Since class is over, I spent a bit of time exploring more of Bangkok today via the public transportation system. Other than just looking around, my big stop of the day was Chatuchak Weekend Market, one of the largest outdoor markets in the world (about 15,000 booths!). It was overwhelming to say the least - the number of booths was hard to comprehend, and the fact that it's an outdoor market in Bangkok meant that it was incredibly HOT!
I got there pretty early, so the pictures show when things were quite empty. By the time I left, every crevice was crammed with people! It was a successful trip - I was able to pick up the things I needed to get - but I'm in no hurry to go back. I usually love bargaining with the shopowners and the whole experience of shopping in a place like this (I got lots of experience when we lived in Beijing), but the heat and the sheer size of this market were a little too much for me. Definitely a valuable experience though!