Thailand - Rediscovering Bangkok
6/5/2010 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Joseph takes a path less traveled as he explores Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok.
Joseph takes a path less traveled as he explores Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok. During his urban adventure, he wanders the back roads and waterways of old and new Bangkok. He participates in morning Buddhist rituals at a local temple, checks out an up-to-date wellness center, crafts a monk’s alms bowl, roasts Thai coffee and scours a local market for the perfect indigenous ingredients.
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Thailand - Rediscovering Bangkok
6/5/2010 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Joseph takes a path less traveled as he explores Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok. During his urban adventure, he wanders the back roads and waterways of old and new Bangkok. He participates in morning Buddhist rituals at a local temple, checks out an up-to-date wellness center, crafts a monk’s alms bowl, roasts Thai coffee and scours a local market for the perfect indigenous ingredients.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> male announcer: WELCOME TO TRAVELSCOPE, WITH JOSEPH ROSENDO, WHERE EACH WEEK, YOU JOIN US AS WE ACCEPT THE WORLD'S INVITATION TO VISIT.
>> Rosendo: THIS WEEK ON TRAVELSCOPE, I DISCOVER THE LITTLE-KNOWN AND UNEXPECTED WHEN I EXPLORE THAILAND'S CAPITAL: BANGKOK.
>> announcer: TRAVELSCOPE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES.
DK CITY, COUNTRY, AND DRIVING GUIDES FEATURE EVOCATIVE PHOTOS, 3-D MAPPING, AND ILLUSTRATIONS FOR KEY SITES AND TRAVEL ITINERARIES.
DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES: THE GUIDES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT OTHERS ONLY TELL YOU.
>> Rosendo: IT'S HECTIC.
IT'S CROWDED.
IT'S THE EPITOME OF DIVERSITY AND CRAMMED TO THE BRIM WITH EXCITING THINGS TO SEE AND DO.
JOIN ME AS I EXPLORE THAILAND'S CAPITAL: BANGKOK.
WITH 50 DISTRICTS COVERING 605 SQUARE MILES AND CLOSE TO 12 MILLION PEOPLE, NAVIGATING THROUGH CROWDS TO BANGKOK'S FAMOUS MARKETS, PALACES, AND TEMPLES CAN BE A CHALLENGE.
YET WHERE THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY.
THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO GET ACROSS BANGKOK.
THERE'S FREEWAY, ROADWAY, WATERWAY, SUBWAY.
THEN THERE'S THE SKYTRAIN.
IT WAS SAID THAT BEFORE THE SKYTRAIN, IF YOU WANTED TO DRIVE ACROSS BANGKOK, YOU'D HAVE TO TAKE ALONG AN OVERNIGHT BAG.
NOW IT'S FAST, CHEAP, COMFORTABLE, AND SCENIC TO GET FROM ONE END OF TOWN TO THE OTHER.
YET WHILE MOST FOLLOW THE TOURIST TRAIL, I TAKE THE PATH LESS TRAVELED AND DISCOVERED WHY BANGKOK IS CALLED "THE VENICE OF THE EAST."
WHAT CANAL IS THIS?
>> THIS IS CALLED KLONG MUANG.
YOU CAN GO FROM HERE TO THE NORTH OF BANGKOK BY USING VARIOUS TYPE OF CONNECTIONS HERE.
>> Rosendo: REALLY?
AND HOW MANY DIFFERENT CANALS ARE THERE, DO YOU THINK?
>> HUNDREDS IN THIS AREA.
>> Rosendo: HUNDREDS IN THIS AREA.
>> YEAH.
>> Rosendo: AND, OF COURSE, THERE WERE MANY MORE, AND THEY JUST PAVED THEM OVER... >> THERE WERE MANY MORE, YES.
>> Rosendo: AND MADE ROADS OUT OF THEM.
>> RIGHT.
>> Rosendo: I UNDERSTAND THAT IN A SENSE, BANGKOK IS SINKING A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF ALL THE WATER UNDERNEATH.
>> YEAH, WE USED TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO USE THE WATER FROM UNDERGROUND, AND NOW THEY-- ALL THEY CAN USE IS THE WATER SUPPLY OR THE WATER FROM THE RIVER ONLY.
>> Rosendo: THIS IS GREAT.
>> IN BANGKOK, THERE ARE 400 TEMPLES.
>> Rosendo: AND SOME OF THEM ARE RIGHT HERE ALONG THE RIVER.
>> MANY OF THEM ARE ON--AROUND THE RIVER, BECAUSE MOST OF THE TEMPLES WERE BUILT, LIKE, 100 YEARS AGO.
