A Paragon of Supermarkets 

It’s Earth Day today where we offer thanks to our fabulous planet for providing us with such bounty, beauty and diversity. 

We are SO grateful. 

🙏

Highlights today included shopping and lunching at one of the most amazing gourmet supermarkets in the world. Surprisingly it didn’t top Adelaide FREWVILLE Foodland as the “Best supermarket in the world” but it was still astonishing….and the lunch options were extensive and delicious.

The fresh fruit, the freshly squeezed exotic fruit and vegetable juices, (that you could sample) the ready prepared meals that they would heat up for you, the wagyu beef that you could pay up to $500 AUD/kilo, for, the monks/buddhist section, the amazing spice collection, and to Andrew’s great delight a lolly section to die for. Gummy bear heaven. 

Freshly squeezed ginger and lemongrass for me. 

All the Buddhist robes and offerings you could need.

In the express checkout Andrew was behind a family that handed over 65,000 baht (around $2900 AUD) for less than…7 items !!!

It was definitely a shopping mall and Gourmet Supermarket for the not-so-average Thai or tourist. 

Counting the cash at the counter then topping the last little bit up with the Gold Visa card. 

Yesterday too we dined at the Japanese Donki retail store where the collection of weird and wonderful items blew our minds. From samurai gear, to fresh delicious sushi, to car accessories, Hokkaido horse oil and sex outfits all labelled in Japanese script so mostly indecipherable to us westerners. 

We played taiko drumming arcade game and were rubbish and cooled off in our fabulous rooftop horizon pool after the busy day. 

I need practice

Our roof top horizon pool at our hotel is wonderful but I imagine it will be the last one we see as we head north and into Laos. 

Also we braved our first Thai oil massage, which was not as painful as anticipated but very slippery and relaxing. 🤣 and came out to see the place full of weary business men getting their lunchtime foot massage. 

A daily must-do activity. Watch out for the “Sexy” massage though or you could get a surprise. 😳

We now feel like we are really on holiday, and even pulled out the Yarni playing cards at a casual pub down the road for a few rounds tonight. 

We are also getting used to bargaining for transport and really getting a feel for the dichotomy of pricing, both tourist and local. 

An early start tomorrow at the flower market then off to Little India and hopping on a boat to explore the Chao Phraya river. 

Maybe I could wear the above outfit.