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Bangyai · 24-10-2009, 04:18 PM

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since Bangkok was known as
' The Venice of the east '. Nowadays, most city dwellers don't see many canals except those that are more like open sewers and the well known Klong Saen Saeb. This was built by Rama III in 1837 to enable movement of troops and weapons towards Cambodia and is still used today by commuters wanting to travel from Ramkamheng to the Prathoo Nam are.

To see what Bangkok might have looked like just after world war II you need to travel to the cities suburbs. One such suburb is Bangyai where the canal system is still very much intact and still used by locals to visit friends or drop the kids off to school.

This is Klong Praba Maha Sawat which runs from the Ta Chin river and ultimately into the Chao Phrya via Klong Bangkok Noi. As the name suggests, it provides tap water to the city and so no water traffic , bathing or fishing is allowed

The narrow road along the side of this canal is closed to heavy traffic and is very popular with cyclists who appreciate the smooth tarmac and clean air.

And there is no law against building along the canal if the structure is set back a bit as this nice Thai house shows

Cutting across this canal is Klong Bangyai , along the banks of which are many temples like this one : Wat Anek Dittharam

Always plenty of catfish here looking for an easy meal

I usually cross this road bridge then cut back through the temple grounds and use their footbridge.

Just sitting on the dock of the bay
Telling the falang to go away.....

Plenty of quiet backwaters branching of this big canal.

Everybody who has a home on the edge of one of these canals always has a boat or two and still use these canals to visit places nearby or just drop of the kids at school.

And of course , there is a lot of fishing done with many homes having their own nets stretched out over the canal

Another temple on Klong Bangyai , a bit further west. Wat Don Chueak .

I saw a very pretty girl paddle up this quiet canal, Klong Wa Deeo, and she nodded at my ' Py dooay ' request , but kept paddling until she past from sight.

Between all the canals the area is given over to vegetable farming , fruit orchards, rice fields and garden centres.

3 crops of rice a year here as no shortage of water

The roads are also pretty nice. its just a shame there is a lot of fly tipping so every now and then you come across a lot of rubble and plastic bags on the side of the road.

And with the new roads come new houses, replacing the old ones along the waters edge.

Well, might as well finish with a canal but I'll add pictures to the thread if theres any interest

jarne · 24-10-2009, 05:00 PM

very good

a bit different from the urban bangkok we see

daveboy · 24-10-2009, 05:06 PM

Very different Bangkok there.

Sdigit · 24-10-2009, 05:20 PM

Nice views of Bangkok, I had no Idea the place these places exsisted, I must take more time to look around.

shunpike · 24-10-2009, 05:23 PM

Nice pix..looks like a great area for cycling.

Bangyai · 24-10-2009, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shunpike

Nice pix..looks like a great area for cycling.

It is. Flat as a pancake and 95% of the time no traffic. Lots of little roads, many running along the banks of a canal with lots of shade. The only small problem ( apart from the heat ) is the dogs. Every house seems to have at least two or more and they don't like strangers on bikes ! I have found the best way to deal with them is :
a) Try to ignore them and avoid eye contact
b) increase speed
c) Weave from side to side

This last is very effective as just as they get near one leg they suddenly have to back up or run into the back tyre

crippen · 25-10-2009, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bangyai

Quote:

Originally Posted by shunpike

Nice pix..looks like a great area for cycling.

It is. Flat as a pancake and 95% of the time no traffic. Lots of little roads, many running along the banks of a canal with lots of shade. The only small problem ( apart from the heat ) is the dogs. Every house seems to have at least two or more and they don't like strangers on bikes ! I have found the best way to deal with them is :
a) Try to ignore them and avoid eye contact
b) increase speed
c) Weave from side to side

This last is very effective as just as they get near one leg they suddenly have to back up or run into the back tyre

Try squirting the chasing dogs with water out of a washing up liquid bottle or water pistol. Scares them off-don't know why!

The Fresh Prince · 24-10-2009, 06:14 PM

Nice.

The Fresh Prince · 24-10-2009, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bangyai

Just sitting on the dock of the bay Telling the falang to go away.....