IN ORDER TO GO THE TEMPLE IN THE PAST, YOU COULD ONLY GO BY BOAT.
>> Rosendo: I LOVE THE SPIRIT HOUSES ALONG THE WAY.
>> THAI PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT BEFORE WE USED THIS LAND TO BUILD OUR HOUSE, WE BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A SPIRIT WHO ALREADY LIVED THERE, SO IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT SPIRIT HAPPY, WE HAVE TO BUILD A SMALL SPIRIT HOUSE TO INVITE A SPIRIT TO COME AND LIVE IN YOUR PLACE.
LIKE, IN FRONT OF THE BOAT HERE, YOU NOTICE THAT THERE'S A SPIRIT IN THE BOAT TOO, SO THE BOATMAN HAVE TO OFFER SOMETHING IN FRONT THERE.
>> Rosendo: AND THAT IS BECAUSE BEFORE THAILAND BECAME BUDDHIST, THEY HAD ANIMISM, WHERE THEY FELT THERE WAS LIFE IN EVERYTHING.
>> YES.
>> Rosendo: ANIMATE OR INANIMATE OBJECTS HAD LIFE.
>> YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE RICH AND THE POOR LIVE TOGETHER IN THIS AREA.
>> Rosendo: AND THESE PEOPLE HAVE WATER AND-- >> THEY HAVE WATER, ELECTRIC, EVERYTHING, BUT THEY STILL PREFER TO LIVE THEIR OWN WAY BY USING THIS WATER WHEN IT IS HIGH WATER AND WATER IS CLEAN ENOUGH TO TAKE A BATH.
>> Rosendo: I WOULD CERTAINLY RECOMMEND PEOPLE TO GET OUT HERE ON THE CANALS AND REALLY GET TO SEE THIS.
>> THE BEST TIME TO COME HERE IS MAYBE SOMETIME LATE AFTERNOON.
THE WEATHER IS NICE, AND THE TWILIGHT ON THE RIVER IS QUITE NICE.
>> Rosendo: THE WHOLE LIFE THAT GOES ON HERE ALONG THE RIVER.
ON THE BACKWATERS OF KLONG MUANG CANAL, TRAVELERS LEARN ABOUT TRADITIONAL LIFE.
AT TRIA WELLNESS SCREENING, THEY CHECK UP ON THEMSELVES.
THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD REASONS TO VISIT THAILAND.
THIS ONE IS FOR YOUR GOOD HEALTH.
HELLO, DOCTOR.
>> GOOD MORNING.
HAVE A SEAT, PLEASE.
>> Rosendo: OKAY, THANK YOU.
SO THIS IS PART ONE OF THE EXPERIENCE, IS THIS SCREENING, RIGHT?
>> RIGHT, IT'S A SCREENING, AND IT'S, WELL, THE CONCEPT ALSO, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS CONFUSING WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE... >> Rosendo: OKAY.
>> BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO BUILDINGS: THE HOSPITAL AND ALSO THIS WELLNESS CENTER.
>> Rosendo: SO YOUR GOAL IS TO KEEP ME HERE INSTEAD OF GOING OVER THERE.
>> EXACTLY.
>> Rosendo: THAT'S GREAT.
THAT'S GREAT.
>> EXACTLY, SO I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE READY TO GO FOR ALL THE TESTS, AND I WILL SEE YOU WHEN YOU HAVE ALL THE RESULTS.
>> Rosendo: LET'S GO.
>> ALL RIGHT, OKAY.
>> Rosendo: I'M READY.
USING NEW-AGE BIOFEEDBACK AS WELL AS OLD-FASHIONED PUSH-UPS, THE WELLNESS CENTER CHARTS YOUR WELL-BEING.
>> SIX AND SEVEN...
AND...OKAY.
>> Rosendo: I THINK THAT'S IT.
>> ONE, UP.
OH, YEAH.
46?
>> Rosendo: 48.
>> [laughs] NO... WATCH ME AGAIN.
40... >> Rosendo: THAT DIDN'T COUNT?
46.
>> I WAS COUNTING.
>> Rosendo: OKAY, 46.
NEXT.
WHAT FUN.
SURE YOU WANT TO DO THIS ON YOUR THAI VACATION.
NO MATTER HOW YOUR WELLNESS SCREENING GOES, YOUR REWARD IS ALWAYS A THAI MASSAGE.
MASSAGE IS NOT A LUXURY IN THAILAND.
IN FACT, IT'S AN INTEGRAL PART OF PEOPLE'S LIVES.
