I found a bit of a short cut from Klong Toei jetty back to Rama3.
Quick reprise, just to see if any info is available about the bike hire at Phra Pradaeng side of Klong Toei jetty. It seems one of the stalls on the jetty has a key to unlock a bike. Cost is 50baht/hour or 100baht/day. The bikes all seem to be single speed ladies style clunkers, with a carry basket on the front. I found a bit of a short cut from Klong Toei jetty back to Rama3.
0 Comments
A very short excursion to measure the circumference of The Village. Here is a slideshow of a book I previously made from inside the route: Rolled around near the Port and Klong Toei, just trying to understand the lay of the land. Security guys were not interested to let me into the Port to take photos. Crossed the river by longtail [20baht], then rode a little on Phra Phradaeng [known as the Green Lungs of Bangkok]. Across the river again to Klong Toei, and then wandered home. The longtail fares are very modest...10 baht [about 30 cents] per person and 10 baht per bike. Of course, no safety vests... Phra Phradaeng is like an up-country village planted in the heart of Bangkok...slow pace, light traffic, fruit and vegetable gardens. Much to like here. The small National Park in Phra Pradaeng had a barricade up and a sign claiming entry not permitted...I'll going back soon and see if I can sneak in. Started as a trip to the river to pay my motor registration annual fee, but I continued on for an initial foray into Chinatown, got lost, then returned home via Rama4. Traffic was very heavy in the narrow one-way lanes that are common in Chinatown. Slow meandering roll through some of the Klong Toei slum area, then a familiar Rama3 route with a slight diversion on narrow lanes of Sathu Pradit. Pleasant and interesting outing. Met a cycle tour group and chatted with a few folks for a minute or two...the Thai leader of the tour was very friendly. Rode beside the Klong Toei canal for a bit...there is an over-grown railway track there, with lots of old freight rolling stock rotting and being inundated by jungle...I think this might be the first section of railway in all Bangkok. Over the river from our Condo is Thonburi, which was the capital of Siam before the King decided the swamp on the other side of the river looked...umh...swampier [a good thing as it made it more difficult for the war-like Burma folks to march their Elephant Cavalry over to sack the city]...this was about 200 years ago. So, I crossed an older, steel bridge at the end of Param3 Road, travelled along Rat Burana Road, visited the river under the fabulous Rama9 bridge, near the KBank Obelisk [where I worked for nearly 3 years when I first came to Bangkok], then on to the new Bhumibhol01 bridge [not sure if cyclists are permitted but no-one stopped me], and home. Here is a gallery of pics I shot during this ride...very river-related: Hot...no rain...a little head wind in places. The road traffic was less, and less chaotic, than morning peak traffic. I did a little speed triangle of about 3km, and stopped for 5 minutes to make enquiries about LED lighting at a specialist importer [the map shows a loop around the small showroom at the "i" in Chong Nonsi]. You know how it goes...you need just a couple of things that are not obtainable from the local Convenience Store...you jump on the bike and head down to the bulk supermarket...you make the purchase then, suddenly, engage brain and realise you are going to have a problem juggling the three odd-shaped items on the return trip...sure enough, you drop them in the road at least twice and risk your life recovering them from under the wheels of charging buses... A slow ride this morning, exploring the narrow lanes of an old part of Yannawa District. It is an interesting area, with Hindu temple, Chinese and Moslem cemeteries, narrow klongs...and people living a slow life. Here is a small gallery of shots I made along the way: |
About RayI love cycling, whether rolling about in Bangkok or on country lanes. Recently I have also been attracted to bike racing as a means of challenging myself as I mature into that category known as The Elderly. Categories
All
|