walk led us to the Catholic church, Missionaire Du Sacre Coeur. This is the scene of the famous drum mass that we had heard of, but sadly, we learned that we were too late. The Sunday services were complete and with it the sounds of the local instruments. Disappointed, we stepped through the doors of the church, admired the stark simplicity of the interior with its pointed arches, heavy wooden pews and small stained glass windows which encircled the worship space. Designed for a smaller congregation, it was intimate and even more of a disappointment that we did not get to participate in the Sunday services.

Setting out to make the return trip, we first stopped at a large, covered pavilion; the craft market. Unlike any craft market I had ever experienced, these ladies were intent on each vendor getting a crack at selling their wares. While, I like to peruse all commodities in a normal market for the best selection, we were each greeted by a village woman and ushered over to a chair. The woman then proceeded to show me what she had. Only. I wasn’t allowed to look at what was being offered to anyone beside me or anywhere else in the pavilion. Since I have been to Africa so often and have so many mementos, it would take something extremely unique to have me open my wallet…and on this day, I saw nothing of the sort. Leaving with my merchant a bit unhappy, I decided to concentrate on the the musicians who filled the afternoon with song. Though we didn’t get to partake in the drum mass, here we listened to the beats of the local soul and watched one woman bust out her moves! She definitely had the rhythm!

Hopping back onto our cart, we were driven back to our starting point so that we could take our boat back across the delta. Here, we would have a delicious lunch to ready us for the long drive back to Dakar.

Although a long day, the trip to the Saloum delta was filled with the colorful sights and sounds of western Africa, along the way and at our destination. Definitely an experience I won’t ever forget!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

The Motherland Experience

http://themotherlandexperiencetraveltours.com
Telephone: +221 77 295 24 24
Owner: Mass Kane
Email: Kanemass@hotmail.com

The Isle of Capri

When reading the tabloids, it is always fun to read about the awesome places that celebrities dock their yachts while on vacation!

While I would just love to have a small sailboat to dock in these locations, even for a day, I thought it would be fun to head out to one of those islands and see where those multi-million dollar yachts are anchored. Capri, located in the Tyrrhenian Sea has been a resort since the time of the Roman Republic and is a place where celebrity spotting becomes sport, especially in the square in the evenings as they leave their expensive floating homes for some ground time.

The ferry to Capri was located just down the block from our hotel and easy to get to, so we decided to make that one of our day’s destinations. Purchasing our tickets quickly, we were on the next departing ferry and forty-five minutes later pulling into Capri’s Marina Grande.

Our first views of Capri’s harbor were stunning! It would have been tempting to just take a seat along the waterfront to take in the scenery but we were on a mission and there was a lot to see before catching our departing ferry that evening.

One of the main attractions that we wanted to mark off of our list was the Blue Grotto (Grotto Azzurra), a cave-like cavity within the islands rocky parapets. Once inside the grotto, the sunlight entering the opening beneath the inlet passage give an intense azur color to the water. Spotting the ticket booth for the Blue Grotto boat tours, I knew that there were two ways to visit this primary attraction; bus and boat. Since the boats were departing here, it seemed like the logical choice to take the boat and after the boarding was complete, we headed out of the harbor and along the island’s northern coast.

The fifteen minute ride offered up beautiful views of the villas that top the high rocky cliffs that make up much of the island’s coastline. Finally spotting a cluster of boats, we realized that we had arrived at the Blue Grotto. Jockeying for position, we began to analyze the situation…there were a lot of boats, with a lot of people…waiting to board a small number of rowboats to gain entry into the cave.

Every time our captain moved our boat, we somehow thought we might be closer to our time to board one of the rowboats. Spying the buses dropping visitors at the top of the cliff and those visitors making their way down the wooden stairway, we began to notice that because of their proximity to the cave’s entrance and dedicated rowboats, their wait was quite short. Watching their quick movement and continually counting the boats around us, we realized that our stay here would be lengthy.

It was an extremely hot and sunny day and we had limited shade on our boat. We suddenly realized that although our boat ride to the Blue Grotto was cool and picturesque, maybe we should have taken the bus. After an hour and a half of tortuous waiting, the rowboats finally began to approach our boat. Deftly stepping into the tender, our boatman guided us over to the craft where the cave entrance admission was collected. After gathering our tickets, we headed toward the opening, our gondolier instructing us to lay down into the bottom of the boat. Pulling us through the tight opening with a guide rope, it took a few minutes for our eyes to adjust to the darkness all around us.

There were no fewer than ten other boats making their way around the small cave’s perimeter (25 meters wide and 60 meters long). As our boatman turned our craft towards the entrance, we gazed in awe at the fluorescent color of the water. An awesome sight! Our time was inside was short and before we knew it, we were laying down at the bottom of the boat to make our way outside, back to our waiting shuttle and to Marina Grande.

Checking our watches, we realized that much of our time on Capri had been devoted to that one activity. Grabbing a quick lunch, we then headed back to the ferry ticket booths. Thankfully, with the help of a kind ticket agent, we were able to switch our return tickets to Naples to ones leaving a couple of hours later…giving us some more precious time on the island.

Glad for our reprieve we decided not to waste any more time. Capri had so much more to see!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Blue Grotto

https://www.excursionboatsorrento.com/en/everything-about-the-blue-grotto/?gclid=CjwKCAjwxt_tBRAXEiwAENY8hXwlP3bstmpEHSuPz0YOMQIlS9MBHN3l9GEYmGrT1ruIfxHPY2IeBBoC2ykQAvD_BwE
Hours: 0900-1700, daily. The grotto is closed to visitors during rough seas or high winds, and it’s always closed on December 25th and January 1st.
Admission: Shared boat service, 10€ plus cave entrance (cash only) paid prior to entering, 4€. Tip is expected from the boatmen. Children under the age of 6, cave entrance, free. Citizens of European Union under the age of 18, cave entrance, free. Citizens of European Union between the ages of 18 and 25, 50% reduction on cave entrance.
Getting There: Private boat (boat rentals located near Marina Grande. Shared boat service. Bus, from Anacapri, stop located 50 meters from Piazza Vittoria. On foot from Anacapri, follow Viale T. de Tommaso, Via Pagliaro and Via Grotta Azzurra (3.5 km).

Always 3:01

Who doesn’t love a yacht?

Having vacationed in many a seaside destination, I have seen plenty yachts of different sizes and value, but never had the privilege of seeing the opulence and splendor that exists on the interiors.

While in Edinburgh, I discovered that I could find out exactly how the Queen of England lives!

The Royal Yacht Britannia is the former royal yacht of Queen Elizabeth II, in service from 1954 until 1997 and traveling more than a million nautical miles around the globe. The now retired vessel is permanently moored in Leith, a few miles from Edinburgh’s city center and is one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions.

The journey to reach the Royal Britannia was a relatively easy one. There are many different bus lines that travel from Edinburgh to Leith and as luck would have it, there was a bus stop for one of them about a block and a half away from my hotel.

As I sat in the top section of the double decker bus, I watched the weather go from bad to worse as the grey skies opened up giving the city a good washing. Good thing I would be inside, right?

The bus ride was a quick and easy one with the last stop being at the Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre. Following the signs through the mall, it was easy to find the entrance to the museum that preceded the ship’s visit.

Making my way through the exhibition, it was interesting to experience the many facets that made the Britannia what it was at the time, including uniforms, awards and stories about the royal family and crew.

Finally, it was time to make our way to the ship itself at 3:01 in the afternoon.

Starting from the upper level, we crossed a gangway to the ship’s control center, exploring the space where the captain navigated the high seas. We were free to explore the outdoor area, however, my theory of being indoors was shot down as a nice walk around the upper deck was out of the question with the rainy weather.

Moving downward through the attached stairwells to each if the five levels, we were able to explore both the living quarters of the royal family, including the Queen’s Bedroom and the State Dining and Drawing Rooms which hosted grand receptions for kings, queens, presidents and prime ministers throughout the world, all appointed in the rich (and sometimes flowery) style that the Queen appreciates.