THE WELLNESS CENTER IS DOING A MODERN TAKE ON THE EXPERIENCE, BUT HERE AT THE WAT PO TRADITIONAL MASSAGE SCHOOL, YOU LEARN HOW TO DO IT THE ANCIENT WAY.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR SOMEONE TO BECOME A GOOD MASSEUSE?
>> THE COURSE THAT WE TEACH: 30 HOURS.
>> Rosendo: 30 HOURS IN ORDER TO BECOME A GOOD MASSEUSE.
OKAY, SO LISTEN.
HERE'S THE DEAL.
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD THAT I DO HORRIBLE MASSAGES, YOU KNOW.
YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD THAT I REALLY CAN'T DO A GOOD MASSAGE.
MAYBE YOU CAN SHOW ME ON THIS NICE GENTLEMAN, WHO IS GOING TO BE OUR HELPER, SO THAT I CAN BE A BETTER MASSEUSE.
>> YES, SIR.
FOR A MASSAGE, FIRST, YOU WANT TO KNOW THE POSITION SITTING.
>> Rosendo: SITTING.
>> AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT THE POSITION FOR WITH THE THUMB, WITH THE THUMB LIKE THIS OR SOMETIMES LIKE THIS, SOMETIMES LIKE THIS.
>> Rosendo: SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
SO IT'S WHERE YOUR THUMB POSITION WILL BE.
>> YEAH, AND SO INSIDE, THE FEET HAVE THREE LINES WITH A BIG TOE, MIDDLE TOE, AND LITTLE TOE, THREE LINES.
YEAH, LIKE THIS: ON THE FIRST LINE.
>> Rosendo: ONE, TWO, THREE.
THREE, TWO, ONE.
>> THAT'S GOOD.
>> Rosendo: YOU DON'T PIN YOUR ARMS.
YOU DO IT STRAIGHT, AND YOU GO ONE, TWO, THREE, AND THREE, TWO, ONE.
IS THAT OKAY?
IS THAT OKAY?
>> YEAH.
>> Rosendo: ALL RIGHT.
[exotic music] ♪ ♪ I DISCOVER THAT IN BANGKOK, THE TRADITIONAL AND THE MODERN LITERALLY RUB SHOULDERS.
IN THE HEART OF THE CITY SURROUNDED BY OLD BANGKOK, THE CENTARA GRAND FEATURES A CONTEMPORARY DESIGN, COMFORTABLE, RELAXING AMENITIES, AND CREATURE COMFORTS.
THE ACCOMMODATIONS LOOK INVITING, BUT I'M HITTING THE STREETS FOR SOME LOCAL CUISINE.
FIRST, I VISIT THE HOTEL'S SWANK RED SKY BAR FOR EXOTIC COCKTAILS AND STUNNING BIRD'S-EYE VIEWS OF THE CITY.
THE RED SKY BAR SPORTS A HIP, CONTEMPORARY VIBE, BUT I JOIN TROY AT STREET LEVEL FOR AN AUTHENTIC TASTE OF OLD BANGKOK.
IT'S LIKE EVERY STREET CORNER IN THAILAND HERE IN BANGKOK HAS A SECTION LIKE THIS WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS.
>> YEAH, EVERYWHERE, EVERY TIME, YOU CAN FIND SOMETHING TO EAT IN BANGKOK.
>> Rosendo: THIS IS THE PAD THAI STREET, OBVIOUSLY.
>> YEAH, IF YOU'RE THINKING OF EATING PAD THAI, YOU HAVE TO COME TO THIS AREA ONLY, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE BEST ONE FOR YOU: THIP SAMAI PAD THAI.
>> Rosendo: WELL, LET'S GO IN.
>> OKAY.
>> Rosendo: PAD THAI IS NOODLES, EGGS, TOFU.
>> YEAH.
>> Rosendo: NOW, THIS IS NOT NORMALLY A HOT DISH.
IF I WANT TO MAKE IT HOTTER... >> NO, THEY SIMPLY MAKE IT PLAIN, BUT IF YOU LIKE IT HOT-- >> Rosendo: PUT A LITTLE BIT MORE SPICE IN.
THAT SHOULD DO IT.
THERE'S THOUSANDS OF PLACES TO EAT IN BANGKOK, AND SOME JUST SPECIALIZE IN CERTAIN DISHES.
LIKE, THIS IS THE PAD THAI PLACE, BUT YOU CAN'T GO WRONG COMING INTO ANY OF THE LOCAL SPOTS.
HOW MUCH WAS IT AGAIN?
>> 30 BAHT.
>> Rosendo: LESS THAN A DOLLAR.
