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Why Bangkok is called the Venice of the East

Bangkok conjures up images of Southeast Asian exotica, incredible food and unforgettable experiences - so, it was with great excitement that we boarded the Emirates A380 double-decker aircraft to the Thai capital. The hospitable crew in Business Class welcomed us warmly, and soon we were seated in the lap of luxury. in seats that were, in effect, mini-cabins. As the big bird took off, pampering began in right earnest - and made me feel this was the ultimate mid-air experience. The hours passed by in a haze of indulgence.
After we landed at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, we had a minor brush with Thai bureaucracy - visa hassles and long queues - but it was over soon enough, and we drove to the Avani Riverside Hotel. All rooms in this cosy property face the famed Chao Phraya river, and we got to see some great views of the city skyline on either side of the river.
The next day, I took a few walks around the hotel to get a feel of the city very early in the morning. The traffic was just picking up pace with the tuk-tuks (three-wheeler taxis) adding their shrill noise to the buzz. Roadside eateries were whipping up Thai breakfasts with their distinct aromas. In between, I managed to sneak into the Anantara Riverside Resort, which has an antique touch in its colonial-era wooden architecture.
At 10.30am, we set sail upon the Chao Phraya in a long-tail boat - which looked like a slightly bigger version of the abras we see on the Dubai Creek. We were told there are a few canals that course through the city and join the river - so Bangkok is rightly referred by many as the Venice of the East.
A guide accompanied us on the trip to point out the places of interest on both sides of the khlong, the Thai word for a canal or a stream. As the boat entered into the muddy waters of the canal from the main river, we were confronted with the sight of several ramshackle wooden houses sitting dangerously on the edges of the water.
As the journey progressed, we saw a stream of temples and saffron-robed monks on both sides of the water. Our friendly guide held forth on a variety of subjects - including his former girlfriend and his old house on the banks of the river. He mixed personal anecdotes with the history of Bangkok and its canals. Along the way, a few dilapidated buildings came in our line of vision, and our guide pointed out that signature noodles and pickles of Bangkok are manufactured there.
The boat stopped near a canal-side grocery and our guide got us a few bread packets; we thought we were in for an austere lunch, but he told us the bread pieces were meant for feeding fish near the temples.
The long ride was punctuated with a few stopovers at temples. We disembarked from the boat to visit a temple known as Raja-Orasaram, which is said to showcase Thai-Chinese architecture. The famous Naga, the serpent, takes the shape of a dragon here, indicating the influence of the Chinese culture. The reclining Buddha is the highlight of the temple. But I am told reclining Buddhas are all over Bangkok - and I could see a few as we passed by the canal. Later, we made a brief stopover at a temple known as Wat Paknam with a big pagoda. The temple is said to be one of the richest in town.
The next big thing on the agenda was a puppet show at Artists' House located on the banks of the canal. We stepped on to a wooden pavement from the boat and negotiated our way through a maze of groceries, eateries and souvenir shops amid a slight drizzle. A few artists dressed in traditional Thai robes were preparing the ground for the show. First, they offered prayers to the king, who is highly revered by people of Thailand. Hanuman, the monkey god, is the protagonist of the puppet play. Even as the show was on, we made our way to a restaurant on the opposite edge of the canal.

After feeding the fish the bread we bought earlier, we tucked into a delicious lunch. The Pad Thai noodle soup was worthy of mention for its distinct flavour.
As we began our journey back, the drizzle turned into a downpour. The waters started getting choppy as our boat entered into the expansive river from the canal. The downpour continued as we navigated our way through the choppy waters for a while. The boat began wobbling and we realised, to our dismay, there were no safety jackets. But the driver deftly manoeuvred the boat to safety at the nearest pier!
After a few minutes of respite in the shade of a shopping complex, we walked through a flower market - which the guide claimed is Asia's biggest - to get a tuk-tuk back to the hotel.
The day ended with a fabulous dinner at the rooftop restaurant - on the 26th level - of Avani Riverside. We got to see some spectacular night views of the city's skyline. There was a structure that looked like the Dubai Frame - and I was told it was an apartment building illuminated to look like a frame!
The one-day trip came to an end with a complimentary experience from the hotel the next morning.
One striking thing that I noticed among the Thais is their way of greeting. They greet every one with folded hands - like the Indian namaskar - instead of extending a handshake. It's a unique national trait. May be it is because Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that has never been colonised by a European country.
sreenivasa@khaleejtimes.com