Warning!!!! This is going to be a long one....

Last weekend (3-4 Nov) I went to Amphawa in Samut Songkram with my friends.  We tried to start the trip early by making appointment at 9.00 am but things were not as planned.  I went to the hotel in Nana area to see Wade, my friend from Australia and waited for May, his Thai friend.  Then we had a soft breakfast getting from 7-Eleven next to the hotel as the hotel food is expensive as you know.

We left the hotel at about 10.00 a.m. to Victory monument by Taxi and it was quite jam, it took us about 30 mins to get there.  Then we catch the van from Victory monument to the destination.... Amphawa.  The van cost us 70 Baht each.  Oh the taxi was 75 Baht so it was 25 Baht each.  It takes 1 hour and 15 min to get to the town called Mae Klong which is one of the districts in Samut Songkram.  

Once we got there, we walked thru the market street and walked pass "Market on the rail track".  Too bad, on Saturday there was no train passing.  Normally whenever there's train passing by, they will have to take their umbrella back in to escape the train and I've actually seen that in a TV.  There are not many trains per day and they all know the time table so it's not that dangerous.  It's cool!!! We talked to the people around there a bit while Wade was taking pictures.  

Then we catch a local bus which cost us 7 Baht each to Amphawa.  It took us about 10-15 mins to get there.  On da bus, we met another group and one couple.  The group is students from Bangkok coming to visit Amphawa just like we did and the couple are local people who came back from BKK.  We had a lil chat on the way and Wade was always the person who starts talking.  I'll have to join the conversation as I'm his interpreter, and it was like that for most of the trip.

When we got there it was a bit after midday. We were the first group arriving there so we get our stuff in to our room.  The bed is big enough for two people so we get extra fook (bed).  First we planned that Wade as the only gentleman we have, should sleep on extra bed but too bad later I have to be that one coz I suddenly got a period that night.  Ok, that's not a problem anyway.  The house has two parts, two stories house with kitchen down stair and big room and two small rooms up stairs (One of them is our room).  The second part of the house is the canal side part, with two small rooms, one with toilet, and another VIP room with bedroom, toilet, space in front of bedroom and right in front of that is the area next to the canal.  How cool!!! Our room cost 700 Baht/room for two people but we had 3, so we have to pay 200 Baht for extra. It became 300 Baht each.

The time we got there was quite hot so we decided to chill out at the canal side common area with free snack prepared by the owner.  He came to chat with us and we ended up playing cards "E Gae Gin Vodka".  Yep!! We started drinking at about 2 p.m.  I had two glasses, was a bit drunk at that time coz it was local Vodka made in Chiang mai with 40% of alcohol.  Later there were more people coming so we ordered food from the boat passing by, too much I have eaten.  

After drinking a bit, we got in to a boat and a kayak and row to the market.  I was in wooden boat with Wade and P'Lek (owner).  I was using Kayak pad to row and p'Lek was the one who control the way.  We went to buy some coffee and food at the market then came back home to eat and drink those things.  We were a bit wet coz we were playing in the boat and once almost tip!!! So we went to shower.

After that we went to evening market, lots of people there.  The market is very interesting, many old stuffs that I've seen when I was young. The houses, shops are quite preserved.  We got into one personal museum where the owner was very pleased to present Wade the story of each things he had.  Of course, I was translator.  Then May went on her own, so Wade and I went to the food stalls part and ate things along the street.  Wade got some souvenir for himself and we got old time toy too.  

We spent about two hours there at the market and got back home about 9.00 p.m. then chatted with people there.  There are many people now but we are with the owner so quite VIP. Heheheh.  The boat came to pick us up at 9.45 p.m. to see fireflies, that time most ppl have been back.  The room next to us went together, p'Kaew, p'Bird and Fon.  P'Lek, p'Bee and Hia Tee (P'Lek's friends) also went with us.  It was quite nice on a boat at night without other boat.  The temp was quite low so it was freezing to me.  We saw some fireflies on the trees, some trees have many of them.  But I think there can be more than this but it's already nice for me as I haven't seen that for a long time.  The atmosphere got us sleepy but very nice tho.

