Bangkok By Boat

Just fifteen minutes ago with our tempers rising, we were squabbling with our surly taxi driver while the air-con fought a losing battle against the tropical sun. Now, an age away, a calming breeze cools both our skin and our tempers, as we glide smoothly along Thonburi's shaded waterways, the frenetic city an age away. My girlfriend, Aimee, smilingly returns the happy waves of small children swimming and playing in the muddy water. Our long tail boat, with its raised prow and extended propeller, pushes us swiftly on, past carefully manicured lawns, ramshackle wooden houses and expensive teak homes, the rushes swaying gently in our wake.

This is the beauty of traveling by boat on Bangkok's surprisingly extensive network of canals, both east and west of the Chao Phraya River. In Thonburi, to the east of this dissecting river, as the city fades gently into lush country, so do the waters become calmer and the air cleaner. By contrast, Khlong Saen saep, the longest canal on the west, still serves as an important and much used commuter route. The city continuing just yards above, long tails churn up already dirty water, speeding monks, business men, university students and office workers alike along narrow strips of water hemmed in by residential buildings. 

About The Author: Joel has lived and worked in Asia for the last decade and has written for numerous travel magazines. He is the chief editor of Asia Travel Ezine and is also responsible for editing and managing the website, Asia Hotel Bookings . He currently resides in Hanoi.

Copyright Notice: All content and photos in this article are owned by the author. For reprints, please contact Joel. Click Here