Thailand – Bangkok; Ride down River Chao Phraya (1)

Hello!! Welcome back to my blog. If you have followed me from my previous series, I am still covering on my trip to Bangkok, Thailand back in 2008 (yes… way back then! A delayed posting. =P )

This was my 3rd day in Thailand and I have covered earlier posting on; Damnoen Saduak Ratchaburi Floating Market, Fruit Orchard in Ratchaburi Province, Wat Nong Hoi Temple in Ratchaburi Province , Tree Temple at Samut Songkhram Province, King Rama II Memorial Park at Amphawa, and my last series was on Amphawa Floating Market

Today I will cover on my trip along Chao Phraya River which passes through Bangkok city.

A brief intro before I start my journey. Chao Phraya is one of the major rivers in Thailand with its low alluvial plains. Along the river, there a lots of settlements such as Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chainat, Singburi, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Bangkok and Samut.  These cities are among the most historically significant and densely populated settlements of Thailand because of their access to the waterway.

In Bangkok, the Chao Phraya is a major transportation gateway for a vast network of river buses, cross-river ferries and water taxis, also known as longtails. There are more than 15 boat lines operate on the rivers and canals of the city, including commuter lines which you can choose from which I will be taking as one of the transport around the river. =)

Ok… let’s get going. Starting off, I hopped on to the Bangkok Skytrain to the Saphan Taksin station (on Shilon Line) in Sathorn District to catch the river bus on Chao Phraya river.

From the Saphan Taksin station, it was a few minutes walk to the Sathorn Pier. Easy walk. =)

A view from the pier to catch the Sathorn Pier or the Central Pier of the 21km Chao Phraya River Express Boat route.

The pier is right under the bridge of Sathon Road.

One of the River buses… shape with roof like an  old Thailand building architecture.

Hotel Shangrila Palace which is next to Chao Phraya  River.

One of the many piers along Chao Phraya river.

Holy Rosary Church built by the Portuguese in Samphanthawong on the bank of Chao Phraya; south of Yaowarat, Chinatown.

Interesting ride. Wanna see more? Come and follow me on my next posting on this series of ride down River Chao Phraya. =)

Thailand; Bangkok – Amphawa Floating Market (6)

This is my last series of the Amphawa Floating Market in Thailand.

As you can see from my earlier 5 parts, Amphawa floating market does offer lots of local food; hot cooked food to cold dishes and dessert to choose from. Be sure to head there with an empty stomach and you will go back with a full stomach and a big smile on your face (if you are daring to try all of them and also depends on the limit of your stomach to handle the amount and varieties available)

As seen below more dessert which I manage to shot along the market.

Not sure what are these though. Anyone?

Tuk tuk also can be seen near the road at the market.

Walking along the shops near from the canal.

It was sunset. We head to the other part of the canal where you can catch boats for a ride along the canal.

At this part, not many stalls but still there were lots of people. Here was more of an area where locals or tourists could catch a ride on the boats.

A shot from the top of the bridge looking down at the canal

A shot in the evening. Locals catching tuk tuk…..

Last a temple near the market.

That’s the end of another day in Thailand. What’s next in Bangkok, Thailand? If you would like to know, then follow me and you will find out in the next series. =)

Thailand; Bangkok – Amphawa Floating Market (5)

More? Yup, there more on Amphawa floating market in Thailand.  Like it so far?

Anyway, now we heading across the bridge to the other side of the canal to check out the happenings over there.

Sight of an old building as crossing the bridge over the canal.

View from the top of the bridge down to the canal.

More food. Anyone knows what’s this?

There are lots more of food choices here and  the other side. Guess there were way too many to choose from (and also limitation to my stomach storage too. =P )

This looks like some sweet dessert.

If any of reader out there who knows what they are, please do be kind enough to educate me as I would like to know their names.

Stay tune for my last part of my Amphawa Floating Market series before I head to my new series. =)

Thailand; Bangkok – Amphawa Floating Market (4)

Hi! I am still at Amphawa Floating Market. Walking along the canal with eyes wide open (technically speaking. LOL!!) and camera ready is one thing you must do. Too many action and activities to shot. Ok.. back to the posting.

Along there, you cant miss the local colourful handmade decoration lay out on a table.

Seen here, a local squatting at the side of the canal to order her food.

Another view from the canal. Boat prying up and down the canal.

and another…

More handmade souvenirs.

The sight of the boat vendors along the canal does catch my eye and you can help it to see all kind of daily activities happening around. All the buzz. =)

Anyway…. I am only half way through this place. More pictures to share in my coming postings. Stay tune.

Thailand; Bangkok – Amphawa Floating Market (3)

Great! You are still with me. Thanks!  =)

More food and sight of the Amphawa floating Market as we walk along the canal (while bumping with the locals and tourists)

Some of the dishes that I managed to order and enjoy.

