Thailand Chronicles: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

It was my first time to be at a floating market. So you can just imagine my excitement when it was final that we were going on the Floating Market Tour and have a 30-45 minute boat ride to the famous ...

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

in Ratchaburi, Thailand. 

It is one of the most famously known floating markets, and a major tourist destination in Thailand.

Our guide keeps on stressing that the market has been around for decades. And riding on the small boat, I thought.. "boy.. she sure wasn't kidding!". On the way to the market, there were inhabitants on the sides of the man-made canals which were there probably for years and years. And I think we passed by a huge pipe or two which was literally connected to a Thai house's restroom!  I almost had a heart attack when the water on the stream was literally splashing on our faces. Talk about a real adventure. hehe.

Of course, I was just trying to be sarcastic about the polluted water. But the trip going to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, was like a trip back in history. It was as if I was living in the era where rivers were part of the main thoroughfares of this culture rich country. Most of the houses we passed by have their own boats so it means that in this part of Thailand, most of them still use the streams if only for the benefit of tourists since the floating market is a major tourist destination in Thailand. So it was obvious that most of the people living there mainly benefit from tourists frequenting the area.

At the floating market, the merchants are literally selling their wares in boats. There were fruits of every kind, food and snacks like traditional Thai rice cakes, and souvenirs for every avid tourist. 

SM Cinema's 44th Branch at SM GenSan

It was a wonderful experience being included in the select few invited to watch The Bourne Legacy at the newly opened SM Cinema GenSan.

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SM Cinema opens its 44th branch at SM General Santos on August 10, 2012. The Blessing Ceremony was held on August 9.SM Prime Holdings'President,Mr. Hans T. Sy, local officials and business heads graced the event.

Mr. Hans Sy with Cong. and Dr. Acharon, photo courtesy of Mr.Orman Manansala :)

The newest branch has 4 digital cinemas equipped with state-of-the-art projection system, high quality sound system and cozy seats. Cinema 1 boasts 504 seats, Cinema 2,3 and 4 have 308 seats each.

The branch screens chartbusters The Bourne Legacy, Step Up: Revolution, the animation Brave and SM Cinema's CinExclusive The Ring 3:Sadako on its first week.

SM Cinema currently has 236 theaters located in 43 branches scattered all throughout the country. SM Cinema will continue to hold the torch as the country's leading film exhibitor with its ongoing expansion and theater renovation. Before the year ends, it will open more digital theaters and IMAX theaters.

SM Cinema's goal is not only to reach far and wide, but also to provide excellent service to its patrons. Proof to this is its aggressive pursuit of technological advancement in order to bring efficiency to moviegoers. SM Cinema is the first in the country to introduce the turnstile system for a more convenient cinema entry. It also introduced Cinemobile which allows patrons to purchase tickets online and redeem them in their phones. Another interesting system that SM Cinema recently presented is e-PLUS. E-PLUS (Entertainment, Privileges, Lifestyle, Upgrades and Surprises) is designed to bring convenience and rewards to SM Cinema's patrons. It is convenient to use because one doesn't have to fall in line during blockbuster seasons if one has a loaded e-PLUS card. Patrons just have to go directly to the ticket booth and insert their e-PLUS cards.

Pacing alongside SM Cinema is SnackTime, SnackTime offers a wide array of quality snacks for moviegoers.

"At Your Service" now at SM Supermarket Gensan

The long wait is finally over! SM Supermarket in Gensan is now open! It was a wonderful experience being toured around SM Supermarket. They really did all the research in providing good customer service that will surely make grocery shopping at SM a good experience. 

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Brace yourself for exciting promos and deals, never seen before customer service innovation in the SM Supermarket history. SM Supermarket chooses GenSan, of all cities to introduce many firsts in its products and services. 

And that is just icing on the cake. Want to hear more food news? Here are more reasons to check out SM Supermarket at the ground floor of SM City in GenSan, at your service daily from 10am to 9pm, MOndays thru Thursdays and 9am to 9pm daily on weekends. 

800 Generals can win

From August 10 to September 6, a total of 800 winners of super exciting prizes will be drawn - week after week, after week!

Week 1 - 100 winners of super cool aircon

Week 2 - 500 winners of super strong industrial fans

Week 3 - 100 winners of amazing washing machines

And on week 4 - be one of the 100 winners of Magic Sing and sing like a pro!

Open to all SM Advantage, Prestige BDO Rewards or Card members, e very P500 grocery purchase entitles a shopper for one raffle ticket. So the more you buy the more chances of winning.

SWIPE your way to exciting promos and freebies

Simply swipe your SM Advantage Card, Prestige or BDO Rewards Card into the SWIPE machine to get a promo list of discounts and giveaways. The promo list is your ticket toa world of exciting deals at SM Supermarket.

Freshness all the way

Visit SM Supermarket fresh section and find the freshest meat, poultry and seafood - cut, sliced or marinated according to your choice of dish.

Be it adobo, sinigang, menudo or inasal, name it - SM Supermarket has a full line of meat and poultry cuts, and flavors that will suit your taste.

Craving for fish? Choose from a number of fish of different types and sizes - all fresh catch from the different regions in the country.

Freshness and more

In a rush and don't have time to cook? don't worry, ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat items are available to save your day.

If shopping on a budget, visit our takal-takal section for just the right amount of ingredients you need at very affordable prizes.

And with SM Supermarket's best price for the whole chiken, you can cook your family's all-time favorite chicken meal any time, any day.

For a nutritious and complete meal, have some veggies as your side dish or fruits as dessert for that sweet ending. The store has both local and imported, even those hard to find fruits and vegetables.




Get a BONUS in every Value Pack

 Value Packs are specially bundled packs with FREE SM Bonus item/s - with savings as much as 80%. Trust that there's always a mix of your favorite brands in every pack.

 Be a winner with Yellow Tag

Win instantly with a minimum P500 purchase of Yellow Tag items. Cool prizes wait you at the redemption booth.

Food Service Center- for the entrepreneur in you

Find the ingredients you need and other essentials for your food business operations at the Food Service Center. Check it out and be delighted with what you'll find.

Home sweet Home

SM Supermarket is not all about groceries and fresh items - you'll also find appliances, furniture and home and kitchen items at very affordable prices.

Supermarketing experience just got personalized and high-tech

Need assistance while shopping? SM Supermarket's friendly and reliable assistants will attend to you. Or look for press-for-help buttons and a store personnel will be with you shortly.

Allergic to long lines? Queue-busters will come to the rescue. SM Supermaket's assistants will scan your purchases even before you get to the cashier so when you finally get there, all you have to do is pay. Checkout will definitely be fast with our speed lane.

The store also has priority lanes for senior citizens and Prestige cardholders.

Lastly, your coffee is on them when you do your groceries on a Sunday. 

 

There's an SM Greenbag for every shopping occasion

SM Supermarket Gensan does its share in saving Mother Earth by encouraging the use of reusable bags when shopping through its JOIN THE M.O.B. or MyOWNBag campaign.

Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own bag and are given extra points on their SM Advantage Card each time they use an SM Green bag for their purchases.

Big or small size, or the chiller bag - there's an SM Greenbag for every shopping occasion.


All under one roof

After shopping (or before), grab a quick bite at the food court of SM Supermarket and choose from a variety of great tasting meals you surely can afford.

Have bills to pay or need to exchange or transfer money? You can run these errands at the bills payment and Western Union counters of the supermarket.