Thailand: Bangkok - A Sunday stroll through Thonburi

There is nothing better on a fine sunny morning, than get up and go for a leisurely walk.....
and yesterday was no exception. Armed with comfortable shoes, my camera and a water bottle, I made my way downtown to the Chao Phraya River and boarded the courtesy boat to the Millennium Hilton..
the start of my walk.

En route we pass the 5-star Bangkok Peninsular Hotel

Close by is the Millennium Hilton, a stunning building.....

The boat takes me directly to the hotel's own pier, from whence I head,

bold as brass, through the riverside restaurant, up the steps, past the

conciege checking room numbers and out through the lounge to the main door.....

I think, if I had a mind for it, I could have partaken with breakfast without

being charged.........

Thonburi, although part of Bangkok, has a distinctly different air about it....

Here there are few "tourist sites" so I always feel much on my own.

Apart from the river frontage, with its gleaming towers blocks, little has

changed with the streets beyond.. winding, somewhat confused and in

places I forget I am in a great metropolis.....

Within this 'backwater' there are a number of interesting places

Behind this shrine to the Buddha is an old fort -

Pong Patchamit Fort built in 1852 during the reign of King Rama IV

as a defence against attack from the river side.

Today the fort was closed, although the exterior walls are about

all that is left of interest......

This mighty cock has mad its home amongst the battlements.....

Riverside entrance to the Chee Chin Kho,

A Sino-Thai Buddhist temple.....

I really like the outer courtyard here as there are a number of unusual sights!!

Decorated  Banyan tree with carved face in bough.....

 

There area number of temples around here, like so much of

Bangkok. This "boat" caught my eye, outside Wat Thong Thammachat -

a Sino-Thai memorial house in the shape of a boat.....

 

and many canals, too. Although, like this one above,

little more than an rubbish dump........

 

This "Fat Buddha" image is in a side courtyard of a temple

This Sino - Thai Spirit House is like a number in the area.

This one is situated on a small bridge over a canal.....

A little further along, my path takes me besides the waters of the Chao Phraya River

and I see a glimpse of this post modern apartment ....

However, on reflection, I still prefer the old wooden neighbourhood houses.....

and their traditional ways...here red chillies are drying in the heat of the sun...

Around the corner is "The Princess Mother Memorial Park"

all peace and quiet .....wonderful..

and I end my walk, once again, at the Memorial Bridge....

Thailand: Bangkok - Pak Klong Talat

Every week or so, I pay a visit to Pak Klong Talat, regarded by many as the 'Covent Garden' or 'Les Halles' of Bangkok. Normally when I sniff the air on the streets of the city, my nostrils are filled with the acrid smells rising from the many drains that run throughout the city. Here, though I am assailed by the  sweet scents of jasmine, rose, lily and marigold...... The market is indeed a floral feast and whenever I visit I come away with a bundle of newspaper wrapped roses and armfuls of fragile orchids that are a feast to behold and come in every colour and shade imaginable. Compared to home, the prices here are miniscule, my roses a mere 30 baht and my orchids between 20 to 40 baht (there being about 50 baht to one English Pound!).

Pak Klong Market is located in the "Old City", close to the Chao Phraya River, with Wat Pho not far away to the north and the Memorial Bridge to the south. The main market is located on Chak Phet Street and spills over to several side-streets on both sides. From home, I have the choice of two direct buses, whose journey can take as little as 45 minutes to over 2 hours, depending on the time of the day.... Another option is to take the Chao Phraya River Bus,which is fun too, but means a journey on the MRT and Skytrain as well.......

The market has a long history. During the reign of Rama I (1782–1809), a floating market took place on the site of the modern Pak Khlong Talat By the reign of Rama V (1868–1910),this had changed to being a fish market. This, in turn, was eventually converted to today's produce market, existing for over 60 years. The market's focus has shifted from produce to flowers as the Talat Thai market on the outskirts of Bangkok has become a more attractive site for wholesale produce.

Most of the flowers sold in the market are delivered from Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon, and Samut Songkhram provinces, though flowers that require cooler growing temperatures come from as far away as Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

Taking the ferry across the Chao Phraya River to Pak Klong Talat

Yours truly on board the ferry

Chak Phet Street 

Coming from the Memorial Bridge, the first part of the Market is devoted to stall holders stringing and selling phuang malai, flower garlands, surrounded by sacks of jasmine and marigold blossoms. These are given as offerings when visiting a temple or kept for receiving gold luck

 

 

 

 

 

An over flowering bucket of  jasmine buds

A bag of red clover blooms

 

A poster in the Market showing marigold blooms,

a reminder that October is the month that celebrates

the End of Buddhist Lent and the 'Retreat of the Rains'.

Admiring Marigold garlands

Lotus Lilies buds destined for a Temple

 Pink Lotus Lily Buds wrapped in leaves

 Bowls of Lotus Lilies used for 'offerings'

 

Admiring some exotic flowers

 Proud of her roses.....

A wonderful array of 'newspaper wrapped' roses

Good looking Market cat.......

and cute little puppy......

Lilac coloured orchids .........

and a happy stall holder with yours truly.....

Balloon creation......

and this funny fellow.....

Vase of orchids in my apartment.......

Many thanks again to Bruce for taking many of the photographs

Khob Khun maak I mah noy