Class!

aging one · 24-10-2009, 08:23 PM

excellent thread, very well done. Looks cooler out there as well. Gotta go have a look. Its a lot closer than Phuket.

Ghandi · 24-10-2009, 10:16 PM

Very nice , I go to Bangyai often but never see more than the factory I visit that is right off the highway near a Tesco Lotus

Bangyai · 25-10-2009, 12:53 PM

Missed one. These dredgers are kept very busy clearing the canals of unwanted undergrowth that was not originaly native to Thailand. Its introduction from abroad has been a real problem for the canal system which gets clogged up in a very short time with these fast growing plants.

shunpike · 25-10-2009, 01:15 PM

That stuff they are picking up is called water hyacinth IIRC. It is a pest, though I heard of one furniture design co. that was using it to make wicker-like furniture. Apparently the stuff is very strong.

Happyman · 27-10-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shunpike

That stuff they are picking up is called water hyacinth IIRC. It is a pest, though I heard of one furniture design co. that was using it to make wicker-like furniture. Apparently the stuff is very strong.

Get that stuff in the water supply for potable water installations and power station cooling systems
and you are digging out - ( and this is no exaggeration) up to 30 ton a day - especially on the upper Nile !

Used to let the camel herders graze the beasts on the leaves and then burn the stalks
'orrible stuff !

Never realised that the fibres were useable - shit - could have set up a nice little sideline there

klongmaster · 25-10-2009, 03:31 PM

Actually there are many companies making this kind of futniture...
looks quite nice...

good thread BY:...

Marmite the Dog · 25-10-2009, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shunpike

That stuff they are picking up is called water hyacinth IIRC. It is a pest, though I heard of one furniture design co. that was using it to make wicker-like furniture. Apparently the stuff is very strong.

Indeed, but in Thailand they seem to target foreigners with it, as it is well overpriced.

Chairman Mao · 25-10-2009, 04:02 PM

Gotta head for a ride up there one day. (wish I saw this yesterday as I'd be riding up there now).

Kapilvastu · 26-10-2009, 10:43 PM

What an interesting and informative presentation! It really makes me want to go there. Maybe a little more precise detail on the location might have been appreciated, but, on a site so full of negativity, it's so nice to find someone just wanting to share interesting experience. thanks a lot.

loz944 · 27-10-2009, 09:01 AM

Wow i live near bang Yai and i never knew it was there Guess i should get of my lazy arse and get on the bike and explore more a map would be great

Bobcock · 27-10-2009, 09:18 AM

Nonthaburi...... almost a different country if you listen to Scampy....

24-10-2009, 04:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bangyai Yala Last Online: Today 10:01 AM Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 697	The canals of Bangyai, suburban Bangkok A lot of water has passed under the bridge since Bangkok was known as ' The Venice of the east '. Nowadays, most city dwellers don't see many canals except those that are more like open sewers and the well known Klong Saen Saeb. This was built by Rama III in 1837 to enable movement of troops and weapons towards Cambodia and is still used today by commuters wanting to travel from Ramkamheng to the Prathoo Nam are. To see what Bangkok might have looked like just after world war II you need to travel to the cities suburbs. One such suburb is Bangyai where the canal system is still very much intact and still used by locals to visit friends or drop the kids off to school. This is Klong Praba Maha Sawat which runs from the Ta Chin river and ultimately into the Chao Phrya via Klong Bangkok Noi. As the name suggests, it provides tap water to the city and so no water traffic , bathing or fishing is allowed The narrow road along the side of this canal is closed to heavy traffic and is very popular with cyclists who appreciate the smooth tarmac and clean air. And there is no law against building along the canal if the structure is set back a bit as this nice Thai house shows Cutting across this canal is Klong Bangyai , along the banks of which are many temples like this one : Wat Anek Dittharam Always plenty of catfish here looking for an easy meal I usually cross this road bridge then cut back through the temple grounds and use their footbridge. Just sitting on the dock of the bay Telling the falang to go away..... Plenty of quiet backwaters branching of this big canal. Everybody who has a home on the edge of one of these canals always has a boat or two and still use these canals to visit places nearby or just drop of the kids at school. And of course , there is a lot of fishing done with many homes having their own nets stretched out over the canal Another temple on Klong Bangyai , a bit further west. Wat Don Chueak . I saw a very pretty girl paddle up this quiet canal, Klong Wa Deeo, and she nodded at my ' Py dooay ' request , but kept paddling until she past from sight. Between all the canals the area is given over to vegetable farming , fruit orchards, rice fields and garden centres. 3 crops of rice a year here as no shortage of water The roads are also pretty nice. its just a shame there is a lot of fly tipping so every now and then you come across a lot of rubble and plastic bags on the side of the road. And with the new roads come new houses, replacing the old ones along the waters edge. Well, might as well finish with a canal but I'll add pictures to the thread if theres any interest

