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

June 16, 2014 by Just A Simple Guy

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)

June 12, 2014 by Just A Simple Guy

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)

June 9, 2014 by Just A Simple Guy

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)

June 5, 2014 by Just A Simple Guy

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)

June 2, 2014 by Just A Simple Guy

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)

May 29, 2014 by Just A Simple Guy

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)

May 26, 2014 by Just A Simple Guy

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 – Visit the Wat Nong Hoi Temple, Ratchaburi Province (1); Thanks to all my readers and followers. Another landmark achieved for my blog; 50,000 views and 6,000 followers.

May 5, 2014 by Just A Simple Guy

Welcome to my next series in Thailand. Before I continue, I would like to thank all my readers and followers for helping this blog site hit another landmark. My blog has already hit 50,000 views and still growing, and also the number of followers has grown up to 6,000 since it’s first went live in Nov 2012. Again thank you to all for making this happen and keeping me going.

OK…. back to my posting. Hope you enjoyed my series on the Damnoen Saduak Ratchaburi floating market and also fruit orchard visit. If you have missed the earlier series, here are the links; Thailand – Bangkok, Visit to Damnoen Saduak Ratchaburi Floating Market and Thailand; Bangkok – Visit to a Fruit Orchard in Ratchaburi Province

Moving on, I headed to the next stop which is the Wat Nong Hoi temple in Ratcthaburi province. This temple built in on Loire Valley and it rumored to be one of the sacred place in Thailand.

Here are the flights of stair up…….

Entrance to the temple.

.. lots of devotees coming to pray.

Giant bells along the walk way in the temple

Guan Yin or Goddess of Mercy giant statue in the temple

On the next part… we headed up Nong Hoi hill. What do get to see there? If you want to know, then follow me on this journey. =)

Thailand; Bangkok – Visit to a Fruit Orchard in Ratchaburi Province

May 1, 2014 by Just A Simple Guy

After our visit to Damnoen Saduak Ratchaburi Floating Market (if you have missed it, do look at my earlier posting before this), we went to a fruit orchard in the Ratchaburi province. .

Grapes?? It was a nice sight as I never thought that I could find grapes in Thailand. Yes! In the Ratchaburi Province, you can find fruit orchard that grows grapes.