Bangkok--River Taxi to Wat Arun

After visiting Siam Central, we quickly made a decision to ride the Skytrain to Taksin Pier to catch the Water Taxi to Wat Arun in late afternoon.

It took us a while to figure out which boat was the water taxi--there were tourist tour boats, hotel tour boats, river cruise boats.

Then Monica spotted a herd of locals rushing to the floating dock and got me to ask the handler how much the ride was--at Bt15 (RM1.5 per person), we figured we had found the locals' water taxi.

Correction--it was more like a River Bus.

A fare collector moved forward and back and seemed to remember faces really well--I did not see any of them ask for fare twice!

Ian did not want to be distracted from his technology, but Monica insisted that he should be a tourist and look around!

We got to see the city from a very different perspective and saw many houses built along the river front had docks and an assorted of water craft to use the river.

Most of the houses were of drab concrete. But there were a few that appeared to be more upmarket.


Interspersed with the residences, were temples with ornate spires. There were temples with different architecture reflecting Buddhist and Hindu influences.

This temple had a distinct Chinese Dynastic look about it. Although Monica and I are not drawn to temples or places of worship, as tourists we do want to look at significant things in the city.

Shacks cobbled together along the river.

We were wondering what the tourists on the ramp were gawking at when all of a sudden, one of them dumped a bagful of bread crumbs into the water. 

The water exploded as the fish leaped into a feeding frenzy! Some of these fish were pretty big catfish!

Aria was getting bored, and wanted 'mommarazi'to stop taking pictures already!

Too bad mom is a shutter-bug!

We finally arrived at Thatien Pier. There, we were told that we need to get onto another ferry just to cross the river. This one cost Bt3 (RM0.30) a person.

But before we boarded this boat, we took a picture of the iconic silhouette of Wat Arun--featured in numerous images of Thailand.

Unlike the Water-Bus, this boat was happy to wait until it was full before pulling away for the brief crossing across the river.

Fortunately, when we arrived, the boat was already ready to move.

As we crossed to the other bank, we got a picture of the Water-Bus in the background...

Ian and I got a different perspective off the stern of the boat while Monica and Aria enjoyed the front.

The pace on this boat was certainly more laid back than the herding and corralling by the handlers with whistles on the Water-Bus.

As we approached the temple of Wat Arun, we realized there were people walking on it about mid-way up the tower. We were going to do that soon. 

  Another view of a passing Water-Bus. 

This was a replica of the antique boats that used to cruise the Chao Praya.

This was its driver.

More cityscape showing the unique blend of modern and ancient and different architectural styles.

The pervasive smog over the city.

This is a long-tail boat that I thought we were boarding to use as a Water-Taxi.

~ Shien