The following day, put off by the traffic and familiarity, we elected not to go back to Bangkok but to try a guided excursion - still involving a long bus trip - to the town of Na Mueang, Chachoengsao and enviros.
Na Mueang offers a temple complex on the Bang Pakong river. And a visit and an historic marketplace, complete with an ethnic dance performance. The excursion included lunch at a nearby resort and an extended temple visit where the faithful apply litte squares metallic leaf to dozens of Buddas for good luck. Like Portia's suitor in The Merchant of Venice, I was disappointed to learn that "All that glisters is not gold".
Gold leaf is not particularly expensive, surely the faithful could afford the real thing? But I suppose that, after many accretions of real gold, the Buddas would gradually become rather too attractive to thieves. So it's an alloy of bronze. Even then, they are periodically stripped for the metal. Alternatively, or in addition, one can add to one's good luck by contributing a donation to the monks, worthy of a special blessing. I'm often amazed by the implausible ideas whole groups of people believe; and weave their lives around.
Finally, we were taken to an even older market, on the river, that doubles as the homes of the stall holders.
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