One of the last things Chris and I did before I left Bangkok was to take a boat along the Saen Saeb canal.
This particular stretch runs from Bangkapi to Pathumwan, a considerable distance which took about an hour or so. If you look at a map of Bangkok, you’ll see lots of waterways. This is how people travelled around the city many moons ago. Not all of them are used nowadays, but I think it’s wonderful that people can still traverse the city in this way.
If you get the chance, take a boat along one of the canals, it’s such a pleasureable way to travel away from the chaotic traffic on the roads
I hope you enjoy the ride!
We had to take a taxi to reach Banglamphu as the boat only went so far, but we had a fabulous day out. We walked for miles, ate, drank and were very merry by the end of the evening! We had such good times in that city and I still can’t believe I left over 2 years ago! I really miss Bangkok and can’t wait to go again soon.
Following on from last week’s post when I went searching for street art as part of the Pipit Banglamphu Street Art Festival, I took many photos of other things to see in this lovely, peaceful part of the city. Join me again as I retrace my steps through the many hidden alleys of Bangkok, you never know what you might find!
There are a few communities who live in this area and this in the entrance to Wat Sangwet Witsayaram Community.
The artists who exhibited their work for the street art festival displayed their work in the most unusual places.
There are many different ways to get around Bangkok and by boat is the most exciting.
More street art at every turn.
Rama VIII Bridge which connects Bangkok to Thonburi.
A splash of colour.
Peaceful alleys and all just a stone’s throw from the busy Khao San Road!
There are so many Buddhist temples in Bangkok, there will never be enough time to see them all. This one is Wat Mai Armataros.
It’s not just the people who like hanging out, having a chat.
Tuk-tuks are a crazy way to get around the city. As long as you hold on tight!
Golden spires of a small temple with lovely blue skies.
Bangkok’s electricity and telephone cable system. I wouldn’t want to be the guy who has to fathom out whose is whose! The birds seem to like them though.
A glimpse of the ‘old’ Bangkok.
Art doesn’t have to be part of a street art festival, it’s everywhere in Bangkok.
And, so are pretty flowers.
There are hidden alleys which are fun to explore.
You can also see remnants of Bangkok’s past. Phra Sumen Fort is one of fourteen forts built to protect the city from invaders in the eighteen century.
There are plenty of leafy avenues, like this one on Phra Athit Road.
I never stopped exploring Bangkok when I lived there. I loved walking around seeing what I could find. I hope you enjoyed the tour around Banglamphu!
A couple of months before I left Bangkok for good, I was still enjoying exploring the city.
One day, I went in search of street art which was part of the Pipit Banglamphu Street Art Festival. It was a lot of fun wandering around the streets following the map.
Banglamphu is home to Bangkok’s infamous Khao San Road, chock-a-block with tourists coming and going, bars and clubs blaring out loud music and the general hustle and bustle, typical of a city like Bangkok. But, Banglamphu is also home to a myriad of leafy alleys and canals, so peaceful and, seemingly, hidden from tourists, but filled with friendly locals going about their day. That’s where I found myself as I went looking for the street art!
Some of the locals said hello and asked me where I was from, but all of them were curious about why I was there – made apparent by their stares. I tried to follow the map as best I could, but I went the wrong way in places, by-passing the same people more than once, which only added to their curiosity.
It was a really pleasant day out, so join me as I retrace my steps following the art..
I hope you enjoyed the street art as much as I did!
I’ll leave you with a little piece of Bangkok 🙂
Chris and I already knew of a little bar on Soi Nana called 23 Bar and Gallery. We used to go there for drinks. One day, I rustled up the courage to ask the owner – Mongkol – if it was possible to exhibit my photos in the art gallery upstairs. He said, YES!
23 Bar & Gallery
23 bar and gallery is an old shop house with 2 floors, similar to Dialogue, but on a smaller scale. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to show the same 11 photos that I’d exhibited at Dialogue. But, that didn’t worry me, I was just happy that I got a chance to show my work a second time.
It was due to start on 9th February 2018, so a week beforehand, Chris and I schlepped across the city with the chosen photos to set up!
We were greeted by a cheerful Mongkol who handed us some nails, a hammer, and asked if we wanted a beer! It was thirsty work in the hot gallery upstairs!
