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. =)

Advertisement

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……..

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

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.

The other fruit that is famous here is the coconuts. Walking in the coconut orchard….

They are really low and you can literally pluck the coconuts from the trees.

Fresh coconut water right from the orchard…

…. they also have dragon fruits. Yup.. weird looking plant if you may say so.

Ok… enough of  the fruit orchard. Where off to now? Want to know…. then follow me on my next series of my journey in Bangkok.