Song Kran

Having the week off I wanted to do something fun at least one day. So I went with a few other sisters to a hundred-year-old market in the next province. It was a bit of an adventure with all the "excitement" we've had here lately. First there were lots of soldiers stationed around the city carrying huge rifles. Kinda intimidating. Then we were a bit late so we had to run to catch the train. We made it. Then the Thai sister with us, G, had to sweet talk the train ticket guys because we were in such a rush to get the train that we didn't buy tickets. It worked out.

So we get to the next province and take a song-tao to where we need to catch a boat. (A song-tao is a truck with benches in the bed and a cover. It's the major form of public transportation outside Bkk.) Tickets for the boat were sold out so we had to wait over an hour for the next one. Unfortunately where we had to wait was right next to a famous temple. G felt very uncomfortable there. Thai JWs don't like temples (understandably so) and are quite sensitive to being around them. Interesting. We finally get the boat and it's a 30 minute ride to the market.

The market was interesting. It's right along the river and seems like it used to be a little mini port. All built out of wood. The market was mostly different kinds of food and cheap toys from China. Funny combo. It was fun trying lots of different kinds of food.

We were finished within a few hours. Instead of taking a boat, we just took a song-tao to get back to the train. Along the way we got hit with water several times by people along the street. But fortunately everything important (phone, camera, etc) was safe in a plastic bag. We were prepared.
When we got to the train station we were told that they canceled the train we were hoping to take and had to wait 2 hours for the next one. So instead we hop in a tuk tuk and head to the bus station. We took a bus intead.

So I'm walking home and thinking how fotunate I am that I hardly got wet. But right near my place was a bunch of people throwing water at everyone. The day before I had walked past them without getting wet at all. So I felt confident that I could get by again. I took a few photos and as I was walking past the final group one girl very nonchalantly doused me with a BUCKET of water from the front. I was a bit shocked which I think encouraged her because she then doused the back of me. Sigh.