I used to pass by this area on a train traveling from Bangkok to other parts of Thailand. Bizarre makeshift shacks and huts, lining up the rails, blackened buildings in disrepair, scribbled with graffiti, heaps of garbage... I was looking at this architectural chaos from the train window, thinking, I wish I could come there on foot one day... The dream came true at last!
On January 31, I arrived in Pratunam area in Bangkok downtown to take a boat.
Boats in Bangkok serve as public transportation. They are surprisingly fast and bypass all traffic jams.
Arriving:
Bobae Market pier. A cozy corner of real Bangkok between royal palaces, skyscrapers, and highways.
A local mosque on the opposite side of the river:
Wanna revisit its cramped surroundings one day. But on January 31, 2024, I was heading to another place. Crossing the bridge towards the railroad:
Time to dive in alleys:
I felt confident there because I had already scouted this area around the Mahanak market.
This is the final alley that takes us to the railway:
This one:
Let's "zoom out":
I used quotes because I had a 50mm prime lens on my Nikon (which accordingly has no zoom.)
About 200 trains passed along this road daily until the city authorities moved Bangkok's central train station from Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue.
From January 2023, only commute trains follow these rails in the morning and evening, so the area's people sleep much better.
Along the railway, there are houses of very different nature.
Although the place is poor, the local people don't have a complex about this and are always friendly. Well, this is Thailand, far from the tourist spots.
Another advantage of the Thais is that they don’t bother you with questions or their stories. It's great when you're an introvert who is focused on photography.
A wonderful, well-mannered boy was passing me, and a photograph came out:
And this:
If you think that to show a V-sign is enough nowadays, you are old. 😄
Meanwhile, a train arrived:
Although there is no platform there, trains stop there to allow passengers to come and go.
Here, I'd like to discuss the term "slum".
Although many buildings in Klong Som Poi Neighborhood fit this term, the area itself hardly resembles the notorious slums of some countries in Africa and South America. Because:
- There is no rampant crime there.
- The local population has access to clean water and normal food.
- People have the opportunity to get a job.
- But rent in this area is low, as is the cost of food at the nearby market.
Thus, the word slum applies to this community only in a limited sense. Some people just save money by living in Klong Som Poi Neighborhood while having the same salary as Bangkokians living in more expensive parts of the city.
But of course, living there means poverty. So, let's wish these nice people get richer, and let's continue our walk.
Fallen leaves, low roofs. There is the charm in that.
Toy houses:
Lovely scenes of everyday life:
Soul-warming train hassle:
I loved the neighborhood from the point of street photography:
But I didn’t have much time for that, I wanted to document fancy buildings. Next time!
The walk continued with crossing a railroad bridge and entering another curious neighborhood... But I'll keep that part for the next post.
Thank you for stopping by, comments are welcome as always!
More images and stories from Southeast Asia are ahead! Check out the previous ones on my personal Pinmapple map.
I took these images with a Nikkor 50mm on a Nikon D750 on January 31, 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand