Whitney's Travel Blog: The King and the Mangosteen

Today was another great day in a completely unplanned way. I didn't really do much except a few errands but I met a really nice couple and I kinda sorta saw the king!

So lets see, where did I leave you? My teacher had recommended the weekend market so I headed there last night after a well needed shower. It was great, possibly one of my favorite markets, although swarming with tourists. It was like a combination of a market, a mall and a carnival. They had all the normal things: shoes, clothes, electronics. But there was also a toy store, a pet shop and even a moon bounce. But, of course, my favorite part was the food. Someday I need to learn not to go to markets when I'm tired and hungry because I just can't resist all the interesting and delicious foods! I stuffed myself on junk food.

Crazy backpacks

Potato chips on a stick

Desserts! (Believe it or not I actually didn't
get any of them)

First time I've ever seen a bar in a market

Mmm, black sesame paste rice dumplings in
ginger soup

Chicken and duck... I'm not sure if you're supposed to take
them home or eat it here

Mini sewing machines! Pretty neat

Muay thai apparel

Fishing gear

Inflatable fun!

Toy store

Puppies and bunnies

I set out today to do a few errands, but of course first things first, lunch. I'm in an interesting area, there are a lot of Chinese stores around. There also happen to be several vegetarian places nearby, including one that is pure vegetarian, not just jai, so I don't have to worry about fish sauce. I had a delicious lunch of papaya salad and stir fried morning glory with brown rice and then followed it up with a thai tea I think it even had fresh soy milk, and it was super cheap, only 15 baht!

I decided to walk to the mall to get a few things that I've run out of, most importantly Ziplock bags because my soap exploded in my bag the other day. I came across lots of interesting things along the way and as a rare treat, I found someone selling grapes! I had to get some, even though they must be imported because they were significantly more expensive than the local fruits. I also ran into a woman selling Durian which is an interesting fruit, it's big and spiky and smells terrible. It's actually banned at my hostel! But as bad as it smells people here love it. Normally they sell it whole or in plastic wrap but she was still cutting it up and had some small pieces so I asked her if I could try a piece and see what all the fuss is about. It was pretty good!

fish pieces?

At the 7-Eleven, incense and other religious items,
right between the car soap and packs of gum

I spent a couple hours wandering around the mall looking for my toiletries and new shoes since my flip flops broke the other day and the cheap ones I got to replace them are giving me blisters. Dad, I know how you used to feel now. I had the hardest time trying to find shoes in my size! All of their shoes are so small!

At the grocery store, Buddhist 'goody bags', I'm not sure if
these are supposed to be given to the monks / temples, or
if they are for the people when they go to pray

Love this! Tanning oil for the Europeans, whitening cream
for the Thais and sunblock for the rest of us

Thai Red Bull, and European Red Bull

They had a lot of Western foods in the
grocery store, including Amy's!

There's a kids train driving around the mall

After the mall I headed over to the weekend market for dinner.

I've seen a lot of birds here

Ah, now I feel like I'm home. A BMW and a pickup with
a lift kit

Supposedly you can see this huge Buddha from almost
anywhere on the island

Buddha from afar

I love pineapples! They have a ton here

Spirit house store (I'm slightly obsessed with them and
have been taking pictures of the most interesting ones
I pass)

I missed the street and when I was walking back a policeman stopped me and told me I had to wait. By some lucky coincidence, the king was going to be passing by and they had closed the street. And had I turned at the right time I would have missed it! Ok, so I didn't really SEE the king... there were about 40 vehicles in the caravan and they all had tinted windows. But still an exciting experience! The man I had talked to seemed really excited too.

There are some restaurants with seating at the market, but most of the stands don't have anything. There are some benches and tables by the bathrooms though so I picked out my dinner and then headed over there to eat.

Fresh spring rolls, and fried spring rolls

I sat at a table with a nice couple, the woman was Thai and the man German and we had a somewhat hilarious conversation due to our varied levels of English skill. They were really kind and after we talked about me being American and vegetarian the woman ran off and brought back corn on the cob and some type of bean / nut. They look like peanuts but they taste different and they're soft. Good though! She also shared with me some of her mangosteens, I've never had them before but they were yummy! The inside kind of looks like a lychee except in sections like an orange. People here are so wonderful!