Because I had an unexpected trip to Bangkok in April, I had already done all I had wanted. But the time I had allocated for Bangkok now remains, because that April trip was booked after this one.
I thought it would be a good idea to visit the Royal Barges Museum, a place I have fond memories off from some 20 years ago. Getting there proved easier than expected, involving a one-hop ride on the Chao Phraya Express from my pier Phra Arthit directly across the river to Pin Khlao, followed by a well sign-posted walk.
I was drenched by the time I got there even though it was only perhaps a 15 minute walk. Since my last visit, there has been a new addition to the royal armada in the form of 44.3m Narai Song Suban. However, Suphannahong still remains the biggest at 46.15m.
After about 45 minutes I headed back to my hotel, stopping for lunch at Soi Rambuttri for a som tum beforehand. The hotel used to provide a junk food fest of chips, nuts and drinks from noon till 1800. But not anymore, probably for the better.
After a rest, I had a massage next to the hotel. The masseur was strong and at times, it was just a little too hard. And I normally take it rather strong.
In the evening, I explored parts of Bangkok that were less familiar to me. This time it was the Ratchadewi area. The journey involved a ride on one of the few remaining navigable khlongs (canals) in Bangkok. The boat, smaller than the Chao Phraya Express, is equally useful in beating terrestrial traffic jams. For dinner, rather unusually, I settled for a light meal of unagi sushi.
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- The Chao Phraya Express is essentially a public bus that runs on the river. It only takes them seconds to pull into a stop, let people off/on and zoom off again.
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- Homes by the canal on the way to the Royal Barges Museum.
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- Since my last visit some 20 years ago, there has been an addition to the royal armada. It is “Narai Song Suban” seen at the far end.
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- Figurehead on Royal Barge “Asura Vayuphak” is an ogre-faced bird.
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- Restoration work in progress for Royal Barge “Anantanagaraj”.
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- Royal Barge “Anantanagaraj” is my favourite with its seven-headed naga. It is 44.85 m in length.
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- Royal Barge “Anantanagaraj” is my favourite with its seven-headed naga. It is 44.85 m in length.
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- Royal Barges. “Krut Hern Het”: Garuda clutching a dragon. “Suphannahong”: Royal swan, the largest of the barges at 46.15m. “Barge Narai Song Suban”: The Vishnu god mounted on a garuda holding on Naga; the newest of the barges.
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- Royal Barge “Narai Song Suban” was launched in 1996, around eighty years after the previous royal barges was built. The figurehead portrays Vishnu mounted on a garuda holding on Naga.
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- Detail of “Narai Song Suban” in foreground and “Supanahong” in the background.
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- Bangkok’s “khlongs” or canals have largely been filled in. This boat is essentially a public bus service on the canals. Like its river counterpart, the Chao Phraya Express, it is a great way of avoiding Bangkok’s infamous gridlock.
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- Bangkok’s “khlongs” or canals have largely been filled in. This boat is essentially a public bus service on the canals. Like its river counterpart, the Chao Phraya Express, it is a great way of avoiding Bangkok’s infamous gridlock.
