Breakaway Destination Guides (International)

Rivers (mae naam) and canals (klong) have been Bangkok's principal mode of transportation since the city was founded in 1782. The interlinked network of man-made and natural canals earned the city the informal title 'Venice of the East'.

Bangkok has hundreds of miles of Klongs (canals) throughout the city, many with long-tail boats ferrying goods and passengers. The place to catch one of these unusual boats is the Tha Chang Wang Luang boat landing at the end of the Thanon Ni Phra Lan (the road running beside the Ivat Phra Ka-o) better known as the temple of the emerald Buddha.

Although each canal has its own charm, the journey down Klong Bangkok Noi is the most popular destination, offering the day tripper a constantly changing view of life along the Klongs.

You will see Thai's living in their riverside houses, much as they have for centuries, beautiful temples adorned with intricate cut glass and ceramics. Saffron robed monks meditating placidly in the shade of trees.

The boatman will drop you anywhere along the way, so if you see something you would like to explore, wave your hand and he will stop. When you're ready to move on again, flag down another boat and continue your journey. Boats leave the Tha Chang Wang Luang ferry landing every 30 minutes from 6.30 to 10 am. After this, the boat leaves when all the seats are full. Returning boats can be flagged down every 20 to 30 minutes.

Long tailed boats are aptly named for the long shafts that connect the propeller to an outboard car engine. The long tail is the ingenious answer ti the difficulty of manoeuvring in the narrow, shallow canals. the boat itself is very narrow and of very shallow draft. The sensation of speeding along inches above the water, often being drenched in mist, and the sights to be seen make the trip well worth it.

Long tailed boats are the busses of the canals, they make regular journeys deep into the canals.

You can rent a long-tailed boat, which guarantees a hair raising trip, for about 200 baht per hour and plan your journey along the canals.

More comfortable by far are the small rice boats, these are cushioned seats and take visitors to the floating market at Wat Sai. They can also be rented from private operators for 150-250 baht per hour. Their drawback is they are to big for some canals. The depth of canal water is effected by the tide, if the water is to low, the boats lack sufficient draft, if to high they will not fit under the bridges.

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