Really hidden treasures, not discovered by many tourists until now, you will find along Khlong Phra Khanong (คลองพระโขนง), called Khlong Prawet Burirom (คลองประเวศบุรีรมย์) more to the east of this canal. Also many local people don't know, that you can move here by boat from 5pm to 11pm every 20 to 30 minutes. The boat service starts in front of Phra Khanong wet market (ตลาดพระโขนง) and leads to Srinakharin Pier near Seacon Square Shopping Center. The boat trip takes half an hour und costs around 15 Baht. You can also stop at private piers, if you give the driver the sign to stop.
So first we have a look at Phra Khanong Market. In these small sois you find a lot of goods from clothes to mobile phone, household items, toys for the children and religious items. Dodee describes in his blog buckets filled with tablets, cream against mosquitoes, toothpaste, soap, tea, coffee, incense, a lighter for incense, a towel and maybe a monk’s robe too. Buddhists purchase these buckets to give to monks and temples. Of course you discover also many eateries in this market.
Picture by Leo Laksi, who describes this market in his blog. See more pictures by Mike LaPalme, Tan Hiep and Uwe Werner.
Then we start at Phra Khanong Pier:
Picture by Thaitransit, he shows us the boat service in his very nice blog. A good impression we get also by this video on youtube.com. Or look at this video about a stop along the Khlong.
One more impression by Thaitransit
On your boattrip you will see modern and old teak houses, temples and mosques. A lot of indian and muslim families are living in this part of the town.
The first temple at your right is Wat Tai วัดใต้:
Picture by m-louis
Soon you arrive at Wat Maha But (วัดมหาบุศย์). This temple, built in 1762, is well known for the story of perhaps the most famous of all Thai ghosts, the ghost of Mae Nang Nak (นางนาก). The story dates from the reign of King Mongkut (1851-1868). According to the legend Mae Nak and her husband, Tid Mak, lived in a tiny hut. Thid Mak had to leave here for war, then Mae Nak died by giving birth to a child. Her ghost not wanted to leave until Tid Mak was back. When he realized that his wife was just a ghost, he fled to the temple. Mae Nak got furious and began to frighten and kill people. The monk Somdet Phra Phutthachan (To Phromrangsi) heard of this. He came, cut a piece of her forehead bone to make a buckle, and wore this at all time. Mae Nak was appeased and let her husband live in peace. This story has become popular in Thailand through several films as Mae Nak Phra Khanong (1958), Nang Nak (1999) and The Ghost of Mae Nak (2005). See the trailer from 1999.
Wat Mahabut, picture by Matt. He describes in his blog, how the vistors buy beautiful dresses and cosmetics as well as toys, candy, milk and diapers, to offer it to Mae Nak and her child at her shrine:
The shrine, picture by Matt, who tells us also, that many people will buy lottery tickets from local vendors in the hope, that the ghost will bring them financial fortune. But they believe, that the shrine should be avoided, if you want to get or are already pregnant. Recently The Bangkok Post wrote, how the people turn to the spirits in economic hard times. The people who come to win in the lottery also rub a sacred hopea tree with a candle and oil. You can read about this on AsiaToday.com
Our next boat-stop is Wat Yang (วัดยาง), built in 1851.
Picture by kenorderonline (see more Pics).
Now we look, what Bangkok Parlour tells us about his visit to Wat Ton Sai (วัดต้นไทรย) during Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent) and a ceremony called Wien Tien.
Pictures by Ray City Team.
Back on the boat you will see soon on your left the mosque Masjid Al Latisorm (มัสยิดอัลเอี๊ยะติซอม):
Picture by m-louis
See more pictures here and there.
On your right follows Wat Khachonsiri (วัดขจรศิริ), see picture by ThaiTambon.
Finally we arrive at Srinakharin Pier:
Picture by Thaitransit
Now we are on Khlong Prawet Burirom:
Wat Krathum Sua Pla (วัดกระทุ่มเสือปลา) dates from 1802. People can feed fish here to make merit. See picture by LesAbbey
Pictures by 8q
Wat Lanbun (วัดลานบุญ, also Lanboon, also known as Wat Pla (Temple of fish), built in 1875. A taxi-boat to drive here you find at Minburi Pier (from the Minburi Market under the bridge to the left). The way leads through Khlong Song Ton Nun (คลองสองต้นนุ่น) to Khlong Prawet Burirom. Wat Lan Boon has an open library beside the canal and has a place, where visitors feed huge catfish. Read what Stuart wrote about his Thai day in Wat Lanboon.
Picture by อุ๊ค่ะ
Both picture by Vimonkaitisak
See also pictures by Worrawee and eRakII
Wat Sangkharacha (วัดสังฆราชา, built in 1904, follows on your left.
Now we stop very close to Suvarnabhumi Airport, at Wat Lat Krabang (วัดลาดกระบัง)
Picture by Michael
Picture by Michael
You look at Khlong Prawet Burirom (west)
You look at Khlong Prawqet Burirom (east). All pictures by ลุงเนตร
After you visited the temple you may be hungry. In this case you cross the Khlong by the bridge and go to the roasted duck restaurant on Soi Lat Krabang 7. And if you would like to stay for a night close to the airport, you find Queens Garden Resort just beside the khlong.
Wat Pluk Sattha (วัดปลูกศรัทธา): See picture by SoiDB
Now we arriva at the christian Our Lady of Lourdes Church(Wat Mae Pra Muang Lurd, วัดแม่พระเมืองลูร์ด).
Wat Ponmanee (วัดพลมานีย์, also Phon Mani):
See more pictures by Geocities.com and SoiDB
The peace and tranquility of oldtime you meet at the hundred years old Khlong Suan Market (ตลาดคลองสวน 100 ปี). Rows of twostorey wooden houses along the khlong. "Klong Suan will dazzle you with its old shophouses and stalls selling a variety of tasty traditional food like tom yam noodles, sweet Thai sausage and pot-stewed duck to desserts made from coconut, quaint old utensils and ancient tin toys", writes the Bangkok Post. See a pictures by Tawee Deetho, nairobroo.com and TAT.
Coffee shop
From the bridge over the Khlong
Old pharmacy, these and more pictures by PommeIE82
Happy puppets by tOntrAnETY
If you don't want to do this Khlong tour on your own, you can join a one-day-tour organizied by the tourist office. The boat ride runs along Khlong Phra Khanong and stops at Wat Tai and Wat Maha But, then the visitors will take a fish-feeding break at Wat Kahchonsiri. The tour costs 350 Baht per person and includes lunch. (Call 02-255-7612-4, fax: 02-225-7616).
More about the history of the two khlongs you can read on klongwalking.blogspot.com. Another guide for Khlong Phra Khanong you find on tour-bangkok-legacies.com
Read here about another old market nearby: Ban Mai Market in Chachoengsao
Discover more in Bangkok:
Your Guide to Bangkok
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