Chao Phraya River

Chao Phraya River
Originally uploaded by paulbrockmann.

Ayuthaya and Bangkok are both on the Chao Phraya river — Ayuthaya perhaps 100 kilometeres upstream from Bangkok, and Bangkok less than 100 kilometers up from the Gulf of Siam. We took an early morning bus up to Ayuthaya, but took a leisurely lunch cruise down the river coming home. We saw dozens of children swimming in the river and jumping from trees down into the river;we saw temples and places of worship that we lost count of. We saw the life of a river that’s clearly a vital link in the life of this part of the country. Here you see a lovely boat that I think is used for tourism; in later photos you’ll see other boats for more blue collar uses, and various shots along the main river upstream from downtown Bangkok.