Bangkok China Town and the big river.....

         Put into operation today what I believe is the most effective sightseeing strategy in a massive

Sailors a sailin'

city like Bangkok (pop: 8.3 million). Use public transport to reach a place that is a central and well known location. In this case, I selected Hua Lam Phong which, as we all know, is Bangkok central railway station. I then set my target as the river front area about 5 kms away on a variety of streets that took in the major parts of the very large Bangkok China Town. I was, of course, assured by all the tuk tuk drivers that are drawn to a foreigner carrying a map in one hand and a camera in the other, that such an expedition was humanly impossible to achieve! Well this human did it, albeit after

Light tricks under the bridge....

a number of wrong turns---it must be great to have one of those hand held GPS devices for such a walk. Like all China Towns the world over, the Bangkok version is chaotic, a mass of activity and congestion, but oh so ripe to witness all human emotion in the raw.
             The wide & majestic river, the Chao Phraya that runs through Bangkok seems to be very cut-off from the central city streets that border the great water-way---it is the backs of buildings in China Town that front the river. Access to river panoramas are via small dead end alleys that lead to mini-wharves that are used as off-loading points for all the merchandise that is sold in China Town. True, in various other newer and rehabilitated parts of the river bank, institutions like the Royal Thai Navy HQ, the fancy hotels and private clubs for the well heeled that have been developed in green & pleasant opulence.
             Time passes quickly with so many visual distractions and apart from the nonstop intake of liquids that is required in the oppressive heat, I was able to graze my way through all the street stalls selling fried bananas, sliced pineapples and

Banksy in Bangkok?

tasty sausages on a stick etc. Get away from the slick ex pat money manager and organised tour group oriented shops and the prices of food on the street is still surprisingly affordable---one would be hard pressed not to be able to fill the stomach for 3 or 4 dollars.
             At one point, at the north end of China town, the river bank opened out and I realised that I was at a river boat commuter stop. Right! Quick decision to hop on board and head up river for a half hour cruise. The conductor lady relieved me of 25 cents for this delightful and refreshing journey. Never quite sure with the public transport if sometimes they just charge foreign tourists of many different tongues, a low fee just to avoid a long, complicated (and annoying) transactions. Taking a public bus yesterday the driver assured me that there was no charge, free, gratis!