| Khlongs | | | | University. Each journey costs about 20 Bhat and the |
| The history of the Khlongs | | | | further you go into the khlong the more beautiful the |
| The area surrounding Bangkok has always been a | | | | surroundings: wooden teak houses with gold-leafed |
| swamp and the Chao Praya River forms the biggest | | | | Temples and colourful orchids cultivated in tiny |
| waterway here. In the 16th century there were | | | | gardens. This taxi service is provided by the so-called |
| already channels dug in the Chao Praya River to give | | | | 'longtail boats'. These are brightly coloured, narrow |
| shipping better access to and from the former capital | | | | boats, about 8m long, and equipped with huge |
| Ayutthaya. The large meanders that the river course | | | | motors (sometimes Japanese truck engines) with the |
| made on its way to the Gulf of Thailand were cut | | | | propeller on a long shaft so that the boat can |
| off by canals. The majority of waterways were | | | | navigate shallow waters. You can of course, charter |
| created after Bangkok became the new capital. The | | | | a longtail boat. These cost about 400-500 Bhat an |
| most southern of the canals had to be filled in again | | | | hour at Tha Si Phraya. Make sure you agree the price |
| because at high tide the city flooded with seawater. | | | | before setting off. |
| Almost all national (and with some fluctuation, | | | | Practical river transport |
| international) trade was conducted on the water. | | | | If you really must travel during the rush hour, it's a |
| Furthermore, moats were created for the defence | | | | good idea to take an express boat over the Chao |
| of the city in the 18th century, after the example of | | | | Praya River to get somewhere. It's a bit hectic, but a |
| the set-up at Ayutthaya and in the 19th century, for | | | | lot less muggy than trying to travel over land. |
| purely military purposes, a few longer canals were | | | | Dinner cruises |
| excavated by Chinese workers, traversing from east | | | | You can have a wonderful meal in Bangkok on a |
| to west in the area west of the city. With the | | | | dinner cruise in the evening. A few are named in the |
| passing of the centuries irrigation of the surrounding | | | | Lonely Planet book and it can be useful to make a |
| farmlands and the expansion of trade mobility were | | | | reservation. We did a really nice cruise on a typical |
| prime reasons for creating new waterways as the | | | | wooden 'rice barge' with gentle Thai music, fine |
| city developed and grew. Bangkok employed Dutch | | | | service and lots of good food. This was not the |
| water engineering experts (end of the 18th, beginning | | | | cheapest (approx 1250 Bhat per person) but it was |
| of the 19th century) to reclaim the swamp areas. | | | | absolutely worth it. |
| After the Second World War, canal building in the | | | | Cycle trips |
| swamp areas was intensified. | | | | Another great way to see the city is by bike. Try a |
| The ancient khlong atmosphere | | | | Bangkok cycling tour along the banks of the khlongs. |
| Nowadays not all khlongs are in use. Some of them | | | | River Kwai trips |
| have been filled in to improve land transportation. Still, | | | | The famous River Kwai is really a highlight of any trip |
| parts of Bangkok have retained the old waterway | | | | to Thailand. From Bangkok, you can take a trip to |
| atmosphere providing the opportunity for a relaxing | | | | the River Kwai, stopping first at the famous floating |
| outing. You could, for example, take the Khlong | | | | markets in Bangkok and even travelling on the Death |
| Bangkok Noi water taxi and travel the old river arm | | | | Railway built by POWs. You can even sleep in floating |
| and see the original canal communities. The water | | | | huts on the River Kwai during some River Kwai tours. |
| taxi leaves from Tha (pier) Maharat, next to Silpakort | | | | |
