Saturday at the market and bad luck Sunday

So Saturday night came and we were all set to head into town to find this market we have been told so much about. The walking market, from what we have read, is open from 5.30 till 10.30 and takes roughly 3 hours to navigate. 

We headed into town on the "Rocket" and after searching for nearly an hour to no avail, we stood on a corner and were waiting to meet Aaron who was out on a date. 

While waiting, a Thai approached us in the usual friendly manner, announced he could speak English and asked where we were heading, as they also tend to do. After telling us the market we wanted was miles away he sent us to the Tontann Market, the second biggest market, which was only 10 minutes’ drive.  

We parked up and began to explore, the market itself was a midst 100’s of lit up palm trees, beautiful ponds and Thais running around full of excitement. We were unsure what all the commotion was about and followed them to a stage where we had to push through to see the spectacle which at first shocked us as we were greeted with 200 men standing in line greased up, wearing only a banana hammock and a smile. We read the sign and seen it was a body building competition.

Next group waiting to flex their muskles

The Thai people were cheering and whooping as they brought each group on stage.  Myself and Aaron covered the girls eyes and expressed that there is nothing to see here we should move on quickly ☺ Nudies!!

The market was huge and at every stand the sellers were more interested in watching their screens and cheering then trying to sell us anything, turns out Thailand was playing Japan in a final of a volleyball tournament which seems to be one of the national sports here, so we cheered when they did too, many a returned smile and it lifted the spirit of the night as they won. We spent a few hours walking around taking the usual tourist pics and viewing all the art pieces set around the perimeter of the grounds.

Koi-Pond

We purchased a few items and forgot to haggle, as it seemed cheap enough and had some food from the stands... not the bug stand though, as the stomach wasn't ready to be eating cockroaches and crickets like last time we were here. 

The Thais seem to love them but to us they just taste like burnt popcorn and it was just the issue of knowing what you were putting in your mouth.

A good night was had by all and I even got back in time to watch some of the footie with Kenny in the local with a large outdoor screen!!

Then came Sunday…. SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY!!!

We were told about a large Shopping center around the corner from us and said we would check it out… this place was crazy, they had all manner of Thai restaurants and even a few American one’s. We've seen places with 4 course meals for 3.50 and even a KFC... 

Here’s one for you, the Thais eat KFC with a knife and fork, probably the first time I've seen them use a knife as its all fork and spoon here… oh yes they’ll happily shove a few cockroaches or spiders down their throats with their hands but they ain't picking up no KFC chicken leg.. Yuck ☺

They also had an arcades there and I was very happy to see they had Pro evolution soccer, as I have been getting PlayStation envy with all these FIFA 14 and GTA 5 Facebook posts...

And then I saw they had booths where you could sit in for the day and order a few beers while singing karaoke in a sound proof room.. We have penciled it in for next week and hopefully I’ll put up a video of me and Kristine singing some Thai songs, oh and of course I’ll get Kristine to sing some Jolene… Feck off she is shouting at me as I write this.. Too late it’s in ☺

As we were leaving the bad luck began, Kristine slipped and her knee popped a way it shouldn't have, leaving her in agony on the ground, turns out she sprained it after slipping on a surface outside of the Tesco Lotus here.. Unfortunately suing is out of the question, so it was a trip to the pharmacy.. 

We came home first and I put her into bed while she screamed in agony. I ran to the freezer hoping to find something to put on her knee to bring down the swelling but we go out for every meal, as it’s cheaper and all I could find was a bag of sweet chili sauce from our last take out. Popped it in the freezer and it worked just as well ☺☺

I was nurse Stephen for the day…

Later that day I went out to try hunt down somewhere to watch the Dublin v Mayo final (not easy in Thailand) and with the help of some friends back home found some sites I could stream it on, so big thanks to everyone that tried to help me. And here is were my luck ran out, 10 minutes before the game started while in a bar the WiFi went down and the Man United game started. 

My super sister sent me 10 minute updates of the scores as they happened in the GAA Final and I realised I was missing a great game. All the while, Manchester United the football team I support, began to get a spanking from a rival, Manchester City, ending 4-1. I had raced home at half time to try get the end of the Dublin game on our WiFi at home, only to arrive as it finished, damn time difference turned me around.. oh well the win is the important part.. g'won the Dub's.

Tuesday now and Kristine's leg is much better, she is taking pain killers, anti inflammatory tablets and wearing a bandage and is alot more mobile now, so it doesn't seem as bad as we had feared. Roll on our first teaching class on Thursday :)