Currently, in Thailand on a cycle tour. Frequently my route is by a river. River fronts can often be very interesting. Be it Taiwan’s River bike path or the ghats of Varanasi. How about a canal then? Here’s a look at a canal walk in a random Bangkok suburb [if you like, skip the text and scroll down directly to the pics]. And my suggestions in case you have a long transit at the Suvarnabhumi airport, with a map!
I had a loooong transit at Suvarnabhumi airport when I arrived to Thailand. 6 and a half hours until my connecting flight to Chiang Mai. (In hindsight, maybe I should have taken a train to Chiang Mai!) I read a few blogs online and they suggested that if I have over 6 hours transit time at Suvarnabhumi airport, then it is worth heading to the city.
But my concern was – head out in to the city and do what? I assume Bangkok would be a crowded place when I get off the airport train. Would anyone have time for a newbie girl feeling lost in a new country. I had no major plan, nor any research on what I really want to visit. I hardly click selfies, so it’s not like I wanted to take a selfie for instagram (that is probably a motivation for a lot of traveller now a days).
Immigration at the transfer zone is possibly much faster
First things first, I asked the information desk if it is a good idea. The woman said that it’s a so-so proposition, especially cause immigration would take about an hour to finish. And the prospect of standing in a long line didn’t appeal to me right then.
So I headed to the domestic terminal, I hoped it would be a good hang out spot (not really) and would get some sleep spaces (kind of, cold chairs). Once there, I realised it is domestic departure, after all, no bells and whistles ;) I really didn’t see myself spending 5 hours there.
As I sat in the little cafeteria, having my Subway sandwich, I started browsing Gmaps and the nearby locales. What I really wanted to do was to get out of this AC terminal box and stroll in the heat outside.
And cool thing – moving from the international arrival terminal to the domestic departure terminal I had to pass immigration anyway. And there was not a single person in line at that counter! :D
I was already done with immigration, so I basically was free to walk out of the domestic terminal gate. When I came back I would have to pass luggage security check in again. Normal domestic travel process.
Interesting Spots around Suvarnabhumi Airport
Looking at the Gmaps, this garden – King Rama IX park – caught my fancy. With a little research, I found out that it is Bangkok’s biggest park. Cool place to visit huh, and the best part was that it is much closer to the airport than the city.
There were also other green spaces around the Airport but they are all Golf courses. Which means they are probably private property.
I think this is the best option for most people who have more than 3 and a half hours.
Head to something very near the airport. This way you get to step out and explore Bangkok, but just not the heart of Bangkok which would be polluted and crowded. Moreover, you may have already visited the main sites of Bangkok, but when will you come out all the way to the airport to explore something obscure?
Chance desu (!!) This is your chance!
The other option, visit any nearby Wat temple
Here are a few interesting (and obscure) places I spotted on the map near by the Suvarnabhumi Airport,
And there are also many flea markets, supermarkets and such around the airport. So shoppers can search those as well.
Transport From the Suvarnabhumi Airport
There were multiple options for transportation from the airport. Buses, taxis, metro lines… and there are tourist counters where the folks are happy to explain how to take a transport etc..
I decided to use the metro line – I find them to be the easiest to use for newbies, most of the times. There were automatic ticketing machines which are quite easy. They already show the various metro stops in the right order, so you just need to figure out the station closest to where ever you want to head. I decided to be random.
And I chose a completely random metro station.
Seriously.
The metro is top of line and it was interesting to note how the various features of metro trains are usually so similar – station name announcements, various indicators lights, priority sitting and so on. There were a few notable differences, there were guards on the platforms. Every time the train came in, they would be standing in a particular position by the gate directing people in. Once the doors closed they would make a formal salute. No, I don’t know what that is about!
The other different thing is the priority class in Thailand – women with kids, old folks, disabled and monks.
Once off the station, the plan was to STROLL, randomly. Or rather pick a smaller lane and stroll. Obviously not by the highway! So I got off the station and saw two wheeler share-a-ride guys sitting around. Interesting, but since I had no location in mind and no clue how to communicate in Thai, there seemed to be no point to take one.
The metro railway has WiFi but there isn’t any on the metro station or after I alighted. So I was also internet less. And at that point I didn’t know a single word of Thai, except Sawaasdee ka.
This metro station was near another railway line station which looked very quaint.
Walked out of the station complex (thankfully from the wrong direction, because other wise I wouldn’t have found this lane) and there was one small cemented lane extending both sides. One seemed to go to the highway, so I chose the other direction. It crossed over the tracks (crossing tracks in an international country!) and then kept going onwards….
Canal Walk in a Bangkok Suburb
I kept walking.
The houses were so interesting.
My dad had warned me not to enter random bodies of water – there might be crocodiles! – I had shrugged the idea off… but then I saw this:
:D who knows what’s in these waters!
Kept strolling.
And the lane heads right back, crosses the tracks and enter the metro rail station from the other end!
Must say, quite super. It’s like a whole world existed on this path that could be entered by crossing the tracks ONLY. Houses that can be entered through these paths only. Naturally, a certain culture would develop around it.
And I was amazed that I found such an interesting walk… on a completely random stroll.
It’s a thing though. Random walks. I do it often. Sometimes there are wins, other times misses.
So, hope I gave you some good ideas on how to spend a long transit at Suvarnabhumi airport. And shared an intriguing community environ in a Bangkok suburb.
After this I headed back to the airport, and did get a bit of a sleep on the cold chairs.
If you have done or end up doing anything similar, ping and tell me. :)
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