Travel & Humanitarian Photos
A trip up the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok is one of my favourite journeys in the world. I’m at a loss to be able to explain why, to be honest. Bangkok doesn’t have the iconic landmarks on offer beside the Thames or the Seine and the Chao Phraya doesn’t have the spritual associations of the Ganges or the Brahmaputra. Perhaps it’s the apparent recklessness with which the long river taxis bump their stern into the floating piers as the deck-hands leap lazily to tie the boat alongside whilst passengers gingerly embark and disembark. You may think that “leaping lazily” is an oxymoron, and it is, but if you saw the laid-back manner of the river taxi guys, you’d understand.
Perhaps it’s the fact that the river taxi follows the twists and turns in the Chao Phraya in such an unassuming manner. Bangkok River Taxis don’t have the self-importance of their Parisian brothers, which puff up and down the Seine with an air of dismissive Gallic superiority. Neither do Bangkok River Taxis possess the rush-rush business-like energy of their London cousins which swish up and down the Thames carrying commuters on urgent business and brow-furrowed art-lovers from Tate Britain to Tate Modern and back again.
Then again, perhaps it’s the fact that a return journey on the Chao Phraya Express from south Bangkok to Nonthaburi, a journey of perhaps 20 kilometres each way, costs the equivalent of 70 pence whilst a return journey from Putney to Blackfriars in London costs £13.50!
All of which is by way of introducing yesterday’s outing to the island of Ko Kret, just north of Bangkok. It took three hours to reach the island and three hours to make the return journey, which left me just under 90 minutes on the island itself. Planning, you see, is crucial for successful expeditions 
Not that it mattered, the purpose of the trip was really just to enjoy the view from the river and I had plenty of time to do that. Plenty of time!
Nice work as always. I especially like the first one, the blurred river taxi.
jack
I’m with Jack on that… They’re all good but that first one is a stunner!
As a side note, your advice is ironically well timed. I went shopping at Sainsbury’s today and when I came out I could see the beginnings of a really beautiful sunset developing that would look lovely with the frosty ground and a nice bit of water. Quick as a flash I jumped in the car and drove myself down the motorway 20 miles to Tatton Park where there’s a big lake and lots of hills. “I’ll need to be quick!” I thought as I watched the sun heading down over the horizon…. I needn’t have panicked though, they close the place on Mondays during Off Season and the gates were firmly shut. No gorgeous sunsets for me!
Next time i’ll remember your words “Planning, you see, is crucial for successful expeditions
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Thank you boys. I’ve been trying to get some pictures for an “Abstract Bangkok” theme and the speeding river taxi seemed to fit. I may take another ride up the river just to get some more.