Diana Arrived Late Last Night,

from The Philippines, 

I was already in Bangkok waiting to meet her, first thing in the morning, we were out, Diana had hired the same guide as we had last year,

the good news was that he took us to places we had not been to before, and some he did not include on his regular route, 

like this one, 

miles from anywhere, 

the shame was that it had been raining all morning, 

and the skies grey,

I have to admit I do not know where the temple is, other than it is north of Bangkok,

 our guide Suwat gave Diana instructions, 

as to how to make a prayer and a wish,

one for the album,

and this is it,

near by another temple, for us back into the mini bus, Diana had arraigned a private hire, just the 2 of us,

our next stop, the market, 

but not just any old market,

this one has a train running through it!

the vendors regularly have to take down their awnings, 

and move their goods for sale as the train moves through the market,

back to what's on offer, crabs,

lots of big, 

live crabs, 

all tied up and ready to go,

and available in so many sizes, 

fresh fish as well in this section,

along with all manner of seafoods,

so many I have not tried, (and a few I would rather not try),

Suwat chatted with one of the stall holders, 

we kept walking through the seafood part of the market, which has an aroma all of its own,

prawns, yummy!

and a Horseshoe crab, 

an amazing creature, 

if for no other reason it has blue blood! which contains Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate or LAL for detecting bacterial contamination in medicines and devices, more about this fascinating area of research here,

I weakened and bought some of my favorite fruit out here,

jackfruit, nice to eat and it is healthy too,

talking to a friend or taking an order over the phone?

fried banana anyone?

or a fresh coconut?

still available for hire, a bicycle powered rickshaw,

and here we are, 

by the tracks, 

a word of warning, it is very easy to miss step and twist an ankle here,

the awnings will be removed as a train approaches, 

this lady does a lovely show of opening up a coconut, 

which Diana and other visitors enjoyed, 

too late, we bought one already!

shoppers everywhere, 

a train was nearby, 

as visitors looked for somewhere to stand, 

this is how far the vendors have to move their goods back,

and there it is in the distance, 

stand well back, 

it does not look it, but the train is frighteningly close,

back to the stalls,

and bargaining, 

frog on a stick anyone?

I kid you not!

well frog legs are popular, 

in some countries, so why not on a bamboo stick?

or you can buy live ones as a take home and do it yourself,

as well as fresh produce, 

lots of other goods are for sale here,

but it is the produce that the market is famous for, well that and the railway, 

sale made, 

as we walked past a souvenir stall,

offering local wildlife to take home,

the next train is due, 

here some entrepreneur, 

instead of selling goods sells places to stand, 

a few more steps and then we left, 

smile please, a bit difficult with a mouthful of food!

lots of goodies to eat and drink in the mini bus, 

hey-ho and off we go, no not on a baht bus, into the mini bus for our next port of call.