Bangkok's traffic is congested all the time. I guess that is why you really need an alternative type of transport besides a four-wheel drive in the city. One of the preferred ways of transportation for the locals in order to avoid the traffic jam in Bangkok is the Khlong Saen Saep canal boat.
When I read the reviews of Saen Saep canal boat in tripadvisor, it really scare the hell out of me. e.g. The boat is always overload during peak hour, the smell of the canal is terrible, stories like people who fall into the canal end up died due to infection, etc.
But in the end I decided to take a ride as it is the most convenient way to get to Wat Saket. My hotel is just in front of National Stadium BTS station (
http://cloudee88.blogspot.com/2013/06/accommodation-in-bangkok.html) which makes it very near to Sapan Hua Chang station.
How to get there from National Stadium station : Walk towards Soi Kasem San 2, follow kasem san 2 all the way to the end of the road, you will pass by Jim Thompson House on your left, then turn right. Keep walking until you reach a small pier.
 |
| Passed by Jim Thompson House while we are on our way to Sapan Hua Chang station |
To get to Wat Saket by canal boat, you need to get off at Panfa Leelard station (the last stop). If you are waiting for the boat from Saphan Hua Chang station, you need to get on the boat which is moving towards your left side.
 |
Get off at Panfa Leelard station to get to Golden Mount. (first station from left)
Source: wikitravel.org |
The fees is only 10 baht!!! So cheap!!! And it only took us less than 10 minutes ride to reach there. But you will notice that the canal is really dirty and it stinks!!! Anyway, we got lucky as we travel on a Saturday morning, which is not a working day, that's why the boat is actually quite empty. One thing about canal boat, it is more to a local way of transport, so when you get on the boat, you might realize that you would probably be the only foreigner there.
By the way, once the boat reach, remember to get into the boat as fast as you can, they don't wait, the minute you get in, the boat will speed up and move to the next station, so it's actually no good for those who have weak legs.
 |
| Inside the boat, the "curtains" on both side is pulled up to avoid the dirty water splashed into the boat |
Once reach Panfa Leelard station, you are very near to Wat Saket already. You will notice a white bridge on your left, walk across the bridge and keep walking for 5 minutes you will reach The Golden Mount. Don't worry, along your way, you will be able to see signboards which point you to the golden mount.
 |
| Finally, we're here!!! |
Once you enter, please turn right towards the staircase to get to the top. We are the dummies who turned left instead. That is actually the way down. We only realized about it when we already halfway through. Didn't even notice the arrow at the side of the staircase which pointed way down.
 |
| Happily posed without knowing this is the way down |
 |
| On our way up |
 |
| While I'm researching the opening hours of golden mount, i get varies answers, mostly said it's open from 8am or 9am. But I spotted this when I'm on my way up, it's open at 7.30am actually? |
 |
| Finally, I'm on top :) |
 |
| The view from top of golden mount |
 |
| Posed with the mini golden mount before I left |
No comments:
Post a Comment