Welcome to the floating market. A place where trading dates back from centuries ago. I went here a couple of weeks ago and will go back at the end of next week. The floating market trip was an experience that is for sure. Their lives are on the water. Everything from traveling from house to house, to selling wares, it is all based on the water. A means of transportation that is so oftentimes taken for granted. As I look at natural waterways I realize that once again our loving creator, made it so easy for us to get around. He put water there. He put it everywhere and gave us the brains and means to build things in order to get around. How amazing is that? As I looked at these people I thought...wow here they are with their whole lives on the water. Do they seem content and happy, maybe. It also occurred to me that what is normal life for them is an attraction to us. Why are floating markets tourist traps? Because it is different. Anything different is deemed as something to be gawked at. I was informed that this particular one was probably set up by the government anyways. I do think that it is amazing. A part of real culture...real people just living the only way they know how.

This is a Thai house, the Thai house where one of the Kings stopped by on a visit. It was at this house that I realized just how much I have learned about Thai culture in a year. Something happened which I do not need to talk about, but just know it wasn't so great. In this incident I believe that I learned a very important lesson. When we are in a new environment we need to be careful about how we act, because it could be perceived by others as something that is not quite right and might even offend. I love Thai ways and in that instance, my defenses went up a great deal. I never realized just how much I knew about culture until the culture was misunderstood and threatened.

Okay...so here I am making sugary something. They use it in som tom if you have ever tried that. I think that this was one of my favorite days, because it was a fun thai day. I got to see real thai people and places and spend time with new people and old. That is what makes life so fun. So here it is....me doing a fun thai job!