It took us all of an hour, even less, to get everything set up. Maybe because we were experts at it after my first exhibition, probably because there were fewer pictures and we didn’t have to use wire to hang the photos!
We went and sat outside on the street with another beer. Mongkol seemed happy that I had chosen his bar to hold my exhibition, so he offered to pay for the beers. He even bought a pizza for us, which we ordered from El Chiringuito – a little Tapas bar down the road. We tried to pay him, but he wasn’t having any of it.
It turned out to be such a fun day.
We arrived for the opening night. My friends from work came along too as well as a few more people who popped in for a drink and wandered upstairs to take a look.
Opening Night. Photo credit: Budsabong Siripong
I didn’t sell anything this time, but it was still a proud moment for me.
Afterwards, we continued the party in Silom before heading home.
I have plans to do another exhibition somewhere in my home town and I’ll be researching potential venues when I can – watch this space!
There are many things to see in Bangkok – The Grand Palace, Jim Thompson’s House, Khao San Road and much more. While these places are awesome, I sometimes looked for the not so obvious. There are many things hidden around the city, you just have to look for them!
I hope you enjoy this short video of my images of Bangkok.
Bangkok is many things to many people, but one thing that’s constant is the streets are always full of different things going on. It’s busy, it’s chaotic, but it’s such an exciting city. There is always something to see, to find, to simply enjoy. For the 4 years I lived there, I became the city girl I never knew I was!
Wherever you may wander in Bangkok, street vendors are a part of daily life, selling food and drinks to passersby. Unfortunately, the powers that be have removed some of them to make way for a “new” Bangkok – one where the streets are devoid of these people simply trying to make their living. For me, and I’m sure countless others, this is a tiny part of what makes Bangkok so appealing.
These condo blocks are all over Bangkok. Home to many people, you’ll see satellite dishes amidst balconies full of drying clothes.
There are many little shops like these selling flags, framed photos of their King – past and present – and other patriotic items.
And, down every little alley, you’ll find someone going about their daily business.
While Bangkok is generally a tourist destination, there are certain areas of the city where tourists flock. Banglamphu which is home to Khao San Road and Soi Rambuttri is teaming with backpackers and holidaymakers alike. But, some days are pleasantly quiet making it more pleasurable to explore.
Over in Sathorn, business people are heading out to lunch.
Others, painfully making their way through the notorious Bangkok traffic.
Or, taking a breather in the relentless heat.
There are kids chatting to friends while they wait for their ride home.
And gentlemen walking home from the shops.
Another thing I love about Bangkok is that many of its streets are lined with trees.
There is street art hidden down alleyways.
There are so many vantage points.
And things to photograph.
Then, there are the canals upon which the modern city has developed. It’s fascinating to think that these waterways were the main routes around the city all those years ago – some of them are still in use.
Not far from downtown Bangkok, you’ll find streets with no life! You’d be forgiven for thinking you were somewhere other than the international metropolis that is BKK!
If you’re ever in Bangkok, you won’t have far to go to find a little street life!
For more Bangkok street life, check out these posts.
When I lived in Bangkok, I used to walk around the city with my camera a lot. There are many things that compel me to take a photograph. It could be a distinctive architectural feature, an ornate temple or a dilapidated building.
There are endless photographic subjects to be had in Bangkok and I had lots of fun looking for them! For me, it’s exciting because you never can tell what you might find!
Here are a few things that caught my eye!
This juxtaposition of 5-star hotel – Lebua – and the Leo beer advert.
The reflection of the buildings opposite the Eastin Grand Hotel in Sathorn.
The purple colour and zig-zag feature of the Mode Sathorn Hotel on Sathorn Road.
The colour and ornate decoration of Wat Bowonniwet on Phra Sumen Road.
Chong Nonsi Bridge for just being different and it’s good for a spot of people watching!
Chong Nonsi BTS Station under blues skies and white clouds with a glimpse of Bangkok’s infamous cables.
The high-rise Regis Hotel in Sathorn with its glass windows and reflections of the clouds.
I am not sure what this building is, but the brown bricks, arched windows and golden dome on the roof caught my eye. It was worth a close up!
