Once called “Venice of the East”, road construction and commercial development have necessitated the filling of much of the original system. Still, Mae Nam Chao Phraya or Chao Phraya River, as we saw today thrive with water transport activities. Our plan for the day was to revisit Thanon Khao San using a different route: Cruising along the Mae Nam Chao Phraya!After a quickie breakfast (yeah…another fried noodle breakfast!) in the restaurant on the ground floor of our hotel (B40), we took the skytrain to go to Ratchathewi Station as Andy wanted to go to Pantip Plaza to look at the notebooks with a view to purchase one.
Inside skytrain… not as crowded as in previous days yet ‘standing room’ only!
This is the Pantip Plaza, the equivalent of Kuala Lumpur's Low Yat Plaza. Five floors and each floor the size of half of football field, every electronic of imaginable brands sold here! So too pirated latest DVD movies! Andy did not buy the notebook he yearned for as the price was not far different from that in Kota Kinabalu. Also, there is warranty issue. I took a quick survey, maybe about 15 minutes and then got out as I was bored inside being myself in the IT field!
After Pantip, we took the train again to go to Saphan Taksin to board a ferry at Tha Sathon (Sathon Pier). Destination: Phra Athit Pier (B12). Khao San is just 15-minute walking distance from this pier!
In town areas, one can hardly draw a line to divide between the past and the modern-day as they have merged so finely as a cultural entity. However, a cruise along Chao Phraya river lets you take in a riveting tour traversing Bangkok’s old and new. Lo and behold, the modern 5-star hotels and resorts on one side contrast starkly with the vestigial above-the-sea village on the other side.
A long-tail boat passes by Wat Arun or Temple of Dawn, named after the Indian god of dawn, Aruna. More of Wat Arun here.
I loved this snapshot! Despite the chaotic water waves made by passing boats and ferries, this saffron-robed monk was a picture of tranquility as he ponders serenely and silently as Wat Arun passed by in the background! Monks and apprentice-monks get to ride free on any ferries.
We disembarked at Phra Athit Pie and proceeded to walk to Khao San Road.
A lot of foreign travellers (us included *grin*) flock this strip - reading paperbacks, just plain relaxing with nothing to do except drinking beers, surfing the internet (lot of cybercafe here too)… There were also a few enterprising young Thais selling second-hand goods (latest used-LP books, branded backpacks, binoculars, Swiss knives, heavily thumbed page of novels in any languages, raincoats, branded windbreakers, sneakers, hiking shoes, old manual cameras, etc etc etc) that the farangs must have sold/left/pawned at knock-off price.
Our lunch was here…on the road literally!
Fried noodle with veggie eggroll and egg added in – only B25. I decorated my noodle with crunchy peanuts, chilly slices, and chilly powder.
Washed with iced nescafe mixed with sweet condensed milk. Tea and Milo (chocolate) also available. (B10)
It's unique to experience Khao San if you are in Bangkok even if you're trying to avoid the crowd! All sorts of activities are carried out here. We were here on Day 1 but it was already past 2 AM. So we were glad we came back again. I can't elaborate more as I would turn a spoiler man…*chuckle*
Neal in his trademark pose: Right-hand says "I Remember..." and Left-hand says "I Love..."
Just for the experience. Neal trying the reggae-like singer’s hairdo! For this, Neal threw B250.
After Khao San, we walked past National Gallery. Pleaded with the lady to let us tour inside (just after closing hour) then got out after 10 minutes. Inside were old pictures in the old Siam.
Not to be outdone, Andy with his ready toothy smile in front of Emerald Buddha Temple or Wat Phra Kaew. We missed the chance to enter as it was already past closing hour!
As it was starting to get dark, we walked to the nearest pier to board a ferry and take the train to our hotel. Our dinners were take-away hotdogs from 7-Eleven.
to be continued
4 comments:
Awesome pictures & post. i felt almost as if i was really there! Could even smell the noodles! Is blogging when you are hungry anything like shopping when you are hungry? :)
The shot with the monk is fantastic.
The shot with the food...eh...not so much...
But that's really just more of a personal taste sort of thing. ;)
Steve~
l>t: Ugh... ugh... tough question you have there :)
steven: Yeah... food is pretty subjective! One man’s meat is another man’s poison kind of thing!
Food is something I can always relate to. :) If someone is enjoying food, I relate to that! If someone can express their joy in anything I can relate to that.
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