Today we are striking out for Bor Sang, the town where they make Silk Umbrellas. Last time we were here we went there for the annual Umbrella Festival. Sadly, this time, we arrived here on the last day of the festival so there was no way we could make it. But, we figure it will be nice to see the place without the crowds and the hub bub.
We want to take a Songthaew (the little half bus/half pick up trucks that run around all over the city), so I ask the concierge in the condo to write out Bor Sang in Thai for us – just to be safe. Then, we walk down to the Warorot market where the “station” is located. We know they are in the market, we just aren’t sure exactly where to pick them up. After meandering around down there for about 1/2 hour, stopping a number of Songthaews and asking the drivers if they are going to Bor Sang – all of whom are lovely and tell us to go to the market to get the Songthaew (of course we’re already AT the market, so that’s not totally helpful!) – we pretty much decide to give up on the Songthaew and find a Tuk Tuk. Lots more money, but at least we know we’ll get there.
As fate (or luck) would have it, we walk down the street to find a Tuk Tuk and find the darn Songthaew! Cool! And the driver is ready to leave once we get there – even better! So off we go, out to Bor Sang, with a French couple and a bunch of locals. These things are great!
Open air, 2 bench seats, scenery flying past you, 9 km to Bor Sang and only 20b per person (I think he ripped us off though – I think it should have been 15b, the difference is only really 15 cents each, so who can complain?). It’s still early, so we head off down the main road and find Coffee Time – the little coffee shop where we drank and ate during the festival. She’s moved around the corner and outside of the building – so we go with the flow and have cappuccinos out back under and umbrella in the sun while playing with her 2 dogs. And making funny faces at her baby daughter. Love it!
Then we just walk all through the town, looking at all the shops and the street food and getting hungry. But it is only a little after 10AM so we need to wait on food. We wander through the Wat Bor Sang, which has the World Peace Pagoda along with a lovely outdoor Buddha.
We head back to the umbrella factory, making a pit stop in a little strip mall to check out Yui’s restaurant, Italian, Thai, Pizza and something else. They aren’t open yet, and as we head out, we catch a glimpse of an English school whose banner is just too funny to pass by.
Could they have made anymore mistakes? Maybe the instructor’s name really is Chirstopher. We’ll give you that – but it also says “Gramma” instead of “Grammar”. We’re thinking that maybe their English is too easy!
Back at the factory, we spend some time watching the artisans make the umbrellas. Really amazing – the talent! Whittling down the bamboo for the structure, weaving together the sticks to make the structure, applying the fabric and then the painters. So talented. You could stand there all day and just watch each set of workers do their tasks.
Finally we tear ourselves away and head back into town for lunch. We end up going to the half wood carving/half restaurant on a corner across from the place that had a big sign that just said “Food” with an arrow. Choices, choices!
This turned out to be great – plus they had pictures so you knew what you were getting!
Ed has Krapow Moo (spicy pork) and Fried Egg. I have Garlic pork and rice.
Both ever so yummy and only $1US each. Heck we split a large beer and that cost as much as the food! Total meal cost – $4.25. Can’t beat it!
We walk off our food, and do a little shopping, buying a really neat carved wooden vase for $2.40. Then back out to the main road to flag down a Songthaew for the ride home. We’re dropped off in the middle of the Warorot market – exactly where we want to be – and this time it is only 15b each. See! I told you the first guy ripped us off!
We head into the market, stopping first for an earring (3 for 50b-$1.50) and sunglass (49b-about the same!) purchase. Then we dive into the food section to pick up Spanish peanuts and chicharrones (yeah, well, who knows what they are called in Thai!) made fresh every day. Next up we hit the vegetable stalls and pick up those awesome little cherry tomatoes (a steal at 25b or 75cents for a package of over a pint) and also a package of spices so Ed can cook his squid.
On the way home, we walk through the flower market (which we normally miss). It is just amazing. We’ll have to go back and take pix – since we sort of neglected to do that as we gawked our way through the market. It’s heating up – especially walking in the sun – so the condo is a nice cool respite after our busy day. Now the big decision – where to go for dinner!
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