More cables, people and a palm tree as the neon lights of the city flicker on at dusk!
There are many buildings like this in Bangkok where people have made their homes. It’s very humbling!
For more things that catch my eye around Bangkok, check out these posts
Whenever I take photographs, I usually take a lot. And when I mean a lot, it can sometimes be over 100 shots. I just can’t help it, especially when I go somewhere that I find interesting. There’s always some angle or colour, animal or bird, bridge or reflection – anything that catches my eye.
When I am writing posts for Talkingthailand or Morrisophotography, I go through all the photos I have taken from a particular day and group them into “post pics,” “best pics,” “black & white” etc. Apart from the main subject I am writing about, this process gives me ideas and inspiration for other posts.
Photography is a very subjective thing. What I class as “the best of” might be quite different to what you think. That’s what makes it interesting don’t you think?
With that in mind, here is my compilation of the Best of Chulachomklao Fort, in Bangkok.
Do you take a lot of photos when you go somewhere? What do you do with them?
When I lived in Bangkok, I did my fair share of exploring. A colleague told me about Chulachomklao Fort, around 29 km south of Bangkok. It sounded interesting, so I decided to visit.
Getting there was fun, I only knew that I had to take the 145 bus to Pak Nam market, then take a boat across the river. The boat chugged its way around a small island towards the pier in Phra Samut Chedi District. You’ll see lush greenery and birds gathering to grab whatever titbits they can from the local fishermen.
It always seems a bit of an adventure when you don’t really know the way, so I just went with the flow. I had to find a market on the other side which wasn’t too difficult after I’d asked a couple of people. From there, I had to locate a truck which would take me to the fort.
Chulachomklao Fort was built in 1884 during the reign of King Rama V. Its main purpose was to defend Thailand against enemies and those seeking to colonise.
I wandered around the gun park where you can see all the different types of artillery and other weapons that were used when the fort was active.
This proud statue of King Rama V stands at the front of the fort.
You’ll also see the entrance to the bunkers which house the disappearing guns.
Inside the bunker, there is a long open corridor..
with doors leading to low underground tunnels..
and the guns at the end.
The disappearing guns were used only once in 1893 when the fort protected the sovereignty of Thailand from French invasion.
They were designed to be hauled up by their hydro-pneumatic system for firing and lowered again afterwards.
Also at the fort is H.T.M.S Maeklong. She was in service for 60 years and deployed during WWII.
It’s fun to scamper about on her decks!
You get good views across the Gulf of Thailand too!
As you move around the park, you’ll come across this ordinary telegraph pole.
It was constructed in 1869 as the first telegraph cable between Bangkok and Paknam. Unfortunately, the service was unsuccessful. 6 years later, the Thai Department of Defence constructed an underwater telegraph line for messages concerning sea traffic to be transmitted.
There is also a lovely mangrove walk you can take.
With some Macaques for company.
If you ignore them, which you should, they won’t take a blind bit of notice of you.
There is more nature to be seen if you’re lucky.
After I’d seen everything, I made my way back to the pier and across the Chao Praya River towards home.
If you’re ever in Bangkok and want to see something just a bit different, Chulachomklao Fort is a fabulous place to visit for the day.
For more places to go in Bangkok, check out the following posts.
As you may have gathered, I am quite the culture vulture and when I lived in Bangkok, I used to go in search of it. My favourite place to go was the Bangkok Art & Cultural Centre or BACC.
I used to love the art and photographic exhibitions that were held there and just before I left Bangkok, in 2018, I took one last trip there.
On this particular day, I’d gone to see an art exhibition by Oleg Shuplyak called Imaginarium – check out his amazing paintings in the following posts..
Whatever exhibition was on, I loved wandering around the BACC looking at all the photos and paintings, but I also loved people watching. Lots of people, like me, went there to enjoy all the different types of creations.
There are 9 floors in the BACC, each with something different to see. It could be the main exhibit or other art and photography offerings on display.
There are also resident artists who have a space to work on pottery or painting.
And then there was me, watching, learning and absorbing everything around me.
I have written about my previous visits to the BACC and when I return to Bangkok on holiday, this will be one of the first places I visit.
