BANGKOK’S FASCINATING KLONGS (WATERWAYS) AND…A 5′ LONG MONITOR LIZARD!
Our first day touring in Bangkok included a canal tour on a long-tail boat. Bangkok is often called the “Venice of the East” because of it’s many klongs, or canals, which crisscross the city. There are about 1680 canals of various sizes in this amazing capital of Thailand. Long-tail boats are seen all over Southeast Asia, especially in Thailand. They are colorful, loud, and fun. The boats use an automobile engine for propulsion. We were excited to see this unusual part of the city which many tourists skip when traveling.
Our guide hired a boat for us near the Grand Palace. We started on the Chao Phraya River.
There are many little intersecting tributaries. Who has the right of way here?
A long-tail boat passes us on a klong.
Homes on the klongs vary from barely livable to even opulent.
Plants have almost totally taken over this house.
A Spirit House is placed at the back of this house and hangs over the canal.
Creative building materials.
Very creative colors and symbolic design.
This unique home combined traditional Northern Thai style with temple design. Almost every house has steps and access to the canal for transportation.
A long-tail boat docks next to an area of markets and restaurants.
A merchant rows with food next to the market area.
We passed this giant Buddha statue at the Royal Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen temple. The Wat was originally built in 1610 when Thailand was known as the Kingdom of Ayuthaya. The gigantic statue was completed in 2021 and is the tallest in Bangkok at over 20 stories high. It cost $16 million to build.
A woman rows her products to sell on the canal.
Marla spotted some large catfish near our boat.
Our guide gave us bread to feed the fish.
Taking a boat tour of the klongs affords us an opportunity to see Bangkok life up close.
I spotted a sleeping 5′ long monitor lizard on the river bank.
We passed the majestic Wat Arun on the Chao Phraya River. This temple has special significance for Marla as this is where she felt a special rejuvenation and transformation on her first visit in 1995.
Our beautiful canal tour ended at this dock near Wat Pho. We were all happy to see a very unique aspect of Bangkok life in the klongs.
Photos: Dick Gentry. Not to be used without permission.
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Susan Moorhead | 19th Nov 23
Dick, I don’t think I know anyone who has travelled farther afield than you and Marla.. and your lucky children and grandchildren. Wonderful photos everywhere you go, which give me (a novice in comparison to you) a much better idea of places where I have never been. I feel nostalgic about Florence. Last time we went it was fall but so crowded. We got tickets ahead for the Uffizi, which was smart. Our room in a monastery outside of Siena claimed to have never heard of us, and there were no rooms to be had in the area, So we were cheated out if that. Florence has to be one of my all time favorites. We did some shopping too, and I went to the beautiful Medici Palace. We were able to get into a room one night early after the fiasco in Siena. In the pouring rain and no light in the rental car we made our way to Florence. We knew it was near the library, and I saw a big sign for Bibliotec, which saved us. Somewhere I have a great photo of John with a glass of wine in one hand, a cigarette in the other, and relaxing in a bright pink hotel bathrobe! Yes you have much to be thankful for. You have had a wonderful life with Marla and the generations that follow. With much more to come. You might have trouble getting her to move to Tuscany, but why not rent a villa for a month?! Gratzi, Dick I have enjoyed your trips!