The Royal yacht crossed the globe many times with a total of 696 foreign visits, only of which 272 were in British waters. From sailing the newly opened Saint Lawrence Seaway (with a stop in Chicago), to evacuating refugees during the war in Aden, the Britannia sailed 1,087,623 miles during its time in service. The ship even carried the newly married Prince Charles and Princess Diana on their honeymoon, traveling from Gibraltar, Tunisia, Sardinia, Greece and Egypt.

The crew quarters were located in the lower reaches of the ship and were a stark contrast to the spaciousness enjoyed by visitors to the ship on the upper levels. There were, however, some areas outfitted a bit more elaborately for senior members of the crew.

The crew of Royal Yachtsmen consisted of volunteers from the general service of the Royal Navy with officers being appointed for up to two years. The volunteer yachtsmen could serve for one year and then be admitted to the “Permanent Royal Yacht Service” and serve until they chose to leave or were dismissed. With that being said, many served for twenty years for more.

When the Labour Party replaced the Conservative government in 1997, it was revealed that the Royal Yacht would be retired and no replacement built. The last foreign mission of the Britannia was to convey the last governor of Hong Kong and the Prince of Wales back to Britain after Hong Kong was handed back to the People’s Republic of China on July 1, 1997.

Six months later, the Britannia was decommissioned with most of the senior members of the Royal Family in attendance.

It was said the the Queen (normally stoic) may have shed a tear. Or two.

Since being docked at the Ocean Terminal, the yacht has received more than 300,000 visitors per year and also acts as an event venue, hosting parties and affairs for the rich and famous.

While visiting, make sure to check out the Queen’s Rolls-Royce Phantom V state car and the 1936 racing yacht, Bloodhound, once owned by the Queen and Prince Philip. Also, take a few moments to visit the Royal Deck Tea Room to enjoy a scone and tea. Though I am not a fan of tea, I was able to enjoy the hand-crafted beer, brewed specifically for the Royal Deck Tea Room.

But be sure to be there at 3:01.

It won’t be hard.

Why?

It’s always 3:01 on the ship’s clocks as this was the time that the Queen last disembarked.

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Royal Yacht Brittania

https://www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk
Address: Ocean Dr, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ, UK
Hours: April to October, 0930-1630, daily. November to March, 1000-1530, daily.
Admission: Adult, £16.50, Student and Ages 60+, £14.50, Children (ages 5-17), £8.75, Children under 5, free, Family (2 adults and 3 children), £46.00

Rainforest Revelry

Happy birthday to me…

Having a birthday in Panama…

Oh…what will I see?

Setting out early with our tour guide, we steeled ourselves for the long ride through the congested streets of Panama City. Our destination, a point on the river near the city of Chilibre, was going to be the start of our day in the rainforest and a visit with an Embrera Indian tribe.

As we made our way down the steep banks of the Chagres River, we watched as a a few boats approached the landing point. Traditionally dressed male tribe members unloaded and loaded supplies into their handcrafted canoes and readied their boats for trips back to their villages on various points of the river.

Finally, a boat docked on the banks and we were given life vests and ushered down into the waiting vessel. Motoring along the calm, shallow waters, its banks lined with the local flora and fauna, I couldn’t keep the smile off of my face. This was truly an adventure!

After what seemed like a long ride, we finally pulled into a shallow channel and pulled the canoe onto the sandy spits exposed by the low tide. Following our guide, we made our way through the rainforest…sometimes walking through the swift-moving, ankle-deep water and sometimes making our way along the muddy paths lining the river. The sound of a large amount of rushing water greeted our ears and as we made our way around a large boulder, the end of our trek was in sight.

A beautiful waterfall.

Swimming in the refreshing, cold, clear water with my son, I was elated that this was how I was able to start my day…enjoying nature at its most beautiful.

Eventually, a sound alerted us that it was time to go…thunder. A darkening sky confirmed that it was time to make our way back to our boat and as we hustled along the rain soaked paths, we realized that we were going to get really wet.