THE FOOD IS CHEAP IN THAILAND.
IN BANGKOK, YOUR NEXT DINING ADVENTURE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
SOME SPOTS EVEN SPECIALIZE IN SEAFOOD BY THE SHOPPING BASKET.
THEIR MOTTO IS, IF IT SWIMS, THEY HAVE IT, AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S TRUE: SCALLOPS, OYSTERS, LIVE LOBSTER RIGHT HERE.
WE'VE GOT SOME SQUID HERE, SOLE.
ONCE YOUR CHOICES ARE MADE, MORE THAN 50 SEAFOOD MARKET CHEFS WHIP UP YOUR MEAL.
WELL, IF IT SWAM, THEY HAVE IT, AND I'M TAKING IT HOME WITH ME.
THAT WAS REALLY A WONDERFUL, EXTRAVAGANT, WELL, OVERINDULGENT CULINARY EXPERIENCE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING ME HERE.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> Rosendo: LET'S GO GET SOME PEPTO-BISMOL.
NEXT MORNING, I CONTINUE MY CULINARY EXPLORATIONS WITH A TRIP TO ZHENG ZHONG TIONG, ONE OF THE CAPITAL'S MANY MARKETS.
I'M WITH NAM, WHO IS THE HEAD CHEF OVER AT THE BAIPAI THAI COOKING SCHOOL, WHERE I'M GOING TO LEARN SOME THAI COOKING TODAY.
>> YES.
>> Rosendo: NOW, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA BE COOKING?
>> TODAY MAKING THE CRISPY RICE CRACKER WITH A TASTY TOPPING.
>> Rosendo: WE'RE GONNA BE USING VERY TRADITIONAL THAI INGREDIENTS.
>> YEAH, SURE.
>> Rosendo: OKAY, LET'S GO SHOPPING.
>> OKAY, SURE.
>> Rosendo: OKAY, NAM, SO WHAT'S OUR FIRST THING WE'RE GONNA GET?
>> THE VEGETABLE FIRST, THE FRESH ONES.
[speaking native language] THIS ONE: CORIANDER.
>> Rosendo: CORIANDER, WHICH I KNOW AS CILANTRO.
>> CILANTRO, YES.
>> Rosendo: CILANTRO IN MY-- >> NORMALLY, YOU USE JUST THE LEAF... >> Rosendo: YES, I ONLY USE THE LEAF.
>> BUT THAI PEOPLE USE THE WHOLE... >> Rosendo: THE WHOLE THING.
>> YES, THE LEAF USED FOR GARNISH, AND THIS ONE, THE LUTE, USED FOR MAKING HERB MIXTURE AND CURRY PASTE.
>> Rosendo: OKAY.
>> THE SECRET I'M TELLING YOU NOW.
>> Rosendo: SO WE'RE GONNA CRUSH THAT THIS AFTERNOON AT THE COOKING STORE.
>> YEAH.
>> Rosendo: OKAY, CHEF, LET'S GO.
LET'S KEEP GOING.
THESE ARE THE DRY INGREDIENTS.
>> YEAH, FOR MAKING THE CURRY PASTE.
>> Rosendo: FOR MAKING THE CURRY PASTE.
>> YES, IF YOU MAKE YOUR OWN, YOU CAN BUY ALL OF THE INGREDIENTS.
>> Rosendo: ALL THE INGREDIENTS.
>> YES, THIS ONE IS THAI GARLIC, SMALL AND STRONG.
>> Rosendo: SMALL AND STRONG.
>> LIKE THE THAI PEOPLE: SMALL BUT STRONG.
>> Rosendo: LIKE THE THAI PEOPLE.
>> [laughs] STRONG?
[laughs] >> Rosendo: YOU'RE RIGHT, SMALL AND STRONG.
>> DRIED SHRIMP... >> Rosendo: [coughing] OKAY, NEXT.
>> DRIED SHRIMP... >> Rosendo: DRIED SHRIMP, BEAUTIFUL.
>> AND LOT OF CHILI.
>> Rosendo: ALL THE CHILIES, AND, OF COURSE, THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAI FOOD BEING SPICY.
IT'S--IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF BEING SPICY-HOT.
THERE'S A BALANCE YOU TRY TO HIT, RIGHT?
>> YES, SOUR, SALTY, SWEET, SPICY COME TOGETHER.
>> Rosendo: AND THEY'VE GOT TO BE BALANCED, BECAUSE AT HOME, SOME OF THE THAI RESTAURANTS: EVERYTHING'S VERY HOT... >> HOT.
>> Rosendo: SPICY BUT NOT VERY FLAVORFUL.
THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED.
THAT'S WHAT A GOOD CHEF WILL DO IS USE THOSE FLAVORS AND MIX THEM ALL TOGETHER.
>> YES.
>> Rosendo: BEAUTIFUL.
LISTEN, CHEF, I DON'T WANT TO KEEP YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO SHOW ME YOUR BEAUTIFUL MARKET HERE AND INTRODUCE ME TO THAI CUISINE.
I'LL SEE YOU LATER THIS AFTERNOON, WHEN WE'LL DO A LITTLE THAI COOKING.
>> SURE.
>> Rosendo: [speaking native language] >> [speaking native language] GOOD-BYE.
>> Rosendo: LATER AT THE BAIPAI SCHOOL, I TRY TO PREPARE ONE OF THE CHEF'S DISHES, AND WHAT'S HARDER: PRONOUNCE ITS NAME.
>> IN THAI, WE SAY... [speaking native language] >> [speaking native language] [all speaking native language] >> IT'S, LIKE, AN APPETIZER ENTREE AND GOOD FOR THE PARTY, BECAUSE FOOD PRESENTATION AS WELL, YES?
AND HOPEFULLY THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TOO MUCH LUNCH EARLIER, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO EAT EVERYTHING THAT YOU COOK TODAY.
SO, OKAY, YOU'LL BE JUST FINE, YES?
>> Rosendo: IN THAI, "AROY MAK MAK" MEANS "TASTY," AND THE CLASS WORKS HARD TO SATISFY OUR TOUGHEST CRITICS: OURSELVES.
OHHH.
MMM, OHM.
SMELLS GOOD.
MINE DOESN'T LOOK AS GOOD AS HERS, BUT...
IT TASTES PRETTY GOOD.
YEAH, TASTES GOOD.
FOLLOWING MY APPETITE, I HEAD AN HOUR OUTSIDE OF BANGKOK TO SUPHAN BURI AND THE HISTORIC SAM CHUK CHINESE MARKET.
>> SO, JOSEPH, HERE WE COME TO THE MAIN SAM CHUK MARKET.
THIS MARKET BECAME SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE MARKET.
IT'S OVER 100 YEARS OLD.
DURING THAT TIME, CHINESE STARTED TO MOVE TO BANGKOK CITY, AND SOME OF THEM CAME HERE, AND THEY SAW THE OPPORTUNITY IN THIS AREA, AS PEOPLE NOT AROUND THIS AREA ARE FARMERS.
THEY GROW RICE, SUGAR, TAPIOCA, AND DO A LOT OF THINGS FROM THOSE KIND OF PLANTS, AND THEN THEY USE RICE, SUGAR, TAPIOCA TO MAKE ALL TYPES SWEET DESSERT.
THIS ONE IS A TAPIOCA PUDDING TYPICAL FROM THIS AREA HERE, YES.
>> Rosendo: LOOK AT THIS HERE.
>> OH, LET'S SHARE, OKAY.
>> Rosendo: LET'S SHARE.
>> MMM.
>> Rosendo: MMM.
>> CRISPY.
>> Rosendo: VERY GOOD.
>> GOOD TASTE.
>> Rosendo: THIS LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE DOUGHNUT.
>> YES, LIKE A THAI DOUGHNUT.
YES, GREEN BEAN INSIDE, VERY SWEET.
[all speaking native language] >> Rosendo: OH, WOW.
YOU KNOW, I'M SO IMPRESSED BY THE INGENUITY OF THE PEOPLE.
THEIR BASIC CROP IS RICE, AND THEY MAKE ALL THESE DIFFERENT PRODUCTS FROM IT AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT DESSERTS, AND THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THE MOST OF WHAT YOU HAVE.
>> YES.
>> Rosendo: AT THE END OF THE MARKET ON A RAFT ON THE TALING RIVER, A COFFEE ROASTER AND HIS FAMILY HAVE EXTRACTED THE BEST FROM THEIR INGREDIENTS FOR GENERATIONS.
[both speaking native language] >> Rosendo: VERY NICE TO MEET YOU.
>> HOW ARE YOU?
VERY NICE TO MEET YOU TOO.
>> Rosendo: SO WHAT KIND OF BEANS ARE THESE?
>> THIS IS THE ROBUSTA.
>> Rosendo: ROBUSTA BEANS.
>> YEAH, FROM THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF THAILAND.
I THINK ALL YOUR WESTERN CALL THIS AS A CHINESE COFFEE, BECAUSE WE PUT THE STICKY RICE, AND WE PUT SOME SUGAR.
