Every weekend, thousands of Bangkokians go to Bang Krachao (Bang Kachao) for a bike ride. This is a river island nicknamed the Green Lung of Bangkok. Because it's not only the biggest green area in whole urban agglomeration but even its shape looks like the lung.
Bang Krachao on the Google.Maps
Last Sunday, I visited Bang Krachao with a friend, not for the first time and not for the last. Let me share images.
Wat Bang Na Nok pier (on the Google map), that's where you cross the Chao Phraya River by ferry (although most people come from Khlong Toei district). The fee is only 6 baht (0.2$). On the opposite shore, they have a bicycle rental. It's 50 baht (1.5$) to rent a shabby bike there.
Entering one of the attraction of Bang Krachao, Sri Nakhon Park (on the Google maps).
At some corners, it reminds more preserved jungle than a city park. It's probably because they didn't grow part of these trees, they just took tropical forest (already touched by humans though) and turn it into a park.
They have a bird-watching tower there, cute bridges, trails with information boards. All social media lovers enjoy visiting the park.
The central place in the park is occupied by a lake with many bays like one in the image.
Amazing nipa palms (wiki) are abundant there.
Taking selfies for Instagram and going further...
Bang Krachao has its own market, Bang Nam Phueng Floating Market, though nothing floats there except monitor lizards 😀 That's where the market is on the Google maps. A place to visit for those who have got hungry or want to buy something for home. For example, I bought 3 kg of mango for 60 baht, this is $0.6 for kg only. 🙂
To get to the market from Sri Nakhon Park, you must cycle along real streets but everybody is used to cyclists there and traffic isn't large.
There, you can find a stall by the road selling coconuts for 15 baht a piece. 🙂 (In 2019, we had for 10 baht but probably it's not possible in 2023.)
Fun, fun, fun! 😀
It's common to leave rented bicycles by the market without locking them. Probably, because they are pieces of iron that cost not more than 200 baht each.
Eating at the market, 50-60 baht for a dish.
The market range is diverse and wide, from desserts:
to seafood:
From factory jewelry:
to succulents:
The market is quite true Thai type. A friendly, warm atmosphere there.
I've mentioned the park and the market. And there is another thing to visit Bang Krachao, maybe the main one, at least for me: a maze of concrete bridges above mangrove forest, farms, and gardens.
The maze is not a joke - if you have no map, you'll lose your way for sure. And I love it.
All nature lovers will find much to observe in this area.
Those who want to have comfortable rest right in the jungle, can choose spending time in restaurants Bangkok Tree House and Hiddenwoods (prices for cold drinks/desserts are around 100 baht for 1 but tasty).
(If you want to locate the mentioned maze of bridges, you can find it roughly between the mentioned jungle restaurants.)
Nipa palms again. They thickly stand untouched along the Chao Phraya River. The best shore protection from the power of river water...
Our bike ride was ending and we turned to the pier...
Returning bikes there and going back to the ferry.
No matter how long you are in Bangkok, crossing the Chao Phraya River is always solemnly joyful...
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 February 12, 2023 in Bang Krachao (Bang Kachao), Thailand