Retracing our steps along the river, we motored along in the pouring rain, hoping for a respite at the village.

As we pulled alongside the village dock, the rain continued making it difficult to make our way up the slick walkway. Even with the soggy deluge, the tribe was there to greet us as they played musical instruments and lined up, smiling and welcoming us to their home.

We were ushered to an extensive hut and invited to take a seat. As I admired the beautiful fabrics, created by the tribe, hanging throughout the interior, the members of the tribe began to enter. After a greeting and information on the tribe’s culture, lifestyle and crafts, by one of the tribe’s members, we were treated to shamanic and celebrational dances with musical accompaniments.

The villagers, dressed in their handwoven and metal, embellished cloths danced together, sometimes only the women and sometimes joined by the men.

The best was yet to come.

The tribal spokesman talked a bit more about the tribe and led into a sentence about how it was a special day. The women had prepared something special.

A special floral birthday crown for ME!

I was touched to discover that our guide had let them know that I had elected to spend my special day with them and they in turn, were so touched that they wanted to make something special for me. Words cannot express what an amazing gift that was!

After a visit to the kitchen hut, where we watched the women preparing food for the day, we were treated to a meal of locally caught, fresh, fried fish and fruit. We then browsed the vast selection of items crafted by the tribe members…baskets, fabrics, jewelry, plates and masks…while watching the younger members of the tribe play under the tables and outside in the puddles. Here, you can also have a non-permanent tattoo applied to your skin and watch some of the finest basket makers in the world as they work to create intricate all sizes of baskets with intricate patterns from palm leaves and natural pigments.

The rain was still coming down, though not as hard, and it was time to head down to the boat and back to our origination point. The beauty of the region was not lost on us, regardless of the weather, but the usual sights of sloth’s, monkeys, toucans and eagles would not be had on this day.

Still, nature is nature and sometimes in the rain forest…it rains. Though I would have loved to have had a bright, sunny day to get better photos, I still have to say, a rainy adventure on your birthday is better than no adventure on your birthday!

For more pictures, check out Instagram, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Embrera Indian Tribe Tours

There are many companies that offer Embrera day and overnight tours in Panama.
http://panamatravelunlimited.com/panama-day-tours/panama-cultural-tours/embera-indian-village-tour/
Prices: About $110-$125 per person for shared tours (minimum two persons) and $250 for private tours (minimum two persons).

The Floating Market

Once we indulged our appetites, we got a little bit of sleep. I knew that we wanted to be at the tour desk when it first opened so that we might have a chance to book a tour to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, something neither Nicki nor I had done on our previous trips.
As tired as I was, my internal clock must have coaxed me awake, because at 7:00 am, my eyes opened wide.
I quickly dressed and went downstairs. Since we had not booked twenty four hours in advance, we were unable to book the official Floating Market “Tour”, but we were informed that we could book a private car, longtail boat and tour to the market. Much better!
Quickly we dressed and returned downstairs to meet our driver, whom we had been informed, was to leave by 9:00 am.
Because it was a national holiday, Chulalongkom Day (the king’s birthday), traffic was horrendous. A trip that would have taken one and a half hours, took three and a half.
Finally, we arrived at the floating market and were escorted onto our boat.
Driving through the canals, we had a taste of local life. Many houses were built on stilts and some were connected by pier walkways. As usual, the friendly locals met our passing with beautiful smiles and enthusiastic waves.
A stop at the Coconut Sugar Farm gave us insight into how…actually, I am not going to make this up. I have no idea what they do here, besides sell souvenirs and give out free samples of a coconut drink.

On we drove, stopping locals in their boats for various food items, and stopping at market stalls along the way. Nicki and Angie snagged some clothing items and carvings…since I have been craving Thai food, I had more Pad Thai and then, coconut ice cream! It was more delicious than the last time I had it!

Because we had arrived so late, some stalls were closed and there were not as many boat vendors in the canals. Still, it was an amazing experience!
After leaving the main area of the floating market, we then went for a visit to Wat Prok Charoen buddhist temple and returned to the dock for our drive back to Bangkok.