Pattaya Floating Market

We passed this place daily to get to our hotel in Jomtien from the city proper. Initially, I thought that it was not worthwhile going as we had been to various floating markets in Bangkok. However, the day before we left, we decided to go and see for ourselves. It was a hot day and I hoped that we would not fry in the sun.

However, this place is not the same as in Bangkok. The place was a maze of buildings connected by walkways and bridges. There are boat rides one can take and also people peddling their wares from boats such as in Bangkok.

One could have the food from confortable pavillions and just order from the boat making this a much nicer place than in Damnoen saduak which was packed like sardines (when we went there quite a few years ago). Maybe with much lesser crowds, it is always better.

At the entrance of the market.

The first place that we came across was a small temple dedicated to the Hindu God, Ganesh. Quite a number of Thais do worship to Hindu deities in tandem with their Buddhist faith.

At the entrace of the temple.

Quite a nice place to enjoy some noodles and other delicacies.

One shop that we had a ball was one selling fake food like the ones you see in the window of a Japanese restaurants. I did notice these being used in some Chinese restaurants and some shops at the Suvarnabhumi Airport (roast ducks,etc.) as well. It is not just about cooked food but fresh food as well.

My children were so tickled especially my daughther. We ended buying small sushi candles as gifts for their friends.

Fake fruits and veges...very real.

Fake roast ducks.

Fake steamed chickens and veges...

The veges look so real.

Yummy sushi candles.

The market also had fried insects and worms. I tried to get my kids to try but they would not budge. I've tried them before. It's not too bad.

Saw this cute sugar and creamer holder. Not sure why, I took this photo.

They even had a basker that looked like a Red Indian but on closer look, it is one of the tribal clothes from the north of Thailand, I think. His music was not too bad.

There were many shops selling the normal touristy souvenirs and handicraft famous in Thailand so I thought, no need to keep showing them in my blog.

Overall, a nice place to spend a few hours, shopping and eating.

Until the next time, cheers.

DIRTY TOILETS IN PWTC

When I was in PWTC recently, I must say that I was quite shocked to see the condition of the toilets there. It was old, dirty and not working well at all. The WCs did not flush well and not maintained at all.

I was there at around 10am and to see it that dirty so early in the morning means that no maintenance was done at all. Imagine the condition at the end of the day.

Dirty and old toilet seat fittings.

WC not flushing well at all. Imagine if it is a big job....yuks.

No toilet paper at 10am?

Look at the dirt.....phew.

Dirty and smelly urinals.

This place being marketed as a premier exhibition centre does not reflect well at all to the owners and managers of the building.

I hope that they will do something about this very soon and not give Malaysia a bad name for the condition of the toilets.

Until the next time, cheers.

HILARIOUS ARTICLE IN MALAYSIAN INSIDER

I found this article to be really funny and may even apply to other cultures as well. However, please take in this a light note.

1 Squat Toilet — Art Harun (http://m.themalaysianinsider.com/articles.php?id=40952-1-squat-toilet--art-harun)

OCT 20 — The Malays do their big business in the toilet by squatting on two pieces of whatever is available. In modern times, these toilets are called squat toilets. That is, I believe, the accepted Malay custom when it comes to the act of releasing one’s excrement. Nowadays, I am appalled by the fact that many Malays have abandoned this custom. They have now opted for sitting toilets where they would sit on the toilet seat and do their big business. This is so not Malay enough.

I am even more appalled that hotels, restaurants, shopping complexes, office complexes, airplanes, buses and whatever have seen fit to do away with squat toilets. This robs me and other Malays — and even the non-Malays — from practising the Malay custom. If nobody could practise this Malay custom in its entirety anymore, I am afraid there won’t be any Malays left in this 1 Malaysia. The Federal Constitution defines a Malay as someone who, among others, practises the Malay custom. So, without being able to do my big business on a squat toilet, I wouldn’t be able to practise the Malay custom. And I am afraid I would become non-Malay under our Federal Constitution because of that. I am appalled. I am therefore proposing that a law be enacted pronto to address this problem. Doing business on a squat toilet must be made compulsory to all and sundry, especially the Malays. Anybody who is caught sitting on a toilet seat while poo-ing shall be guilty of an offence. Anybody who is found guilty of that offence shall be subject to a fine of RM50,000, imprisonment of not more than five years and six lashes on their bare buttocks. All buildings, be they shopping complexes, office suites, hotels or whatever and all vehicles — whether normal fare or cheap fare — be they airplanes trains, express buses, ships, submarines etcetera shall be absolutely required to have squat toilets in the ratio of 30:70, namely 30 per cent sitting toilets to 70 per cent squat toilets. If not, the building or vehicle owner shall be guilty of an offence punishable by a fine of RM10,0000, imprisonment of 50 years, and 12 lashes per toilet Meanwhile, Imams, or their assistants, with the help of Rela members or members of any residents’ association are legally permitted to, without warrant, break into any premises; or stop any vehicle or break into them, public or private, regardless of the time of the day, to inspect whether there are sufficient squat toilets in that premise or vehicle or whether any Malay person is poo-poo-ing on a sitting toilet or otherwise therein. These people shall have the power to arrest. They also may use force to carry out their duty as such. It shall be within their absolute discretion as to the intensity of or what force to use. I hope with this proposal, a very important part of the Malay culture and custom shall be preserved. After all, in Slovakia, anybody who does not poo-poo under a tree — which is their custom — is guilty of an offence. So, what others do, we must do, too. No matter what. Otherwise, we would be left out. Let’s work together towards 1 Malaysia, 1 Culture, 1 Custom, 1 Stupidity. And 1 Bongkumness. — art-harun.blogspot.com

Until next time, cheers.