Discover Bangkok by entering your own time machine

I left my home, late in the morning to begin my journey. It was a kind of journey I haven't taken for long time, that is, exposing myself to the hidden attractions in Bangkok. I paid 8 Baht for a ride on bus No. 35 to the end of its route at Siripong Road. I kept walking along the row of old shophouse buildings to the end of the street. Turning right to a small side street, called 'Soi' among Thai people, I saw a sign saying “Wat Suthad Temple.” At first I wasn't really sure if I was in the right place because it looked strange to me entering from the back of the temple. I called on the temple's hall where many priceless pictures drawn in the reigns of King Rama I, Rama II, and Rama III are displayed.

Those pictures tell the story of what happens to bad people when they are tortured in hell.

Like most tourists to Wat Suthad, I only visited certain parts of the temple compound and didn'y explore every building. I entered the chapel, where a big and beautiful Buddha image is located. The Chapel walls are painted with a series of murals relating the Buddhist epic. It looked to me like the paintings had just recently been renovated.

I left the temple from the front gate and continued my journey along Bamroongmuang Road, which is famous for religious materials trading. I then stepped in to Trok Kaysa, a small narrow street where there are many old-fashioned houses of a kind that is hard to find in Bangkok now-a-days. I walked through to Fuang Nakhon Road and double-checked to make sure I had enough memory left in my camera to record the coming hidden beauty.

I kept walking and found myself standing at the big swing in front of the Bangkok Government office. I walked through Thanaosri Street, which is somewhat similar to Bamroongmuang Street in that there is no footpath or pavement in some zones. I had to be aware of many vehicles that kept running in and out of the small side streets. Now Kor Panich, a famous sticky rice shop that has been in business since the reign of King Rama III, was in front of me. Crossing the street to the other side and entering Soi Prang Phuthorn, I could feel that the row of old buildings was built like a giant wall. I guessed that those buildings used to be a very busy commercial area, but their importance has lessened today as they have been overshadowed by many newly constructed modern buildings.

Refreshing myself with a glass of lemonade, I was told by the juice vendor, who was of Chinese ancestry, that this land was all part of the King's property. The people who have been living here for a long time have been kindly granted permission to stay as long as they pay just 400 Baht a month for land rental, which is considered very cheap compared to today's standard of living in Bangkok. The vendor told me that the building he occupied was built in the reign of King Rama V, more than a hundred years ago.

I then made my way to the back of the Interior Ministry compound and kept walking to the area called “Ku Muang Derm,” which was a drainae canal in the past. While I was walking, I imagined what it must have been like in the past. Then, I waled back to Soi Prang Phuthorn, connecting to Soi Prang Nara, where I saw the beauty of Talaphat Suksa School, the outside of which is decoreated with fretwork. Shortly after that the gate of Sanphasatsuphakij Palace, build in the reign of King Rama V, appeared. It is considered one of the most important old palaces of Bangkok. The architecture is mainly European style.

After coming out, I Found myself at Din Sor Street. Both sides of the street are still lined with old wooden houses. I looked for the DR Ice restaurant, because I had been told that it is well known for good food and delicious ice cream made from flowers.

Before I reached the bus stop, I saw an eccentric building called “Bharat Vidyalaya,” that houses a Hindu Samaj as well as a school. It is located next to a public park called Romaneenad Park. Obviously, the tower left standing there can tell the story that it used to be a prison.

My one-day trip was filled with amazing pleasure at the cost of only 16 Baht for bus fare. Although the weather in Bangkok is a bit warm and sometimes it rains, it is worth exploring the good old days by entering your own time machine with a short journey of only one day of your life...