Floating market

We decided yesterday to take a day trip outside the city and visit a popular attraction here called the Floating Market. If you're a fan of Amazing Race, the contestants visited here as part of one of their challenges a few seasons ago. After weeks and weeks of bad health, we are thankful to have had a few good days. We're now focusing on refreshing our family so we can get back to doing the thing He has called us to do.

This is a shot of the kids just before taking off this morning. They are by no means perfect kids, but we couldn't be more proud of their flexibility and their ability to adapt to the many changes that have come their way over the past few years. Great attitudes ... and well, they just make us laugh. We love you guys so much!!

The trip took us about 1 1/2 hours out of the city. It was nice to get a different view of life here. These are found at many overpasses ... pictures of the King and Queen.

Getting closer ... coconut groves are everywhere!!

Entrance into the Floating Market. We didn't know what to expect other than boats and water.

The front entrance to the miles and miles of canals where shops are set up on the sides. The boat actually pulls up to the shop and you make your purchases without ever getting out of the boat. There are some stopping points where we were able to get out and walk around, but most of our time was spent in the boat.

Our guide ... such a neat guy!!

The kids loved it ... well, most of them. Emma was fine until the boat sped up. This was definitely not a Sunday afternoon at Lake Monticello with Grandpa!

These ladies were selling fruits and veggies....

If you're ever in Thailand, you MUST visit the Floating Market!!

Boy ... on a tube ... with his bike?????

Noah added to his elephant collection while Elizabeth added to her bookmark collection.

Boat loads of tourists....

So many people.....

This shop had every spice imaginable!

Hats anyone?????

Uh .... don't think so!

We did decide to have a snack, though ... some kind of Thai chicken on a stick. Think of Arkansas festivals where EVERYTHING is sold on a stick. We got 5 "appetizers" that tied us over until lunch!

Several temples along the canal....

Our guide stopped at a little stand and bought 2 bags of fish food and handed them to us. We just about flipped out of the boat when the fish literally jumped out of the water to get the food!!

We had the best guide of the day....

Don't you love how these pictures just show up at the end of your ride ... or tour ... or whatever it is that sucks you into buying these priceless souviners. These definitely put the cheese in cheese, but who doesn't need a 5X7 plaque of yourself in a boat?!?!

Some pretty priceless memories were recorded today (photo with OUR camera ... free!)!!

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