MINGLE WITH LOCALS IN THAILAND

By Corinne Rice, photographer and founder of Nomadic Mom blog.

On a recent trip overseas, some of my travel plans changed. This meant that we were in Thailand and had an extra 10 days with no plans. Bangkok is where we were staying, and while I love cities, I felt the need to explore other parts of Thailand. So I found us some accommodations and honestly didn’t even read the full listing. I just wanted something inexpensive that had great reviews. So, we hopped in a cab in the early evening and arrived at our airbnb at around 9pm.

Upon arrival we were greeted by several people who helped us with our luggage and asked us if we wanted some food. I was starving, so that was perfect. We were served the most delicious Thai food I have had in my entire life. Turns out, the Mother is a former chef. What a treat! In the morning I woke up at sunrise and to my surprise we were in the most beautiful surroundings, on a fruit farm. We were served a yummy breakfast with fresh coconuts.

After breakfast our host and her friend took us to the floating market (a market on a river where you get into a boat, with someone paddling for you, and they take you around to all of the vendors.) There were boats selling coconut ice cream and other foods as well as clothes and souvenirs; it was incredible! After that we headed to the railway market. The railway market was such an unbelievable thing. It is a farmers market along a working railroad. Everyday, four times a day, the vendors gather their things and move them away from the tracks, the passenger train comes through, and then all the vendors put their things back. After the railway market we went and checked out a 400 year old temple and then went back to the farm to go swimming in a nearby canal that our hosts family had property on.

The current is strong, and so we put on life vests. They instructed us to grab onto this rope, let the current take us and then they would pull us back in. It was a blast, so we did it over and over again, until I felt bad because of how much of a workout they were getting. From there we went back to the farm, ate another delicious meal and watched the sunset. I got a massage and then went to bed. They had a friend come to give me a massage and it was only about $6 USD.

In the morning they took me to find a stick and poke tattoo artist and then to lunch at their favorite spot. When we got back, we got to take a farm tour and sample all the fruits that they grow. These two days were one of my all time favorite travel experiences.

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