Having settled into our accommodation (i.e. dumped our backpacks and gathered a few things into a smaller bag), we went exploring down to the main drag and importantly, the market area, as Bob hadn't eaten for over an hour and his stomach was rumbling!

We were enchanced by the smiles from everyone we met, of all ages and demenours. This was wonderful! At the markets, I felt like I was reigning in a kid in a candy shop. Bob wanted one of everything, although we had only just began. A wander around the maze of stalls selling food, fresh flowers, live fish and sea creatures, padlocks, clothing and everything else you could think of, finally led us to the a place where we opted to eat our first thai street meal.

Bob chose a dish with Beef with chilli and rice (30 baht), whilst I struck gold with a rice noodle soup with pork (20 baht). With added chilli and fish sauce, it was a wonderful treat. We opted for Lime drinks to have with this (15 baht each) crushed ice with lime juice and a slurp of sugar syrup. This was about the best drink I can remember. I was hooked!

There were a few things we needed to do on arriving, such as buy a local SIM card for the mobile phone, an adaptor plug for the phone, and changing some more Australian cash. We managed to achieve all these, slowly, whilst wandering around the markets, buying the odd drink to rehydrate, and drinking in the delightful smells and sounds.

The will-it-be or won't-it-be Thai election next month means that there are tuk tuks (3 whelled motorised ute style taxi's) parading the streets with political billboards on the side and loud hailers of music and "vote for Taksin" being broadcast.

Bob took a photo of me in front of McDonald's (hopefully I'll be able to upload it). Although street and market food is magnificent, there was a precinct of western fast food joints; KFC, Pizza Hut (rebadged) and Macca's. They were lamentedly full of chubby locals, paying 3 to 4 times the cost for basic drinks and very forgettable food!

Oh well!

Bob was particularly taken by a woman who sold fried pieces of pumpkin, taro and sweet potato for a few baht. On our alternate route back to the hotel we passed a shopfront which looked good for a foot massage. Many places offered this service, howver this was a delightful choice, very local (without english) and indulgant. We each had an hour in the chair as two women worked on our feet, achilles, calves and knees! I giggled as the underside of my feet were ticklish, and gritted my teeth as the knuckles were worked hard into the achilles and calves. I want this every day! Although embarrassed by my runners bunions and toenails, it was bliss. 150 baht each.


Back at the hotel, Bob found a two hour boat trip (200 baht each) which we joined with another couple from The Netherlands. At dusk, it was a fantastic introduction to the river life of the community, with kids swimming, and playing with motorised boats (especially good fun in the wake of our outboard motor, with 10 minutes a shore at the remains of a couple of Wats (temples) destroyed my Burmese invaders. This was magic. The baotman was very grateful of my acting as bowman to get the boat to the jetty or shore each time, a little more diffcult given the extreme low tide.

Dinner at the night markets provided too much choice, with an excess of ethnic amd religious diversity.

A good day was had by all, and we slept well.