Kali : Damneon Saduak: The Floating Market

Thailand Journal 03

Being a first-timer in BKK, the floating market and elephant ride experience wouldn't be missed out. It happened on our 3rd day - morning, before we travel to Cha-Am in the aftenoon...

After many research on how to go to floating market, bus routes etc... due to limited time, we ended up with a taxi driver who offers a service in bringing us to the place.

Since I have read several blogs about the floating market, I asked him to bring us to the Damneon Saduak Market, and from there we can rent a small paddle boat just for experience which costs around BHT 300 only.

But to our surprise, the driver brought us to this camp, few kms away from the market. From there are the tourist boats which costs BHT 2000 per person. At first, we refuse to get the package and told him to bring us to the market itself. It was a long discussion and he spoke Thai with the manager and offered a discounted rate of BHT 1500 package. I told him that we are not prepared for this costs since I know that it costs less when we go to the market itself.

But he argued and refused to bring us to the market and leave us no choice but to take the package plus the elephant ride for another BHT 1000 per person. We were left with take it or leave it option; since we need to catch the train to Cha-Am in the afternoon, we grab the package...

This is the camp site, they harass the tourist to take their package saying that the market is only for tourist and it was not open for public anymore... beware!!!

From this camp, we rode a motorized boat which is designed for tourist, operated by a young thai boy.

Motor boat passing through canals...

Boatman from Damneon Saduak

Along the canals, there were vendors already...

Vendor - Damneon Saduak

There are also some stalls selling souvenirs; our boat stopped and we said we are not buying (since we were not in good mood already)... but he said, that's his mom and he is helping her...

We pass through more canals for about 15 minutes...

Before we finally reach the main canal...

At this point, another issue was raised; the signage says DAMNEON SADUAK FLOATING MARKET, pointing to the left...

Damneon Saduak Signage

Damneon Saduak

But we just passed on it and we turn right...

And went through this small market, which the boy insists as The Damneon Saduak Floating Market...

Damneon Saduak Floating Market

From all the reviews and photos I've seen on the website, it was one of the biggest, if not the biggest floating market in the country; but what I've seen was just a strip of stalls, that has few vendors and commercialized goods...

You might be wondering why I cross processed my photos, and it is because this is how it see the place; pale, dull and no life at all, compared to the bright colored images on Google and other blogs...

Then we enter the small canals again...

Canals

The boy dropped us to the CHANG PUAK Camp for the elephant ride experience...

Thumbs up? No!

The supposed to be one of the highlights of our trip was an #epicfail.
They stole not only money from their guests but the time and supposed to be good memories that the tourists paid for...

And not only that, they have left negative impressions about what kind of people they are...

From the Thailand Journal 01 - Cruise along Chao Phraya River, I have mentioned that my impression on BKK was way better than Manila; yes it is true when it comes to the mode of transportation (especially the metro trains) and the cleanliness; however I take pride as a Filipino when it comes to hospitality, we value our guest and treat them with respect.

Bangkok may have be advanced technology and their tourism board may be working hard for the improvement of their tourist destinations, but if their people will keep on taking advantage to their tourists and guests, there will come a time that no one will be interested in visiting this country.

Elephant Ride on my next blog: Thailand Journal

Damneon Saduak: The Floating Market

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