>> Rosendo: NOW, WHY ARE YOU OUT HERE ON THE RIVER?
DID THEY KICK YOU OUT OF THE MARKET?
[laughter] >> NOT EXACTLY, BECAUSE OF THE SMOKE.
>> Rosendo: SMOKE, YES.
>> YEAH, THE SMOKE, AND SO THE SAFETY, BECAUSE IT'S ALL A WOODEN MARKET, SO IT'S VERY RISKY.
SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY IN USING HERE FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS.
>> Rosendo: 60 YEARS.
>> YES, SINCE MY PARENTS-- >> Rosendo: ON--RIGHT HERE AT THIS LOCATION.
[laughs] THAT'S GREAT.
OKAY, AND INSIDE, THEY'RE GONNA USE IT AND MAKE COFFEE IN ONE OF THE SHOPS.
>> IN ONE OF THE SHOPS THERE.
>> [speaking native language] >> OKAY, SHE SAID A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TAKING HER PICTURE AND PUT IN FRONT OF THE COVER OF MAGAZINE.
>> Rosendo: AND HOW ABOUT THIS PICTURE HERE?
IS THIS... >> ME.
>> Rosendo: THAT'S YOU?
THAT'S HER.
>> [speaking native language] >> Rosendo: LET'S SEE.
OH, YEAH, MAKING COFFEE.
THAT'S GREAT.
>> THIS IS HOW THEY DO IT.
A SPECIAL GROUND ONE WILL BE PUT INTO HERE, AND AFTER THAT, PUT WATER IN IT.
>> Rosendo: THAT'S THE WAY MY FATHER USED TO MAKE COFFEE AT HOME.
>> YEAH, THIS IS PRIMITIVE WAY.
>> Rosendo: YES, IT WAS PRETTY PRIMITIVE.
AND THEY MIX UP THE COFFEE RIGHT IN THE LITTLE--THE CAN.
>> SO THEY PUT INTO THE ICE.
>> Rosendo: OH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN ICE COFFEE.
>> AND THEN YOU HAVE AN ICE COFFEE, YES.
>> Rosendo: MADE OF ROBUSTA BEANS.
THE ROAST IS A REALLY DARK ROAST.
PEOPLE WHO LOVE FRENCH ROAST WOULD LOVE THIS COFFEE.
[speaking native language] THAI ICE COFFEE.
>> SO... >> Rosendo: CHEERS.
>> CHEERS.
>> Rosendo: I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE THAI FOR "CHEERS" IS, BUT... >> IS IT GOOD?
>> Rosendo: OH, IT'S GOOD.
>> PEOPLE SAY... [speaking native language] >> [speaking native language] >> YOU MAKE IT NOT TOO SWEET, YEAH, THIS ONE.
>> Rosendo: OH, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.
THIS IS EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT.
BUT, TROY, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MAIN THING ABOUT THIS MARKET THAT MAKES IT UNIQUE FROM ALL THE OTHERS IS THE--THE HISTORY, THE OLD WOODEN BUILDINGS, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR DECADES, AND ALSO, EVERYBODY'S BEEN SO FRIENDLY HERE.
YOU GET THE SENSE OF THE WAY MAYBE BANGKOK USED TO BE, THE OLDER BANGKOK.
>> OLDER BANGKOK, YES.
THIS IS LIKE BANGKOK IN BACK IN--40 OR 50 YEARS BACK.
>> Rosendo: BANGKOK HAS A WEALTH OF NEIGHBORHOODS, SHOPS, AND MARKETS, WHERE THE ARTS, CRAFTS, AND TRADITIONS OF OLD BANGKOK ARE STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE.
AN ISLAND IN THE CHAO PHRAYA RIVER, KOH KRET OFFERS A WELCOME RESPITE FROM BANGKOK'S SUMMER HEAT.
ALONG WITH TOURIST TRINKETS, THE ISLAND STORES AND WORKSHOPS FEATURE THE POTTERY OF THE MON TRIBES OF CENTRAL THAILAND.
IN THE BANG SUE DISTRICT IS FURNITURE OR WOODWORKING STREET.
FOR CENTURIES, THE COMMUNITY HAS PRODUCED CARPENTERS, WOOD-CARVERS, AND CRAFTSMEN FAMOUS FOR THEIR SKILL.
ADJACENT TO WAT MAHATHAT IS BANGKOK'S AMULET MARKET.
ON SUNDAYS, THE TRUE BELIEVER CAN FIND A CHARM THAT WILL ATTRACT GOOD FORTUNE OR KEEP EVIL AT BAY.
95% OF THE THAI PEOPLE ARE BUDDHISTS.
