Floating Markets, elephants and tigers

"06/05/2013"

I decided late last night that I wanted to see the floating markets.
When I realised that I could do the tour, and go and see tigers and elephants it was a no brainer.

Right on queue the tour guide showed up at 7am, when I was trying to decide whether or not to take the tourist bus to Siem Reap...more about that another time.

The tour guide had rather a habbit of repeating himself.  But was a sweetie.
Clearly everything was not included in the price, so at every stop we had to pay more on top of the price we'd already paid.  A tad frustrating.

Needless to say the tour was well worth it.
A morning at the floating markets, with some amazing spring rolls and a trip down the canals.

We then left for the elephant home, where there was an opportunity to ride elephants.  The elephant I rode took a little detour into the river...sensible plan as it was getting really hot.
The elephants are working elephants and this was a further way to keep them in a healthy way.

We then swapped vehicles (some people were heading back to Bangkok)...following a brief stop at a snake show, which no-one wanted to pay extra to see, before a long journey to the River Kwai for a buffet lunch...which was included, and well worth it.  (DECENT VEGGIE OPTIONS FOR A CHANGE!)
It was a lovely river view, and as I mentioned to someone else on the bus, this would be worth gold in the med...

We had a brief stop at "death bridge", which was supposedly a bridge bombed during the second world war by the US....and something to do with Burma.  However we weren't quite sure what Burma had to do with anything, especially as Burma was not on the other side of the bridge...hmmm.

We then had another long journey to "tiger temple".  Yes tigers.
There was an opportunity to go in for free and stroke the tigers, plus have your photo taken.  The guide I was with took several...compared to the "special photo with the tiger on your lap" for 1000baht.
Personally I preferred what I did and my pics are great.  The tigers were incredible...though I'm still convinced they were drugged.

Then for the long journey back to Bangkok.

It was an incredible day, and there is so much more to come.  I can't wait.