Bangkok Trip Day 2 : Part 2 – River Cruise at Chao Praya River

After having our expensive Americian breakfast at Dean & Deluca (click here)  as we were still early to head for our shopping, then Goft suggested to enjoy Bangkok most famous river cruise at Chao Praya River that transport alot people across or along the river for work or to another tourist destination.

Reading some website, this river is one of a legendary river which rate as ‘Venice of the East’ that makes it one of a good way to explore Bangkok City by boat service along the river.

So we took Sky Train from our hotel and stop at this Station called Saphan Taksin

Whereby at the jetty name called Sathorn. As this place is near to alot of hotel, you can see alot of tourist flocking this area to take this boat ride.

There are 3 types of service available which is one are meant for tourist, and comes with English speaker on board to explain for you where are you heading and some history of the places that you are stopping, which are more meant for tourist, best if you plan to do hopping around, you can get their One Day Pass at only 150Bhat which is more worth it compare to pay for single stop.

Then there are a few other types of services that you can rent for private use, with speed boat that jet up and down pretty quickly at different rates which of course more expensive.

Or lastly, if you like free and easy, can be like us because I have my friend as she introduce all the places for us, we took the PUBLIC boat that cost very little per person, if I am not mistaken is around 30-50 bhat per stop.

for more info and services you can check out this website i found out: http://bangkok.sawadee.com/canals.htm

Our Jaw Drop when we saw the colour of the river as its like ‘Teh Tarik Kau Kau’ colour. So brownish and the river is flowing so fast. We were wondering if we ever fell into the river, will we drown and I think can easily reach another jetty by its strong fast current.

As for the lovely weather today as its so sunny and what ever pic I took just makes it so sharp. . .

One thing I like about the public boat is that, they use conductor which I have not seen a conductor for very long time already with this manual and coin ticketing system by this lady.

You pay her, then she will tear you a ticket. . . must keep the ticket as on and off they will do spot check as to ensure all on board paid for their ride. If not you will be thrown out by the boat man into the river (just joking) as my friend told me there are quite alot people trying to avoid paying.

 

As this is how pack the public boat is and the lady shout at us at Thai language where most of us do not understand cuz on that day on our ride, there are quite a lot tourist and my friend told me, if you were to ride on public boat, the CONS are you cannot just stand and park there at the nice window view, as you are obstructing other public people coming in. So once you have been shove into the middle area like where I took my picture, you will miss out all the nice scenery.

Then me taking some landscape shot as along the river.

This is how the speed boat looks like as they are up to hire anytime.

So public ride will stop most of the available stop for people hopping in and out.

Then if you stay a hotel at the river bank, they have their own boat services for you to get you across or you can arrange with the hotel which area you want to head to, then they will arrange with the boatman to transport you to that location. Most of the hotel along this river bank are 4-5 star hotel.

There are even some people live at the river bank .. .

 This is how strong and fast the current is for that day.

As we had too heavy breakfast and some of our food could not finish, then not to waste it, we were brought to this jetty, TEWET to feed the fish, as this jetty is also famous for one of the superstitious believe. If you have bad luck or omen, like bad health, need more wealth, then some of the locals head here to purchase some of the creature then given a piece of paper and pray according ly, lastly release it back to real life, to make it smooth ahead for future.

some of the locals selling bread and its very cheap to buy one big bag, to feed the fish.

For us, the fish is lucky today as we are feeding them with our left over high class breakfast. 😀

I can tell, you the fish here are big! The locals also believe another thing that, if you do catch fish nearby the temple along this river, you will be curse, either fall sick or something bad will happen to you.

 this is one of the boat transport offer by the hotels.

As you walk further up a bit then you will get to see the locals selling tortoise, eel, birds and a few more other things as it depends on what you want to wish for then they prepare what creature for you to release.

while waiting for our boat to come, then I get a chance to see what are the locals actually doing.

As they do a praying first by saying in their heart with the words from the paper, then next they just pour it to the river and let the bad thing wash away.

If I do say anything wrong, please do correct me. Thank you.

As we were heading back to our destination where we board on our boat, now we see another side of the river which is more interesting this round . . .

If you do  have time, visit this temple which is made of porcelain if I am not mistaken.

To spend some sightseeing and stopping by a few stops, I would suggest that you will need to spend about half a day here to enjoy the fullest and make use of the river.

Time is just perfect when we reach back the jetty to start our shopping galore at Bangkok. Catch up next post for shopping area in Bangkok.