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24-10-2009, 05:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
jarne Petchabun Last Online: 08-11-2009 08:07 AM Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: norway thailand Posts: 174	very good a bit different from the urban bangkok we see

24-10-2009, 05:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
daveboy Has Got Itchy Feet Join Date: May 2006 Location: SE London Posts: 3,144	Very different Bangkok there.

24-10-2009, 05:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sdigit It wasn't me Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: All the way over there> Posts: 2,345	Nice views of Bangkok, I had no Idea the place these places exsisted, I must take more time to look around.

24-10-2009, 05:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
shunpike Kamphaeng Phet Last Online: Today 04:39 PM Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Klong Samwa Posts: 330	Nice pix..looks like a great area for cycling.

24-10-2009, 06:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
The Fresh Prince Sprayed On Member Last Online: 21-11-2009 05:02 PM Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Not in the willage Posts: 4,668	Nice.

24-10-2009, 08:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
aging one Elite Member Last Online: Today 03:23 PM Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 4,347	excellent thread, very well done. Looks cooler out there as well. Gotta go have a look. Its a lot closer than Phuket.

24-10-2009, 10:16 PM	#11 (permalink)
Ghandi Lopburi Last Online: 20-11-2009 10:44 PM Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 302	Very nice , I go to Bangyai often but never see more than the factory I visit that is right off the highway near a Tesco Lotus

25-10-2009, 12:53 PM	#12 (permalink)
Bangyai Yala Last Online: Today 10:01 AM Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 697	Missed one. These dredgers are kept very busy clearing the canals of unwanted undergrowth that was not originaly native to Thailand. Its introduction from abroad has been a real problem for the canal system which gets clogged up in a very short time with these fast growing plants.

25-10-2009, 01:15 PM	#13 (permalink)
shunpike Kamphaeng Phet Last Online: Today 04:39 PM Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Klong Samwa Posts: 330	That stuff they are picking up is called water hyacinth IIRC. It is a pest, though I heard of one furniture design co. that was using it to make wicker-like furniture. Apparently the stuff is very strong.

25-10-2009, 03:31 PM	#15 (permalink)
klongmaster Thailand Forum Last Online: Yesterday 05:29 PM Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Nonthaburi Posts: 3,844	Actually there are many companies making this kind of futniture... looks quite nice... good thread BY:...

25-10-2009, 04:02 PM	#17 (permalink)
Chairman Mao Thailand Expat Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,440	Gotta head for a ride up there one day. (wish I saw this yesterday as I'd be riding up there now).

26-10-2009, 10:43 PM	#18 (permalink)
Kapilvastu Chaweng Beach Last Online: Today 09:26 AM Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bangkok Posts: 77	What an interesting and informative presentation! It really makes me want to go there. Maybe a little more precise detail on the location might have been appreciated, but, on a site so full of negativity, it's so nice to find someone just wanting to share interesting experience. thanks a lot.

27-10-2009, 09:01 AM	#19 (permalink)
loz944 Patong Beach Last Online: Today 08:33 AM Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bangbuathong Posts: 27	Wow i live near bang Yai and i never knew it was there Guess i should get of my lazy arse and get on the bike and explore more a map would be great

27-10-2009, 09:18 AM	#20 (permalink)
Bobcock Llandewi Brefi's Finest Last Online: Today 04:16 PM Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 4,075	Nonthaburi...... almost a different country if you listen to Scampy....

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