It was just another ordinary Sunday afternoon. The morning was spent curing the slightly exhaustive weekend shenanigans. Nothing that a cold jug of water, some vitamin C and some greasy food couldn’t fix.
I had to make up for the withering day and couldn’t spend a second more in bed. I decided to get out of bed and go off exploring. It was already 11 am so anything further than an hour away from downtown Bangkok city would be a lost cause.
Where could I go? I’ve been to Bang Krachao, the green lung of Bangkok. Thonburi is a nice district, which is not too far as well but I wanted to see and experience something new.
Chom Thong it is!
After reading a few articles on what’s near, unique and off-the-beaten path, I decided to visit the Wutthakat district, known for it’s quaint local life and a railway train station that is perched right next to a canal. I just had to see this for myself.
Fast forward 15 minutes on the BTS sky train, I arrived at the Wutthakat station. I come down to the main road where I’m met with local motorbike taxi guys. “Where is this” I pointed at a picture of the place on my mobile phone. “Chom Thong” I iterated. After a few minutes of thinking he goes “Oh! OK, 20 Baht”. I asked if it was near he said yes but not by foot so I was inclined to take up on his offer. The heat was beating up on me already and I knew it was going to be a long day.
Within minutes after zigzagging through a bit of traffic, we arrive at our destination and the driver points – there!
The Simple Life
As I’m walking in awe of this railway that literally cuts through a community of homes and shop houses, I’m met with a group of smiling locals. An old lady who yells out “Hello! Where you go?” as she cuts the vegetables. I explain that I’m just passing through taking pictures. She smiles, waves and says goodbye.
It was quite a pleasant surprise to see such contrasting lifestyle and the way people interact with foreigners here compared to downtown Bangkok. Everything is calmer, time slows down and people are way nicer.
I walk closer to the station, which is basically a makeshift shack and I notice a woman sits in it with a cell phone in her hand, chatting away. Right next to the station, rests the khlong (canal) and the railway that passes over it. Nervously, anxiously and warily, I walk on the narrow side path along the railway across the bridge.
As I’m clicking away, a bunch of locals yell from afar, Hello! They come running in my direction, waving their hands, smiling, laughing and giggling. They ask me a bunch of questions in Thai but I’m only able to understand half of it. I ask them if they want me to photograph them and they got extremely excited. I ask if one of them could take my picture with the remaining kids. A little one keenly obliged.
The kids say bye but not before asking what I’m doing here and where I’m going next. I explain that I’m not really sure and that I’m just here taking photos.
Waving hysterically, they run off as I’m left by myself wondering what will I do next? A few minutes later, over on the horizon, IÂ catch a glimpse of some temple roofs and stupas. I decide I’ll go there and check them out.
The Train is coming!
Just as I’m about to cross over to the other side of the track, the ground starts shaking beneath my feet. Split seconds later, I hear a loud horn as if there was an earthquake warning. I turn around and I see the train coming. At last – the reason for my visit in the first place. Luckily, it wasn’t one of those fast-paced trains so I had a bit of time to step to the side and get my camera out.
Temple Hopping
To get to the next set of temples, I got a bit lost. That’s when those same local kids saw me and asked me where I wanted to go. I pointed to a tall stupa off in the distance and they insisted I come with them.
Apparently they knew some kind of short cut. I gladly followed as they took me through their local community homes just off from the railway track.
Tip: the locals generally don’t mind you passing through the tiny streets along their home and shops. Just smile, saw Sawadee krup/ka and they will show extreme gratitude. The love and respect of local people is unparallel to any I’ve seen in downtown city.
From there, the children again said goodbye and we went on our merry way. Who knows where they were going (probably to play or grab an icecream, or at least that’s what I would do) while I continued to explore this wonderful outskirt of Bangkok.
What a beautiful story and charming town.
I can’t get over that train bridge ` something so visually stunning about it! I feel like I totally missed out on that type of experience in Thailand. I was always with people who wanted to do the super touristy things, so I was mainly confined to the islands. Hoeverrr, Koh Yao Noi is (well, was in 2012) super quaint and quiet with far more locals and visitors (which seems rare for that general region of Thailand). Have you been down that way?
Don’t beat yourself up about it. Most people think Bkk is touristy and it’s difficult to have a local, unique experience but for the few yeras, it’s been building. I’ve only started doing it recently myself!
As for Koh Yao Noi, I haven’t been there yet. I plan to sometime. I recently went to Prachuap Khiri Khan, also a very quaint town with more locals than tourists.
I loved reading about your experience. The Thai people are the friendliest in the world and I would totally go back to Thailand. I loved it there. I liked the temples and off the beaten path locations are the best!
If you do come back, get in touch with me. I’ll take you to all sorts of places like this.
What a nice day out! I have been to Bangkok only twice but this seems like such a rewarding experience. Much different from the fast paced craziness downtown! Those kids are really cute. It is nice that they went with you and showed you a short cut. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for commenting! Yea I guess it is rewarding but I’d like to do more for these people. I wasn’t sure if I should give money to the kids for helping me…I wanted to but you hear stories about them using it for drugs, etc…not that they would.
Judging by your photos and story it looks like you had a wonderful experience exploring Bangkok and capturing some local interaction. We didn’t make it to any of these places while we were visiting, but now I am wishing we did something more like you! Thanks for sharing!
This is a different side of Bangkok that you have experienced and captured vividly through your pen and camera. I have found the people in Bangkok, generally warm and open to foreigners and very helpful.
You are right, a local train is the best way to see a country! I love the pictures, you have some great shots and it is quite relaxing sitting on a train, don’t you think?
haha I’m not sure if I said that in this post and I didn’t take the train btw. I’ve never taken one in Thailand…unless you consider the skytrain/subway a train 🙂 same same but different!
But I do plan on exploring Thailand via a railway train sometime soon.
This is a great idea for something different to do in Bangkok apart from just the touristy things, love it!
This is an amazing post showing the other side of Bangkok. When I was there, i stayed in the city center and had to go thru crowds and traffic. But I enjoyed the tuktuk experience!
Tuktuk is pretty awesome! you have to know how to negotiate with them and some really scam you. Best thing is to book a tour with one of the local companies and do a food+tuk tuk tour. Best experience ever!
Such a sweet story and its feels so great when locals connect with you as if you are an old friend 🙂 Thanks for sharing a new part of Bangkok.
Love your insight on the local life outside of center. I’ve only been to center and it seemed quite hectic. Should’ve taken a walk outside it!
When you’re on a short visit to Bangkok, it’s hard to want to go the outer rim when you can go to so many other places in Bangkok and other provinces. I live here so I have the weekends to do this sort of thing…and it’s only NOW that I’m doing this after like 20 years here.