Introverts

When an introvert crosses a certain line, it becomes a reptile. Not any reptile (let's say those nimble critters on the walls seem quite open) but a monitor lizard.

When you are approaching it - exactly it, because an introvert who has crossed a certain line becomes it... So, when you are near, it never looks interested or afraid of you. You are just a body within its comfort zone, and, without showing emotions, without making sounds, slowly, but without delay, it walks into the muddy water and emotionlessly swims away. You can talk to it, you can make fun of it, you can shout at it, you can even throw a twig into it, but it will never show any interest to you or your actions.

In Bangkok, these introverts live in lakes, rivers, wastewater, and sewers. They eat all kinds of rot.

But this particular lizard lives in Bang Krachao, a river island known as the Green Lung of Bangkok, that I want to talk about a little.

Mother of Thailand

That's how we were crossing the Chao Phraya River. By a small ferry painted green (on the left).

Not everybody knows but the Chao Phraya is the mother of Thailand like the Nile for Egypt, the Irrawaddy for Myanmar, and the Mekong for Cambodia.

The wealth that this river created, all that food and transportation opportunities, gave birth to the country that we call Thailand.

It takes several minutes (full of solemn joy) and

only 6 baht (0.2$) for a person to cross the river.

I never get tired of traveling across this majestic river.

Shoreline Guardians

Visitors to the island are greeted by thickets of nipa palms.

It seems to me that these plants have even more charisma than coconut trees. I never get tired of nipas.

They also protect the shoreline from the destructive power of river water and they harbor mysterious life among the roots in the silt.

Traces of someone... Was it another sort of introvert, a snail or a mudskipper?

Gardens

Bang Krachao isn't only about nipas and silt. It has a large park where Bangkok youth cycle on weekends.

It has plenty of gardens and concrete pathways among them elevating above the ground. Coconut trees, tamarinds, mangoes, bilimbi trees, breadfruit (in the photo above),

Jackfruit trees,

mayom (also edible),

and, of course, papaya.

Papaya grows even in wastelands and landfills. But anyway when I see a ripe orange papaya on that lanky tree, I often scream with pleasure (sometimes even aloud), as if I saw a kitten.

Cycling for the Whole Day

And all this - parks, gardens, private houses - is connected by this sort of elevated concrete pathways for traveling by bicycles and motorbikes as well as walking. It's just because this area is always flooded if the water level rises even slightly. So there are these bridges there. You can cycle for the whole day there and it's never enough, at least for me.

If you are going to Bangkok for more than a few days, then I highly recommend this wonderful place. Better on the weekend. Renting a bicycle is only 50 baht (for a shabby one) until 5 pm. Rentals are at every pier. I travel from Bang Na BTS area, from Wat Bang Na Nok Pier to Tha Luean Pier.

More Bangkok stories are ahead! Check out the previous ones on my pinmapple.com

I took these images with a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G on a full-frame DSLR Nikon D750 on March 6, 2023 and February 12, 2023 in Bang Krachao (Bang Kachao), Thailand