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