We've been making friends with the hotel kitty - who came for a visit on Sunday.
On late Sunday afternoon and evening, the Walking Street (market) happens along Ratchadamnoen and Ratchaphakinai streets. It's an amazing array of handicrafts, food and performers, not to mention a diverse crowd of shoppers, both locals and foreigners.
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| One end of the market at Thaphae Gate |
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| Shrine at Wat Chedi Luang (I think) |
Services were taking place at the wats along the route. At many of them there were numerous stalls within their grounds selling all the varieties of items in the market, plus religious goods too. No one seemed to mind tourists viewing what was happening in the temples and then continuing to shop.
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| These guys could really play! |
We had a great time walking the length of the market (although we skipped the huge collection of stalls on the other side of Thaphae Gate) and then retired to a restaurant with a good view of the street for a spot of people watching and some nasty South African Chardonnay. (Didn't realise quite how nasty till the next morning). We didn't need any food: while walking we sampled crispy fried squid, spring rolls, pad thai, deep fried and stuffed chillies, dim sims, steamed black bean buns and other sweet things we didn't know the name of.
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| M took this pic - jelly and bean sweets - delicious! |
I didn't see any of my new favourite dish, khanom khrok (rice cakes cooked with coconut milk, served hot) - but luckily found some tonight, not far from where we are staying.
