Floating Market On a Bond Boat

On October 20, 2011


James Bond film, The Man with the Golden Gun, Bond speeds away on a khlong along the river. A khlong  is the general name for a canal in the central plain of Thailand. These canals are spawned by the Chao Phraya, the Tha Chin, the Mae Klong Rivers and their tributaries that feed into the sea. 


The traditional floating markets now exist mainly as tourist attractions, the most famous one at Damnoen Saduak in the Ratchaburi province, an hour outside of Bangkok. 


Before our James Bond canal journey, we stopped into a very local market with plenty of interesting offerings.

Bananas everywhere! 

These bananas are by far the most flavorful of several varieties!

Oat with roasted frogs - eeuuw
Fresh crab resemble American Northeast variety the Maryland blue crab.

Flowers for offerings...

From the ginger family:  galangal

not sure what these were but looked like the rambutan fruit.

Stall owners visit with their friends, fan themselves in the heat, nap when they can, sometimes have laptops or televisions to keep them company!  It's certainly a way of life.

These young folks were surveying visitors to Thailand, asking simple questions of Louise and I.  Funny thing, the gal surveying was wearing an Urban Outfitters SEATTLE t-shirt.

As we made our way through the market, Oat  stop into several very yummy food carts for our treats. He truly knew where to get the best ~ he takes folks on this trip often!   These coconut pancakes were puffy, light and OH-SO-GOOD!

fresh off the grill!

Not the greatest photo of Louise but she was in HEAVEN!
Seriously, she was!

 Oat said the key was in the lightness of the batter.  So true since Louise and I purchase a batch somewhere else that were heavier and more doughy.

Another thing sweet treat is sticky rice topped with all sorts of combinations like red bean, corn, mango, etc.

Check out these gigantic pommelos!

Another treat was sticky rice steamed in bamboo.  

Then we started on our James Bond tour of the canals to the Floating Market.   IN our own little boat, our driver, Oat,  Louise and I.

Oat's best Bond two finger gun pose! 

What a sweet ride in this low Bond Boat", with a loud motor hitting higher speeds in straight-a-ways, turning tight corners, keep splashes to a minimum as we pass local homes,  spirit houses, container gardens and so on...

The Flats loved every screeching turn, the smoking exhaust of the roaring boat engine!

Spirit houses are arranged with elements of symbolism through mythical creatures and animals.

The recent rains and threat of rising flood waters and governmental opening of dams north of Bangkok meant higher levels here too. These canals  are generally not at risk of flooding since they drain into the sea.  The Floating Markets were in full swing for a weekday; plenty of action for us!

Wat Phi Tuk Tephawas in Damnoen Saduak.

You know you're approaching the Floating Market when you come upon boats with reclining owners, chit chatting between boats, catching up with the daily goings-on!  Ready to sell their homemade baked goods, handpicked bananas, peeled pommelos, coconut pancakes...

Yes, here one vendor is selling shoes or slippers next to bananas and papayas.

peeled pommelo

The Floating Market waking up, gearing up for the daily onslaught of tourists, though the season was still considered low; different from the weekend traffic.

I loved how self sufficient each boat vendor was - complete with signage, utensils, napkins, pre-portioned and easy to handle.  The vendors are happy to sell you a bunch of bananas, a bowl of soup noodle vegetables, sticky rice in bamboo...

Some vendors sell from their boats while docked while others boats amble up and down the canals selling their goods ~ they are usually food boats.  Floating Market full swing!

Coconuts, coconuts everywhere...

I loved the older women in their boats!

Whether selling...

or laughing,

or cooking!!

Even their boats show a bit of home!

After buying pommelo from her neighbor,

this woman smiled at me and asked 

me to buy her bananas ~ 

how could I resist?

My favorite photo of the day..these three women were dear, selling just one or two products from their gardens.  Perhaps one brought lunch for them to share.  It seemed they enjoyed their time together in their separate vessels.