OF COURSE, THE MONKS SERVE THE PEOPLE, AND AS YOU WOULD THINK, THERE ARE SHOPS IN PLACES THAT SERVE THE MONKS, AND WE'RE ON BAMRUNG MAUNG STREET, WHICH HAS MANY SHOPS, AND HERE, YOU WILL FIND THE ROBES THAT THE BUDDHIST MONK WOULD USE.
THEY ALSO HAVE THEIR PRAYER BOOKS HERE AND A NUMBER OF OTHER NECESSITIES.
WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THESE SHOPS TO US AS TRAVELERS IS, ONE, IT GIVES YOU AN INDICATION OF THE PERVASIVE NATURE OF BUDDHISM IN THIS COUNTRY, AND IT ALSO GIVES YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE SOME ANCIENT WORKS THAT HAVE LIVED ON, CERTAINLY ONE OF THE STOPS THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO YOU IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SEEING ANOTHER SIDE OF BANGKOK.
ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL ITEMS THAT A BUDDHIST MONK REQUIRES AND PERHAPS THE MOST SYMBOLIC AND PRACTICAL IS THE ALMS BOWL.
THE BAN BATT COMMUNITY, FOUNDED BY KING RAMA THE FIRST IN THE 18TH CENTURY, CONTINUES TO SURVIVE FROM THE BOWL'S PRODUCTION.
[metal clanging] [both speaking native language] >> Rosendo: HOW LONG HAS YOUR FAMILY BEEN MAKING THE MONK'S BOWL?
>> [speaking native language] >> Rosendo: HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY STILL MAKE THE MONK BOWLS?
>> [speaking native language] >> Rosendo: 70 PEOPLE.
WOW, THAT'S NOT TOO MANY.
>> [speaking native language] >> Rosendo: WOW, THAT'S AMAZING.
AND HOW MANY OF THESE CAN YOU MAKE IN A DAY?
>> [speaking native language] >> ONE A DAY?
>> YEAH, YEAH.
>> Rosendo: ONE A DAY, WHEW.
>> [speaking native language] >> Rosendo: CAN I HELP YOU?
>> OKAY, OKAY.
>> Rosendo: OKAY?
OKAY, YOU TEACH ME.
OKAY.
OKAY, NOW, RIGHT HERE?
[metal clanging] HERE?
BOY, THIS IS AN ANCIENT CRAFT AND A WORK OF ART.
IT'S A LITTLE--A LITTLE NERVE-RACKING.
I DON'T WANT TO DO SOMETHING WRONG HERE, BUT HE'S HELPING ME OUT.
WHEW.
[laughter] [both speaking native language] >> Rosendo: YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO FAR TO DISCOVER THE HEART AND SOUL OF THAILAND.
OFTEN, IT IS JUST OUTSIDE YOUR HOTEL'S FRONT DOOR.
[people chanting] TRULY LESS THAN A BLOCK FROM THE CENTARA GRAND, WHERE I'M STAYING, IS THE WAT PATHUM, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY A ROYAL TEMPLE SITE BUT HAS BEEN OPENED TO THE PUBLIC, AND EVERY DAY, PEOPLE COME HERE TO GIVE ALMS TO THE MONKS AND IN RETURN GET THEIR BLESSINGS.
>> THE IDEA OF GIVING IS-- IS TO TEACH THE PEOPLE HOW TO GIVE.
>> Rosendo: HOW TO GIVE.
>> LEARN HOW TO GIVE.
>> Rosendo: THAT'S WONDERFUL.
>> WHAT YOU GET FROM WHAT YOU GIVE IS THE PEACE OF MIND, SO YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO TAKE THINGS FROM OTHER PEOPLE AND-- >> Rosendo: HOW DO YOU SAY THAT IN THAI: PEACEFUL HEART?
>> PEACEFUL HEART... [speaking native language] >> [speaking native language] >> [speaking native language] >> Rosendo: WHICH IS SOMETHING WE ALL WOULD LOVE TO HAVE... >> YEAH.
>> Rosendo: AND STRIVE FOR, IS TO HAVE A PEACEFUL HEART.
>> YEAH, WHEN YOU SAY... [speaking native language] IT MEANS THAT YOU REALLY HAVE PEACE OF MIND.
>> Rosendo: YOU'RE HERE TODAY TO GIVE ALMS TO THE MONKS?
>> TO THE MONKS.
>> Rosendo: YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A HOLIDAY, SO YOU... >> THIS IS THE HOLIDAY, BUT USUALLY, THEY HAVE THIS KIND OF OFFERING FOR THE MONKS EVERY MORNING.
