The
fresh morning from the home-stay in Thaka |
|
| aEarly
morning, we wake up freshly. It may probably be because
we had a |
a |
| aquiet
long sleep last night. Automatic alarm clock is not necessary,
when the |
a |
| asinging
of cocks is no worser. We manage ourselves briefly while
the house |
a |
| aowner
prepares her set of offering to monks. In a short while,
we are ready |
a |
| aby
the canal side of the house. Soon after, a line of monks
on their paddle |
a |
| aboats
appears at sight. They stop by the invitation of buddhists
to receive |
a |
| aoffering.
In fact, this activity is not new to us,the buddhists.
Yet, it is quite |
a |
| aimpressive
to see them do on boat. |
a |
| aLocal
lives start quite early. We already see many boats passing
by us. a |
a |
| coconut
farmer is working on his plantation. He rapidly crosses
a ditch over |
|
| aa
slim bamboo connection. He climbs up a bamboo ladder to
a coconut top |
a |
| aIts
flower will be cut and its syrup will drop down into a
container. All syrup |
|
| awill
be taken down and be boiled for the coconut sugar. This
is one of the |
a |
| amain
income here beside those from tourism. |
a |
adifferent
versions of the floating markets |
a |
| aWe
thank to the house owner who kindly took care of us before
we shortly |
a |
| awalk
under the coconut shade to the Thaka
floating market. Not yet many |
a |
| aboats
arrive at the moment. Surely more will join afterwards.
This floating |
a |
| amarket
was just enlived within just a decade ago.It is on service
each |
a |
| amorning
of 2nd,7th, 12th day on the waxing and wanning moon. Traders
|
a |
| aalso
come on the public holidays. Products on sale here are
more local. |
a |
| aWe
do not see any souvinirs yet. It is the selling point
that marks the Thaka |
a |
| afloating
market out of the real touristic floating market at Damnern
Saduak. |
a |
| aWe
decide to reach the Damnern
Sauduak floating market by boat. At first, |
a |
|
the
local scenery is still undisturbed from tourism. It becomes
more touristic |
a |
awhen
we come closed to the floating market. More stalls for
souvinirs start |
a |
| ato
show up. The core of this floating market is on the Ton
Khem canal. |
a |
| aDuring
the public holidays, we can expect a hundred boats making
business
|
a |
| awithin
this small canal.Souvinirs,food and fruits for tourist
are offered |
a |
| aall
over the market. However, we may find some vegetable and
fresh food |
a |
| afor
the inter-trader trade as well. Visitors can explore the
market on foot by |
a |
| athe
canalside but many decide to go on boats through. |
a |
| aAside
from the floating market, Damnern Saduak is also famous
of the |
a |
| abest
snake show in Thailand.
The show takes only half hour but it is |
a |
| aconsidered
the real Edutainment.Lot of information about snakes in |
a |
| Thailand
are added in during the show. It is great fun also to
see the snake |
|
| achallengers
catch different snakes by hands and mouth. |
a |
| aThe
Royal Thai Handicraft Center
is about 10 minutes drive further up. The |
a |
| aproduction
of 2 northern handicraft are demonstrated daily. First,
we will |
a |
| asee
how old people make paper from barks of mulburry trees.
The more |
a |
| aremarkable
demonstration is on the second, the teak wood crafting.
Unlike |
a |
| amost
of the factories in chiangmai which always emphasize on
making |
a |
| afurnitures
with low relief design,the workers here also make the
more artful |
a |
| aworks
with high relief and sculptures.The reflection of Thailand
dense forest |
a |
| acan
shine on the plank of teakwood by crafting. Those being
sold can be |
a |
| adelivered
to worldwide ports of destination. |
a |
In the mystery of caves in Petchaburi |
a |
| aIt
takes an hour to drive back down to Petchaburi. Just 20
minutes before the |
a |
| atown,
we stop to greet the Kao Yoi
monkeys. Hundred of the Rhesus |
a |
| amacaques
have lived here by generations for long before we settle
downed. |
a |
| aNow
they are under care of the Kao Yoi temple. Buddha images
and a model |
|
| aof
his footprint are installed within the Kao Yoi cave. We
pray to the Buddha |
a |
| athen
continue our driving to the bigger cave at Kao Luang,
just 6 km. beyond |
|
| athe
Petchaburi city centre. |
|
| aThe
entrance to Kao Luang cave
is only 100 meter away from our parking. |
|
| aWe
also see many Rhesus macaques along the walkway. Its gate
is rather |
|
| asmall
comparing to the much bigger cave down under. Buddha images
and |
|
| ahis
memorials were filled in since the ancient time. The sunshine
through the |
|
| aopen
hole above the cave gives highlight to the buddha image
under.It is as if |
|
| athe
buddha is under spotlight. There are 2 smaller rooms at
the back. It was |
|
| apossible
to climb up a stair set in the second room for another
exit. Now it |
|
| ais
blocked for security. |
|
| aAlmost
200 years ago, Petchaburi was the center of art in Siam.
Many craft |
|
| amasters
from different craftmanships were requested to move in
here. Their |
|
| askills
has been delivered down by generations. The most famous
art from |
|
| aPetchaburi
are the art of gold ornaments and the stucco works. Now,
it is |
|
| ahard
to find the high skilled gold master because the younger
generation are |
|
| less
enthusiastic to succeed. Luckily, the stucco art is in
better situation. |
|
| aThey
are considered the heritage of Petchaburi. Many artists
still work on |
|
| ato
maintain the stucco works in many temples. The best samples
of the stucco |
|
| aart
are displayed at Wat Mahatat
temple in the town center. |
|
aCha-am,
the romantic Thai local beach |
|
| aCha-am
has been one of the popular vacational beach since the
mid of 20th |
|
| acentury.
Its popularity was spilled over from the all occupied
Hua-hin beach. |
|
| While
Hua-hin now is more the beach for foreigners, Cha-am is
more for the |
|
|
local Thai.It is easy to make a day trip to Cha-am from
Bangkok, which is |
|
|
only
220 km.away. Visitors can enjoy different beach activities
such as |
|
|
swiming, riding on banaboat, horse riding and biking on
the beach road. |
|
|
Beach bed and umbrella fill the whole cha-am beach. They
can be another |
|
| choice
for those who prefer lying down idly in the sea breeze. |
|
| We
end our trip early to give more time on the first beach
we meet on our |
|
| southern
trip.Tomorrow on bike, we will get to know more of the
local |
|
| Cha-am,
from the seaside to the rice field. |
|
| |
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| |
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| |
|
