Floating market experience Bangkok

I have been to Bangkok many times, but my fun activities were just shopping, eating and getting massages. Excited that I had two days in

 Bangkok this time and the schedule of my stay was kind, I decided to do some touristic activities. I booked myself a ticket to the floating market because I always wanted to see how people here float on the boats to sell stuff.

I woke up early in the morning, freshened up and went for my tour. I dressed very summery, with white shorts and a white loose flowery blouse. I was ready to explore the city. So far so good, I had let my hair down to feel the morning breeze run through it, hanged my new camera over my shoulder and head for the adventure. Before the floating market, I went to see a local farm where they were cooking coconut oil. I learned a lot about the coconut business in this part of the world and how hard it was for them to survive. However, it was nothing new to hear. People all over the world are struggling financially, but what
impressed me was the business mind they had and the enthusiasm they had to sell their stuff. You will surely end up buying things you do not need because of the sales techniques they use and how they make you feel timid enough to buy.

I finally arrived at the floating market, and I was more than ready to live the experience. The wait had been far too long and I couldn’t wait to explore the canals on the boat and see the life of the people. It looks interesting in pictures when you see the floating boats packed with food, but it is something else to experience it yourself and be the one who can say, “I have been there.”

Before the boat arrived at the floating market, we went through the water city or village. It was impressive to see the tiny houses on water supported by wooden pillars and the alley they had created to go from one house to another. People were living very modestly in one or two rooms, without TV or internet, yet they were happy and smiling. While it seems internet for us has become more important than oxygen as we cannot breathe without it, plus we take our comfort for granted and keep whining for more.

After I stored everything in my memory, I arrived at the market. Everything was made with a lot of care. The boats and shops were floating on the water, but the people were not themselves anymore. Nobody was genuine. The desperation to make a penny was too high. I could easily read it on people’s faces.

I still didn’t lose hope because I was looking for something authentic, and I finally found it. On a boat, an old frail lady, who seemed to have seen a lot in her life, was selling fried bananas. She probably looked older than she actually was. With all the touristic activities around, she was sitting cross legged on her boat quietly. She seemed tired of all this tourists around her. I could see the disgust on her face. She most likely had enough of the tourists. All she wanted was to sell her fried bananas and go home. Instead, everyone was taking pictures next to her boat or of her, but nobody was buying anything. It was not easy to sit there all morning until afternoon and look at all the tourists pass by, taking pictures and leave. She had no energy to call out for them and convince them to buy like every other seller was doing.

I left the market very early because I saw what I wanted to, and I couldn’t bear it anymore. The way of business they had created in order to make more money out of tourism was too aggressive and not genuine. However, if you think of it, it’s hard to find authenticity anywhere you go now, but I will keep looking and exploring.