8 Things To Do in Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Floating Market is the first thing I have associated with Thailand; hence a trip to Bangkok would be incomplete without paying one a visit.  

We booked a Damnoen Saduak Floating Market tour in a local agency for 800 Baht per person. I don't know if that's a steal or I got scammed. Hahah! But the fee seemed reasonable to me, so I gave it a go! The agent offered a hassle-free half day trip with pick up and drop off, and a longtail boat ride from a village to the market. Paddle boat rent and food are not included in the package. 

Damnoen Saduak is the most popular floating market and I bet it's the most touristy of all the tourist traps in Bangkok! But honestly, I had so much fun! I think it really depends on how you look at it. There are traps for sure, but there also fun and cheap things-to-do. Here are 8 of them!

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Signature Travel Poses To Love

What do you collect when you travel?, a blog reader once asked. I laughed on the inside as I typed my reply because, honestly, I collect nothing but memories. I buy things - fridge magnets, Starbucks' tumblers and whatnot - but I tend to give all those to my family and friends when I get home. Hence, I only have photographs encrusted with good ol' memories for myself and I'm totally okay with it.

But last year, I noticed something with my travel photos. They all look so basic! It's either I stand straight in an overly photographed spot or I pinch the tip of a famous monument. Take for example my photo op with Taj Mahal! Arrrgh! How cliche! I couldn't help but tell myself, "You can do better than that!"  whenever I see it. 

I thought it would be nice to do something unconventional next time. I want to make my treasure trove aka travel photo collection more visually appealing. And it turned out that a sprinkle of creative dust is all I need. Thus, a signature travel pose was born!

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Old Town Bangkok DIY Tour

After 3 fantastic days in Phuket, our family of four flew to Thailand's bustling capital via a local budget airline. Being the focal point of a popular Southeast Asia travel route, I was pretty excited to see Bangkok for the first time. 

I think, there's no better way to make the trip more distinct than having a glimpse of the local culture! I'm super happy that I stumbled on to Big Boy Travel's Old Town Bangkok Walking Tour while I was doing my research. The self-guided trail came in handy. I got spoon-fed, I must say! 

So, I laid out a DIY tour plan; not as detailed and as packed as Big Boy Travel's itinerary, but a simplified version that includes the 3 must-see Wats in Bangkok. Thankfully, my parents were game with it! 

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25 Travel Quotes That Will Spark Your Wanderlust

Wanderlust (noun): a very strong and irresistible impulse or desire to travel the world.

I am suffering from that thing called WANDERLUST. I'm not going anywhere as of the moment, but I can hardly wait to book that plane ticket for another sweet escape. I'm currently armchair traveling, getting all the inspiration I need from Pinterest, Instagram, my friends' travel blogs, and my fave travel quotes.  

Ohh, travel quotes! Admit it or not, we sometimes need a string of inspiring words to make our travel plans work out. So, I decided to share my 25 favorite travel quotes here on the blog. 

Warning: These quotes will make you want to pack your bags! 

Ready. Get set. Be inspired.

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Unli Breakfast at Little Bangkok

Ed and I rarely wake up early during weekends, but when we do, we take it as an opportunity to check out the top breakfast places and promotions in the city. One of the best brekkie deals that we have stumbled on to is Little Bangkok's unlimited breakfast.

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Street Style Dining at Bodega Streetfood

Filipino restaurants with unique concepts never fail to make me happy and proud. I was super excited when I heard that the team behind Dampa is setting up a new Filipino restaurant, Bodega, which is focused on street food! 

It opened last year and I immediately gave it a try. Bodega was still on dry run that time that's why I decided not to blog about it yet. The menu already had the exotic Pinoy grilled items like chicken feet and ass, but it wasn't really focused on Filipino food. They were serving street food from around the world (Pho from Vietnam, Tacos from Mexico, Satay from Indonesia) which I actually liked. The concept did not create a major buzz though. 

During my third visit, I was surprised to know that Bodega is temporarily closed. The staff said Dampa has to use Bodega's kitchen for some reason. I never had the chance to check it out again until I heard that Bodega Streetfood was relaunched. And it turned out to be better than ever!

     

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Breakfast at the Cocoa Room

I have heard so much about the Cocoa Room ever since it opened in Dubai last year. I was actually invited to have a sneak peek prior its grand opening, but missed the opportunity as the event coincided with an out of town trip. You can imagine how devastated I was when I got to see the foodie photos on social media a week after! I am not exaggerating! Please continue reading and you'll surely understand. :)

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Summer Weekend in Al Raha Beach Hotel

A week before Eid Al Fitr holiday, we sneaked in a relaxing hotel stay in Abu Dhabi. We were actually a bit hesitant to go on a trip outside Dubai during Ramadan, but when I realized how things fall into place - the shortened work schedule, Ed's compensatory time off, Ferrari World's Ramadan free view offer, and an invitation to stay in a beach hotel - we immediately gave it a go.  

Our sweet escape destination? Al Raha Beach Hotel!  

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