Food seller selling pickled fruits….

Boats vendors lining up while waiting for customers to order food from them.

Mass of locals and tourist walking…. more like squeezing their way through.

Colourful Thai desserts to choose from…

.. colourful souvenirs to choose and buy.

You also can pick from those hanging on the walkway…….

More to choose from.

Interesting? Well… more to come. This is not even close to the end yet. =P

Thailand; Bangkok – Amphawa Floating Market (2)

Hi! Still walking around the Amphawa Floating Market in Samuk Songkhram. It was in the evening where locals and tourists are out in full force to enjoy the scenery and also  having their dinner by the canal.

People are practically enjoying their meal next to canal while watching the boats going by.

Seats are provided (if you can get one) along the canal where you can enjoy your meals too. There’s a walkway along the canal (both sides).

Some of the food that I tried (can’t really remember what they are)

Lovely sight of people sitting on the sides waiting for their food from the boat food vendors.

Look at the pack overhead pedestrian bridge. People trying to get across while some are taking photos. So it does cause a massive human jam LOL!!!

Good? Well.. there’s more to come. This is only the beginning of the series of my journey in Amphawa Floating Market. Stay tune!!

Thailand; Bangkok – Amphawa Floating Market (1)

Hi!! Finally at the market. This is the other floating market that is near Damnoen Saduak Floating Market at Ratchaburi. This is Amphawa floating market is in Samuk Songkhram.

Nearly everyone; mostly locals and also tourist comes here, and it is opened on weekends only (lucky me!). It gives an impression of the canal way of live, where farmers in traditional clothing selling their produce unlike Damnoen Saduak, which is an afternoon market. So you can easily combine the two into a single trip (which I was doing. =) . It starts to get going around noon, but best time is after 3pm. Ok… enough. Let’s get going!

By the time I was there, it was already close to evening and the crowds were already there as seen below.

Lots of choices of food to admire and savor (Frankly, I cant recall the food or name of it as it was like 6 years ago).

Fried giant squid (looks familiar like the ones in Taiwan night market =) )

gosh.. look at the bridge!! Packed with people going in both directions; trying go across the canal.

Boat stalls along the canal side.

Want to see more? Well, there’s more. All you have to do is follow me and enjoy the trip. =)

Thailand; Bangkok – King Rama II Memorial Park @ Amphawa (1)

Back with me? That’s good. We still have more to go and more places to see (and  eat too!) Where are we heading to if you may ask?

Well, we will continue to Amphawa which is a village West of Bangkok, close to Samut Songkhram. Canal-side way in Amphawa is a way of life and takes place along the waterfront walkways of Amphawa Canal, a small tributary of the Mae Khlong River. During weekend, locals and also tourist will flock here for the evening floating market. Big queues emerge along the canal’s bridges and walkways market. More on this in my next series (now you know my next series, right? hint! hint!)

A bit of summary of this series. In the Ayutthaya Period, Amphawa was called Khwaeng Bang Chang and it was a small community that flourished in agriculture and trade. King Rama II was born in Amphawa, his mother’s hometown, as his father was ruling the town of Ratchaburi. At his probable birthplace is now the King Rama II Memorial Park which we will be heading too.

On the way to Amphawa, we stopped at the handicraft center. They specialized in (cute) miniature figurines from…

Cute little Muay Thai boxers ….

to cute little small and colourful food

Aren’t they adorable?

Outside the Handicraft center, they have lots of flowers and orchids. So, if you are a flower lover, you will definitely enjoy the view.

Lovely right? Well… if you like what you see .. then keep following me. =)

Thailand; Bangkok – Visit the Tree Temple, Samut Songkhram Province

My journey in Thailand continues. Leaving Wat Nong Hoi Temple, we headed to another temple in the Samut Songkram district in the Amphawa province. This temple is not in a building but within a tree or I can say covered with large trees. It is the Tree Temple or famously known as Wat Bang Kong Temple.

The main attraction is the chapel overgrown by Banyan trees including the sacred Bodhi tree where the roots are so thick that almost completely cover the building. So it is hardly recognizable any building there except except from the behind.

The chapel is normally know as Bot Prok Pho, ordination hall covered by Bodhi tree, even though the actual name of it is Bot Luangpho Dam. There is a large Buddha statue, where mostly every visitor will come to pray and place incense sticks and rubbing gold leaves.

Another view from the outside with large Banyan tree roots engulfing the temple.

Aside from the temple, next to it was the camp of king Taksin during an attack by the Burmese army in 1768 know as Bang Kung Camp.

The camp is still considered a symbolic bastion of Thai warrior strength. This is evidenced today by a statue of King Taksin flanked by life-size statues of Chinese warriors.

Dozens of life-size statues of Thai kick-boxers can been seen on the grounds in different Muay Thai moves.

Enjoying is so far? Well.. no time for rest. Now heading to the next destination……..