Sugar Palm Village and other Damnoen Saduak, Thailand Things to Do Tips

The Sugar Palm Village is on the way to Damnoen Saduak. As part of the tour, we stopped here to see how they make sugar from the sap of coconut buds before it opens up.

In the pic you'll see the finished product. Palm sugar is an essential ingredient often added to thai cooking to give it a special sweetness.

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It tastes a lot like the coconut candy my dad makes at home. It made me miss my dad. I wanted him and mom to come because mom really wanted to but he said nah...not this year. Maybe next year when he's much, much better.

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In a big wok (kawa or kalaha to you, my kababayans who are reading this), they cook the coconut sap until it thickens and only the sugar is left. Another by product is latik which we put on top of our suman. I don't know what the Thais call it or what they use it for but it was interesting to note the similarities in cooking styles between theirs and ours (filipino). We especially loved our tour guide Boeing (named after the jets that fly over his house) and Nat, whose brother is Nart (pronounced Nart) who drove us the day before on our Chatuchak shopping expedition.
Anyway, to backtrack a bit, Boeing and Nat loved learning from us about the similarities in our cultures. Next time we go back, Winston, WE WANT BOEING! :-)

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Not only do they have a gift shop with the usual souvenir items, the Sugar Palm Village has an orchid farm as well.

Lovely cattleyas were in full bloom and proudly showing their petals.

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At the boat station, the first thing we noticed was how orderly things were. No hassling done by boatmen as we stood there for a few mins. waiting to board our boat.

Since we were on a guided tour, the cost was already taken care of. All we had to do was get on the boat after Boeing signed on the sheet.

Note: Someone will take your picture as the boat leaves. Before you get on your tour bus at the parking lot behind the market, someone will come up to you with your picture on a plate and charge you 150baht. Not bad, huh? But, as Toots said, they may be good businessmen and most likely 90% of the tourists will pay for their plate, but Bing and I are better businesswomen...we didn't buy ours and held on to our 150baht ;-)

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One thing I remembered most about my first trip to Damnoen Saduak in January was the coconut pancakes. I wanted to go back just for another taste of those yummy little round things.

I'm glad I wasn't the only one who thought they were delicious. Bing and Toots got hooked on them as well.

Boeing, our wonderful guide, happened to know the coconut pancake lady. We got our pancakes for free! We wanted to eat some more but they kept giving it to us for free that we stopped eating because we were embarassed that she was giving so much away.

If you like coconut, you'll love these!

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We got there at 930 and the market was at the height of activity. This is another one of those places where bargaining is a must. As Tish says, start at 10% of the price quoted and watch for the reaction. Haggling is fun. The vendors quote different prices for different people. If you look like you don't mind parting with your money, they'll show you a high number in their calculator. It's all part of the experience.

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I love the way this lady's boat was fully laden with fresh bunches of long gong. These people work hard. Imagine having to maneuver your way through the market by paddling and having to sell your stuff at the same time.

Boeing says when the market closes at noon, the women go home to tend to their children that's why the market is only open in the morning. Moreover, whatever is left that isn't sold in the floating market is sold to a wholesaler so nothing is leftover and spoiled.

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Fruit boy here looked really bored. He wasn't selling. His mother was. Look at all that fresh fruit! Thailand must really be blessed by the gods. Their fruit is always juicy and always sweet. Those longgongs are addictive. I ate at least a pound a day on this trip. Those and pomelos, too.

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Lots and lots of boats in the water. Some with vendors, most with tourists!
I liked it. It was busy but it just had more energy that way.

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