Bodily fluid wouldn't stop leaking from our sweat glands. The feeling is similar to what you get sitting inside a sauna. (Okay, I'm exaggerating!) Everyone is parched. It's sweltering and sticky!
Thankfully, we have a thoughtful tour guide providing us with ice-cold bottled water to combat the heat. Gulp! Gulp!
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is 30 minutes drive from Maeklong Railway Market, where we first kicked off the tour of the day.
Upon arrival, Rat, our tour guide, told us we have fresh coconut water waiting for us at the hut/shed. Ah, refreshing! Apparently, these perks are part of the tour service.
Now, we are ready to hop into the boat to sightsee Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Come, join us!
About
Floating markets originate from a time where water transport played a significant role in the daily lives of the people living in the region. Today, they mainly serve as tourist attractions. These are particularly observed in Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.The Floating Market
For the tour boat, you can choose from either the paddleboat or the long-tail boat. The former is slower yet cheaper. The latter covers a wide stretch of the canal faster as it is engine operated. And you get to cool off all that body heat from the gust of wind produced by boat's motion. Awesome!On the way to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, we notice houses, tourist lodgings, temples, a tourist spot called Coconut Sugar Farm.
Rat, our tour guide, asked us if we wanted to check out the Coconut Sugar Farm. Nah, we passed. We're comfortably seated on the long tail boat, we don't even want to move. lol.
That's the gateway to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Let's go!
Folks, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is a real market! We enjoyed witnessing the activities at the bustling floating market. It's fun observing locals and tourists alike eating, haggling, shopping from their long-tail boats or paddleboats. We could sit there all day and watch the action!
We saw an old lady washing her spoon using the water in the canal and an old man dipping near his home. It makes us wonder if the water is clean because, from the looks of it, it does not appear so.
Must-Try
Guys, I kid you not, the coconut ice cream from the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is the best in town! Yes, all of us agree. That's me, my hubby and my university batchmate. It costs 50 THB per serving.
Other areas selling the coconut ice cream are not as good as the one sold here. Order one for each of you. If possible, no sharing.
My husband lamented why we bought one for two people. Yeah, I do too. Boo! Isn't sharing loving? Well, yeah but once the boat moves, that's it! No turning back.
Just remember to get one coconut ice cream for each of you to avoid unnecessary regrets.
And the tour at the floating market ends...
Thailand's Beautiful Women
In Thailand, don't be surprised to find sidewalk vendors and aunties (a term used to call older women in Asia out of respect) wearing makeup. It amazes me they took the time to do this under Thailand's hot and humid weather where makeup tends to cake and melt.
Remember my college batchmate on the tour with us? She told us women from Myanmar apply makeup to combat the heat. Perhaps it's also the same here in Thailand? Hmmm... interesting!
Fish Frenzy and Spiders Eating Birds
After the tour at the floating market, we stop by a temple to feed hungry fishes. The man (our tour guide didn't introduce who he was, must be a temple attendant), handed us 3 packs of fish food to give to the fishes. Guess what? They were on a feeding frenzy! It was entertaining to watch! lol.
On the way back, we spotted huge spiders on the electrical wires. They trap birds on their web for food. Thankfully, they were so far out because they scare the wits out of us.
Accommodation
To enjoy the scenery longer, you can book a room there just like below.
It's normal to haggle!
Before we did our tour to the floating market, people working in the area took a photo of us and put it into a wooden photo frame for souvenirs. The aforementioned costs 200 THB per photo. Yes, it's normal to haggle in Thailand. We requested for a 50 THB discount and we got our photo.
Tour Service Recommendation
If you're looking for a tour service to book in Thailand, I'd highly recommend Rat Service tour. Contact her: rat_bkk@hotmail.com.
Note: I'm not affiliated with Rat and she didn't ask me to do this. We were satisfied with her service, that's why.
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