Staying in a dorm always makes waking up early difficult, especially when all the beds were full. With the pick-up time set at 6:15, I woke up at 5:45 to quietly sneaked out to brush up and organize a locker to store all my junk until I get back. Even though I would have officially checked out by the time I return, the hostel provided locker service for 20thb and lent me a lock for free. The morning could almost be described like some dream where everything happened so automatically, and poof, I was on the bus circling the city picking up the rest. The next hour or so was a blur as I fell in and out of sleep...
Finally, we were officially on our way to the Floating Market around 8ish. For some reason, I've always been a car-ride sleeper; therefore, the worst candidate to be at shotgun as I will most likely fall asleep, epically failing to keep the driver in company for long hauls. Nonetheless, I appreciated the long drive, allowing me to do some catching up on sleep so I wouldn't look like a cast on The Walking Dead at the Floating Market (actually, technically it would be "The Floating Dead", just kidding). Anyway, we arrived at a dock where three busload of us hopped on long boats.
It felt a bit as if we're being taken to some sacred place, but soon that feeling had been painted with noise and fumes from a field of mechanically-run long boats. Chit-chats from both tourists and locals filled the air. Overdose. But I promised myself to give this place a chance, so I chance I shall give.
(We're finally here! Took us long enough...except we're on my worst element: water!)
(What's with the hold up, people?! Flow, flow, flow~)
We were all strongly suggested to take a ride through the channels, which were priced 150thb for 45 minutes. An okay price for an experience, so of course I took it. The ride was not exactly the most enjoyable as most of these stalls have been tourist-converted. All the things I saw could be purchased at the Weekend Market, and probably for a better price too as it didn't have to travel this far to be sold. The more hands it goes through, the more pricey it gets. Just logic. With that in mind, I didn't set my heart to buy anything. Instead, I took this time to play around with my camera and capture some "local-like" photos.
Actually, I did have my eye on having lunch there, or whatever I could find that was being served on a boat. It's just how I had come to understand the Floating Market, that you could buy snacks all over, and even have a bowl of noodles or rice. Except, the ride ended after a short 20 minutes and without me seeing any floating food stalls. We were quickly shooed off the boat and brushed aside for newly arrived visitors to board. I was confused. The ride was suppose to be 45 minutes, and we didn't even see the other half of the market. So being me, I confronted the service desk only to be stuffed with the answer, "That was 30 minutes. Finish already."
(Thanks, it really looks super delicious, but I can't...do it!)
(This boat was too close to my comfort. I don't even want to know HOW this grandma got the ingredients for this amazing dish of fried cockroaches...*blech*)
That obviously wasn't going to do for me, so I went to our tour guide and asked him what was going on. He made his way to the service counter and spoke quickly to the grumpy woman. In Thai, I could only make out that the two were in disagreement, but in the end, my tour guide prevailed. Of course he's right in understanding the importance of keeping one's customer happy. I'm not saying with the power of one person- me- I can stop the world from visiting the famous Floating Market, but it's certainly no tourist destination's hope to be in the negative light. Besides, who was in the right? I was, along with all the other people that seemingly started to gather behind me wondering what kind of justice I may do on their behalf. You know when you have been wronged, just as you know you had done wrong. It's a natural response your body makes. Your palms become sweaty, words stumble. You cave. And she did. Hopping on the next boat to dock, I got the rest of my ride on my very own long boat. Though I didn't end up buying anything- no particular food stalls interested me- at least my tourist rights were respected.
The ride back in town was such a mess as they tried to meet up at different attractions to group the different travelers. Those who wanted to go back to the city hop on this bus, those who want to go to the crocodile farm hop on this bus, and so on. No matter, we did eventually arrive somewhere in Bangkok, but only to be stuck in a waiting lot with a bunch of other people who refused to enter the "Official Gem Factory". It's like a super mega big tuktuk scan charter-bus style. They get commission for dropping off potential customers there, and there will bound to be people who cave to purchases. Not me. I want to go back, and I need to go back. With the shuttle leaving the hotel at 5pm for the airport, I have to rush back to the hostel, pack, and rush to the hotel to repack all my luggage. So every moment ticked away in anxiousness until we reached HI Sukhumvit.
As fast as I could round up all my junk, I was on my way. Arriving at the hotel, I asked the concierge for my luggage in the storage room. Except, what do you know, it wasn't there. Seriously, why do things have to go wrong when I don't have time for "wrong"? My coworker was supposed to check out from her room and leave all the luggage at the storage room. That was the plan. Half annoyed, half worried (because my work computer was in the luggage too, along with all my dresses and shoes), I checked with the front desk only to find that she hasn't checked out, and that the room had been booked for another half day.
Following a quick phone call, I ran upstairs only to find her peacefully watching Tom Cruz on TV. No matter as I really didn't have time to nag. Luckily, she had the room for half day, so I made full use of it by taking a hot shower before packing and checking out. At least that was a plus, apart from scaring the heck of out me by playing Houdini with my luggage. Without rush, we departed for the airport on time.
Grabbing my last Thai Iced Milk Tea with my last meal in Thailand for this trip, I was happy to go home. As much as this "work trip" was much more under control than the previous, it still ranged to test my limits. Nonetheless, another job well done. Until next work trip- rumor has it- destination Lausanne!
(Just thought I'd try something different, craving for soup, so beef flat rice noodles it is!)
(Why didn't I see this BEFORE I had my dinner...award winning Pad Thai!!)
(Someone care to explain to me WHY there was a 45min wait at KLIA for a taxi?! Seriously people~)