From Amphawa to the Zoo of Life, Thailand

Would you join me for a rather extraordinary, but not untypical Thai day out. We will start at the Amphawa Floating Market and end up at Bang Kun zoo.

Like many of our Thai wanders, I am never quite sure what we have stumbled upon, but I will endeavour to show you around for a fitting end to my ‘Blogging from A to Z 2018 Challenge’ where Z is for Zoo!

Please scroll back wards if you would like to see the other A to Z posts from ‘My life in Thailand’.

Thailand’s Floating Markets:

Most visitors to Thailand are keen to experience at least one floating market. Such Thai markets are so unlike what we are perhaps used so, a colourful and sensory overload and a wonderful introduction to river life.

If you are game, I’m not, you will be able to enjoy river prawns fished straight from the muddy river and cooked in front of you and served in a fishing net from the gently bobbing boat, most delicious, I am told.

Amphawa Floating Market:

Amphawa, one of the most authentic floating markets around and only 40 kms out of Bangkok.

We enjoyed its quaint setting amongst the charming wooden buildings. We walk along the rather rickety wooden floorboards on the edge of the river, buying souvenirs and admiring the brightly coloured sweets. 

We have chosen to get here early as by lunchtime, it’s a real squishy rugger scrum. Many visitors come later to see the night-time fireflies swarming in the trees along the Mae Khlong river.

Long-tail boat tours:

Floating markets are best seen from the water so we are quick to hire our own long-tail boat.

It was an easy negotiation as I know roughly the going rate (for foreigners) and I always throw in the ‘I live in Thailand bit’ with a smile! It makes sod-all difference and won’t until I can until have these words mastered in perfect Thai, but always adds to the fun. 

It costs us 600 Baht (less than 20 USD), an absolute bargain for a two hour James Bond style whizz around the river. Our boatman is very enthusiastic even with little English and shoves us out at all the appropriate stops.

Bang Kung Camp: open daily 7:00 am until 5:00 pm. Free Admission

We are off in search of the Wat Bang Kun a riverside temple with historic significance back to the Ayuthaya period. This area was the scene of much violence and fighting after the ancient capital of Ayuthaya was taken by the Burmese in 1767.

The temple is surrounded by a memorial to the heroic Thai and Chinese warriors who led by King Taksin, successfully defend the country from the Burmese. This explains the series of life-sized concrete Muay Thai fighters, more weird than wonderful.

Wat Bang Kun:

You have to search hard to see the Bang Kun temple, abandoned when the Burmese withdrew, as it is now almost completely engulfed by Banyan tree roots and branches.

It might have been once forgotten, but since 1967 the area was reclaimed by the Government. Today the site is far from deserted and we form an orderly queue of devotees waiting to enter to pay respects to the golden Buddha inside.

It has a charm, reminiscent of the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia and is a strange mix of strangled tree roots, yet serene.  Like so much of our time exploring in Thailand, we have sweat dripping down the backs of our legs, but it is cool inside the temple.

Bang Kung Zoo

Across the road, we find an unlikely collection of animals. The locals do not seem to bat an eyelid to find a caged crocodile, next to a camel and a couple of cheeky goats. 

So here we are, I’m not sure quite what we are finding. It is an area of huge historical significance, the hidden temple in the Banyan tree is very special, the zoo makes me wonder ‘What The Thailand’ is this? The theme park’esque surrounds are very unusual.

I remind myself I am a guest in a far-off land… 

Gotta love Thailand! Such an interesting country to explore. Never a dull moment. I hope you have enjoyed your visit today

Z  is for Zoo of life, Thailand and part of

Blogging from A to Z April (2018) Challenge.

Click here to see the list of all participants!

Thanks so much to the organisers