Honey4Boyz

Bangkok has something for everyone. Whether it's exploring the city's shopping malls or the colourful traditional markets. Or you can go to palace or temples, cultural centres, animal parks, theme parks, or go for an eating spree. The list is really endless. We've enjoyed this trip very much though our favourite is the charming countryside. In Bangkok, we've taken a slower, more relaxed pace. A gem in the city. There're 3 floors to this museum - a good place to spend 1 - 2 hours. Plenty of shell exhibits and a good collection of snails too. Boys took time to draw and share a few of their favourites. We've discovered cone shells to be poisonous, how the shells pry open clams and oysters for food, how conch shells are used as horns and the differences of shells and snails. It's an interesting place, with very helpful staff, to spend time with kids. Shopping in Bangkok felt like in Singapore or Hong Kong. The malls are very well-co...

  Boat ride at Mae Klong River  Beautiful sunset The boat stopped at the Amphawa jetty. We walked past the night market on the way to the floating market.  The Amphawa night floating market is only available in the evening from Friday to Sunday. The floating market has the atmosphere of a night market. There're more locals who came here for an eating spree.  Customers enjoying their grilled seafood, sitting on rows of narrow steps leading down to the water and food is brought directly from the boats to the tiny tables.   Along each side of the canal, there're old wooden shops selling all sorts of stuff. The narrow walkways in between the shops and canals were so crowded with people. We didn't stay long at the floating market cos it's just impossible to walk. The atmosphere was like a typical night market, and very different from the Damnoen Saduak experience. Maybe we got tired of so many market trips in a day...

My previous post - Coconut Grove @ Bangkontee led us to a beautiful and serene place with tall, elegant coconut palm trees in between many small canals. The green water ferns on the canals were captivating. We're so taken in by the view and wandered on and on into a farm. We met Mr Suchon, the owner of the farm, and meant to ask him for permission to take some pictures. Little did we know that this was just the start of our adventure. We're so privileged that he gave us a personal tour of the place without any hesitation. I have to admit that initially I thought he had wanted to sell us his goods. Not only he did not, but he was so friendly and hospitable. A demonstration of how the raw palm sugar was derived from the young coconut palm. The flower will be cut twice a day, and liquid sap will drip into a container. Sugar palm can only be harvested in trees of about 4 years old, and for the next 20 years they can continue to produce the raw sugar. If raw sugar is n...

Coconuts are found in abundance in Bangkontee, a village near to the more well-known Amphawa. This skyline reminded me much of my childhood's place in KL. We bumped into this place by accident in our search for coconut palm sugar. Brandon on a bamboo ladder to see how raw palm sugar was collected.  A cut is made on the flower of the coconut palm to collect the liquid sap into containers. Lanky boys for hire to climb trees! A worker collecting the raw coconut palm sugar. Awesome green carpet of water ferns on the canals Reflection of the palms on the water ferns A pick up truck full of harvest.  We've also a big harvest that day. Taking in the beautiful scenery, soaking in the serenity and enjoying the warmth and hospitality of the locals.