two steps behind

It was weeks ago when I found “Hoklee Cafe” at the Dam Nuen Saduak floating market in Ratchaburi province. I was taking my grandma and mom to visit the floating market. However, we arrived there a little bit late in the afternoon and there were not much activities left at the floating market. So we simply looked for a place to just sit and relax. We just found the cafe by coincidence! Those that often travel with elderly people must know how often the elders use the restroom. For my grandma that is 78 years old, she uses the restroom every other hour! Because of that we ran into this awesome cafe the “Hoklee Cafe” at the Lao Tuk Luck, which is a section of the Dum Nuen Saduak floating market.

Based on the information I gathered from chatting with the owner of the cafe; the cafe was a house that was passed down from generations to generations. The house’s foundation and roof has been renovated but the interiors were kept un-touched to preserve its origins as much as possible. Currently the owner has turn the house into a cafe shop for a quick stop off point for the passers-by, either by foot travel or by boat. The owner and the community of Lao Tuk Luck  are trying to rejuvenate the livelihood of the community as it was seen years ago.

Check out the Lao Tuk Luck facebook for more information and photos of the community.

My grandma was really pleased with Hoklee Cafe as it was very peaceful, calm and breezy yet classic and elegant in its own way. Be sure to ask for the Lao Tuk Luck’s community when you visit the floating market.

The event takes place during an afternoon tea at the Meaklong train station.  (time 14:00hr)
Next train arrival at 14:15hr

Ring Ring Ring….(time 14:10hr)
The first announcement from the train station telling the awaiting passengers that their train is just minutes away.

Ring Ring Ring… (time 14:13hr)
The second announcement… the waiting passengers are still waiting patiently.

“But, wait a minute!” said me, “Where would the train come from? On the right hand side of the station is the Maeklong river while on the left hand side is a seafood market”

flip.. floop.. crank.. crink.. (time 14:14hr)
Sound of activities going on to the left side of the station. It seem that there are something going on inside the market.

“WHAT IS GOING ON?” I wondered
only to realize that…

The train is COMING THRU the market!!! (time 14:15hr)

-the end-

Pomelos, I used to think that it was a giant orange when I was a kid. But it does look and taste very similar to an orange and I do still believe that it is a giant orange! One thing I love about Thailand is the convenience in finding fruit anywhere you go either by the street or even by the river! The fruits are fresh unlike like those we have in the States where most of the tropical fruits are frozen for transportation to (try to) preserve its freshness.

Pomelo from Nakorn Prathom, a province north-west with an hour drive from Bangkok, is well known for it sweetness that they registered their special pomelo as “copyright” knowledge by the local. After months of staying in Thailand, I have yet to try a pomelo from Nakorn Prathom but when I do… I’ll be sure to update with its flavor, taste and texture.

Ohh, about the picture… this was taken at the Pattaya Floating market. They said that there is a real floating market call “Aum Pha Wa” that is south-west with an hour drive from Bangkok. Hopefully I have sometime to visit and to take pictures sometime this month because the weather is so nice.

The winter is here butI wonder how long would the winter would last in Bangkok!

After a long day at work, where else would be a better place to spend the money that you just earned, than at this night market in Bangkok. In the day, Bangkok is well known for its amazing traffic where walking is actually faster than driving. By night, the foot traffic pick up rapidly and markets are likely the place that they will go for food, shopping, drinking or simply just walking.

I, too, am one of the ordinary Bangkokians who likes to spend my nights exploring Bangkok (whenever I get the chance) as much as I can because there are so many surprises in EVERY CORNER in BANGKOK. Victory Point is one of the night markets that I ran into accidentally while photography the Victory Monument. I focued so much on the Monument that I didn’t notice the market just around the corner until later on. Later on meaning, just minutes before I left the area.

Seriously… Bangkok is full of surprises…
well hidden… awaiting to be explored.