The tour picked us from our hotel promptly at 6 a.m. and took us to join some other people who were also taking the tour. After quick introductions to our host, we were off through the salt field just outside of Bangkok to a place that manufactures sugar. They also have a small market and an orchid garden in the back, so it was good that we went exploring a little bit. All of the markets during the day had the same things, so we were glad that we waited to purchase later so we didn't have to carry it around.

The next stop was the dock for the long-tailed boats. We cruised through the canals and saw how many of the Thai people lived directly on the water. We arrived at the floating market 25 minutes later and had the option of exploring on foot or hiring a canoe to take us through the market. We chose to explore on foot and walked around for about an hour. Towards the end though, we were ready to move on, as we had seen everything we wanted to see.

Following the floating market, we drove to a teak market where people were carving the teakwood into various shapes and sizes. We then drove into the town of Kanchanaburi and walked through the JEATH museum. Afterward, we went to a floating restaurant over the River Kwai where we had a traditional Thai lunch with tea, soup, and curry and then rode the long-tailed boats again to the Bridge. We were given time to explore the bridge and walked across to the other side.

Following the bridge, we went to the war cemetery for a half hour and then we drove back to Bangkok. We were staying farther south from the drop-off point, so the tour guide hired a taxi to take us back.

This tour was well worth the money and the time. When I booked the tour through Travelocity, I thought we were only going to be stopping at the Floating Market and the River Kwai. We got to see what traditional Thai life was like, sample some Thai food and also see many interesting sights that we wouldn't have if we'd been on our own.

You need to reach Damnoen Saduak early in the morning (before 9am) to take part in the floating markets. We went by tour bus from Bangkok and endured the hour-and-a-half journey over bumpy roads, driven by an ex-stock-car driver having a bad day! The more pleasurable way of travelling would have been by water-taxi or water-bus.

They are called "floating" markets as many of the stallholders ply their wares from wooden canoes or sampans. In addition to this, many of the buying public are transported in a procession of sampans up and down the canals. The markets are very hectic, with hordes of tourists making the pilgrimage every day. This said, the markets still give you a good idea of what trading was like in Bangkok.

The taxi driver agrees to be our personal taxi for the day and eventually became our tour guide for B2200 ($51). The floating market was the first stop. We took a long-tailed boat up a small river to get there. The trip was great because we got to see the everyday life of the people. Kids were playing and helping the family while the women washed dishes in the river. I was amazed at the brightness of the colors and the incredible strength of the smells as we traveled up the river.

We arrived to the floating market, Damnoen Saduk, and boarded yet another boat to look around the market. The fruits and foods were amazing. As you travel by the floating vendors, you are pummeled with trinkets, foods, and clothes. You quickly learn the best way to avoid conflict is to avoid eye contact and continuously say no.

We had a huge lesson during our trip. A man carrying a huge snake was positioned in the river, very odd. When we gawked in amazement, he boarded the boat and placed the snake first on Rich and then on me. After being grossed out and amazed, we were about to leave when he thrust his hand into Rich’s face and it read "photos B500 ($10.50)." We were horrified. Luckily the cab driver talked to him and we agreed to pay him for one photo, only then quickly left his boat feeling like complete travel virgins.

My overall impression of the market was a sense of surreal fantasy. I would have never imagined the number of people, colors, smells, and noises that could exist in one small river. Your eyes were overloaded with the intensity of sights. It was completely incredible and highly recommended!!!

Lesson learned: The market tends to cater to tourists, so be careful shopping. Some items may seem like bargains, but are really way overpriced.

Boats are a major means of transportation and we chose to visit the countryside on a tour that found us heading into a network of canals in a long-tail boat in a scene reminiscent of searching for Kurtz in Apocalypse Now. The boats are narrow and if you can imagine a 6-cylinder car engine with a short muffler and then a propeller stuck on the end of the drive shaft, you can understand the noisy propulsion system.

We ended up in a floating marketplace that was very active. Like many stops in the tours, there are people there to sell you things from trinkets on up through tailor-made clothing and high-end furnishings. Prices are negotiable; something that some people find to be interesting and fun, while others find unsettling. The floating market features everything from fresh fruits to clothing. There is a land-based portion of the market where you can work your way through many different types of merchandise.

We felt the best deals to be had involved pewter and certain art/craft type objects. I would not buy "jade" or "gold" in such an environment, since the chances of it being authentic would seem quite slim to me and there are reputable downtown establishments for those who want higher-end jewelry items. There are also a lot of "name-brand" knock-offs for sale in floating markets or from street vendors in Bangkok, too, for that matter.

One quick tip: be careful about the things that you eat or drink. We drank only bottled water or canned soda and never ate food from vendors (no matter how tempting) and we never had a problem. This is something to keep in mind when you are off the beaten path at a floating market!

Rivers & canals are the highways & byways of Thailand. Known as "Klongs", these waterways are at the very core of Thai life. On these waters, vendors sell their goods, parents take kids to school, & saffron-robed monks paddle door-to-door to receive their morning alms. To get a glimpse into this way of life, we took a long-tailed speed boat past the stilt houses to the famous Floating Market. En route, we passed people bathing, washing fruit, doing laundry--all in the same canal. An eye-opening experience into Thai culture.