>> Rosendo: EVERY MORNING.
>> AND I COOK FROM HOME.
>> Rosendo: YOU COOKED THESE FROM HOME.
>> MY WIFE COOKED FROM HOME, SEE?
AND THIS IS THE COOKIE THAT WE HAVE AT HOME.
>> Rosendo: AHH.
>> WE BRING HERE.
BUT THE RICE, THIS IS FROM THE KITCHEN OF THE TEMPLE.
THIS IS SPECIAL KIND OF RICE, A HALF-POLISHED LIGHT RICE.
>> Rosendo: HALF-POLISHED.
>> HALF-POLISHED.
>> Rosendo: HALF-WHITE RICE.
>> YEAH, THEY HAVE ALL KINDS OF NEW DRINKS, YOU KNOW.
>> Rosendo: AH, SO IT'S A VERY HEALTHY FOOD.
>> HEALTHY TO THE MONKS.
FOR ME, YOU KNOW, I COME HERE NOT ONLY REPRESENTFUL TO THE MONKS BUT TO PRACTICE MEDITATION AND TO MAKE A PEACEFUL MIND, TO MAKE YOU ALWAYS CONCERNED AND THINKING OF MAKING GOOD DEEDS.
>> Rosendo: WELL, I THINK THIS IS WONDERFUL THAT THIS IS THE WAY YOU START YOUR DAY, WHEN YOU CAN, WHEN YOU HAVE A HOLIDAY OR ON THE WEEKEND.
IT JUST STARTS THE DAY OFF IN A VERY CALM, COOL PLACE.
>> YEAH, EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY.
[gentle exotic music] ♪ ♪ >> Rosendo: I THINK I CAN FEED SOME MONKS TODAY.
THE MONKS HAVE BEEN OUT PROBABLY SINCE BEFORE DAWN RECEIVING THEIR ALMS FROM THE STREET.
NOW THEY'VE COME BACK TO THE TEMPLE, AND THE PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR THEM HERE TO GIVE THEM THEIR ALMS, AND MY FRIEND HERE IS--I'M GONNA WATCH WHAT HE DOES SO THAT I MAKE SURE THAT I DO THINGS IN AS PROPER A WAY AS POSSIBLE.
>> Rosendo: [speaking native language] [speaking native language] >> [speaking native language] >> Rosendo: THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Rosendo: THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME ON MY BANGKOK THAILAND ADVENTURE.
THERE'S AN OLD AND A NEW IN THAILAND, AND RATHER THAN SEPARATELY COEXIST, THEY'RE ENTWINED.
LIKE A FINE GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE, THE OLD GIVES BANGKOK ITS BODY, COLOR, AND CHARACTER, AND LIKE THE BUBBLES, THE NEW ADDS AN EFFERVESCENCE AND SPARKLE TO THE MIX.
FOR THE TRAVELER, IT'S A TREAT TO DISCOVER THE MANY FLAVORS OF BANGKOK AND TAKE IT ALL IN.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, THIS IS JOSEPH ROSENDO REMINDING YOU OF THE WORDS OF MARK TWAIN: "TRAVEL IS FATAL TO PREJUDICE, BIGOTRY, AND NARROW-MINDEDNESS."
HAPPY TRAVELING.
>> announcer: TRAVELSCOPE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES.
DK CITY, COUNTRY, AND DRIVING GUIDES FEATURE EVOCATIVE PHOTOS, 3-D MAPPING, AND ILLUSTRATIONS FOR KEY SIGHTS, AND TRAVEL ITINERARIES.
DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES: THE GUIDES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT OTHERS ONLY TELL YOU.
FOR A DVD OF TODAY'S SHOW OR ANY OF JOSEPH'S TRAVELSCOPE ADVENTURES, CALL: OR ORDER ONLINE AT: YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL US AT: OR WRITE US AT THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.
>> Rosendo: NOW THAT YOU'VE REDISCOVERED BANGKOK THAILAND, LEARN MORE AT TRAVELSCOPE.NET, WHERE YOU CAN FOLLOW MY WORLDWIDE ADVENTURES THROUGH MY BLOG AND PODCAST.
KEEP IN TOUCH.
NEXT TIME ON TRAVELSCOPE, I CONTINUE MY THAILAND ADVENTURE, WHEN I TRAVEL SOUTH TO KRABI PROVINCE FOR ISLAND PLEASURES AND THEN HEAD NORTH FOR CULTURAL ADVENTURES IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE.
Captioning by CaptionMax www.captionmax.com I REALLY LIKE THIS TEA.
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