We got back to the home about 11.30 p.m.  May went to bed first as she was tired but we hang around at the canal side a bit to have our dinner.  I wanted to hang around more but it was too tiring so we went to bed.  The room is with air-con so it's nice to sleep... without shower!! Before getting to bed, I told p'Yai (P'Lek's sister) to wake us up the next morning to give food to the monk.  I told her no matter what I said, don't' believe me. She should get me up coz Wade really wanted to join.

Next morning, I got up at 6.00 a.m. coz of my alarm on my mobile so I woke Wade and May before I went to shower.  When I got back from shower, Wade's already at the canal taking pictures.  May decided not to go down coz she was a bit tired and lazy.  I went to give food to the monk who passed by in the canal.  It was nice.  The monks are very excellent with controlling the boat.  I wish I can be as good as them.  

After that Wade went back to sleep again. I couldn't sleep so I came down alone to take picture and chatted with other people at the common area.  P'Lek set up motorbike tour and asked if anyone would join.  P'Kaew, p'Bird and Fon, ppl next door was joining, then I went up to ask Wade and May if they wanna join. May preferred to stay at home so only me and Wade join the trip.  

The trip starts at 9.00 a.m. with 3 bikes.  We started from the Benjarong factory where they made dinner sets for Apec conference.  Wade was very interested to buy some of the works but I told him that we'll come back again coz other people were waiting.  Then we went to first temple where they have "Katin" the biggest donation of the year.  We had free food too!!! Cool, huh??

Oh I forgot to tell that I was a rider and Wade went with me. I won't trust him anymore coz he has just got motorbike accident in Phuket. :P We went to few temples by going along the canal street, a bit scary, and we had to ride into the ferri to cross the canal too.  I did it!!! Also we went on a small road in the garden.  It was quite adventure trip and fun too.  We've seen quite many things.  The trip took about 3-4 hours, longer than predicted.  Many times people have to wait for us coz Wade wanna take a look at things he's interested.  They were quite nice not complaining about that coz they understand that he won't have much chance to see this kind of things and it's new thing for him.  We finally finished our tour with coconut ice cream.

Then we went back to the Benjarong factory coz he wanna buy some souvenir.  First people were waiting for us but after awhile (long while), they decided to go back.  We spent about an hour choosing stuff there.  Actually it was him choosing and I was helping with translation and chatted with the girl there of things.  They were quite nice, trying to get him what he wants.  There are not many things he can purchase because they are kind of made to order place.  One piece of the Benjarong he bought is actually a made to order piece for other customer but they saw him very interested and keen to get things, they gave it to him and will do another one later.  He got many things from Benjarong factory, cups, plats, trays, lil boxes.  Even I'm Thai who's not into this kind of thing much; I can feel that the product here is quite detailed and neat one.

We went back home at about 3.30 p.m. First we were gonna leave right away but I saw they have ppl to give massage and Wade decided to have one hour of service so we stayed a bit longer so he can enjoy.  After the massage, we got ready and take a local bus to Mae Klong to get the van.  We left Mae Klong at about 15 mins before 6.00 p.m. and got back to BKK at 7.30 p.m.

It was quite a tiring trip but fun too.  I will go back there for sure. It's good place to go with friends or beloved one or can just go there and make new friends.

By the way, many ppl thought Wade was my bf coz we were together most of the time but actually that's the matter of language thing and most important thing he already got a nice wife. :D Don't have to kidding me about this then... hahahaha

Amphawa... I think I'm a lil falling in love with you now. J

PS.

Boat for fireflies @100 THB each

Motorbike rental and tour @150 THB / bike

Local bus @7 Baht each / trip

Van back to BKK @60 THB each (Dunno why it's cheaper)