Floating Market

Today we visited the world famous Floating Market, located about an hour and half south of Bangkok. We enjoyed trying the different foods easily bought from merchants in the boats along the river. The students proved to be adept at the art of bargaining as they haggled to lower the prices on their bounty of souvenir purchases from merchants up and down the river. 

After the visit to the floating village, we made a quick pit stop at a wood carving artisans shop. We got to see the amazing skills of the wood carvers as they made wooden sculptures, including incredible 3-dimensional jungle scenes carved into what will become a table top. The life size elephant carvings proved a nice photo backdrop for our faculty and local coordinators. A nice preview for the real elephants we'll meet tomorrow.

On the way back to Bangkok, we stopped by a beautiful rose garden for lunch with the Thai requisite view of water along a gentle flowing river. The students decided to forgo the over-priced cultural show at the garden in favor of getting back to Bangkok to get some much needed rest, find some food they might recognize, and to hit the markets and stalls around the hotel. But not before taking advantage of the scenery to take some photos.