Many of the klongs, as the transport canals are called in Thailand, have been filled up within the last decades. Nevertheless there are still numerous which are worth being visited.
Klongs of Thonburi
We take a boat through the Klongs of Thonburi, east of the Chao Phraya River. Already 20 years ago we had made this tour. At that time one could hardly talk about houses along the klongs. It were more wooden shacks that look very poor. This has changed.
Today you find some pretty houses and some are noble designed. The majority is kept simple but clean and tidy.
Now and then you can still see women washing the clothes or kids swimming in the klongs. There used to be a lot more. 20 years ago it was customary to wash themselves in the water of the klongs.
Today, most homes have running water, you can see the laid water pipes.
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It amazes us to find stately monitor lizards in the klongs.
After we have passed some monitor lizards swimming by, we can also observe others sunbathing at close range. They allegedly are harmless because they are very shy. Whether this is the case, we cannot and will not check.
Occasionally, you find merchants coming with their boats. For quite some time, you don’t find floating markets in Bangkok anymore.
On the edge of Klongs of Thonburi we see a whole new neighborhood springing up out of the ground.
Partly one built also multi-story residential buildings. Between them one repeatedly find temples.
We stop at one of these temples. A monk comes to the boat and gives us bread. It is meant for the fish in front of temples. A few pieces are sufficient to bring the water to a boil.
Only now, we realize the richness in fish in the canals. Fishing in front of the temples is prohibited. Here, the fish are considered sacred.
The water-level is fairly constant since it is regulated by locks at the mouth into the Chao Phraya.
Next -> Royal Barges National Museum
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Disclosure: The tour with a very experienced and helpful tour guide was sponsored by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and as always, all opinions about our experiences are our own!
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