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Perspectives and Possibilities 18th-century Portuguese traders, we walked
to a nearby wharf to board a wooden Klong
or canal boat. For almost 200 years, these
From start to finish, tour days brimmed
with activities that define OAT trips - a de- noisy vessels have plied Bangkok’s rivers
and a network of manmade canals, essen-
lightful immersion into Thai life that went
beyond visits to tourist haunts. Some sched- tial for transportation, trade and flood con-
uled undertakings were initially off-putting trol. On the water, we savored a cool breeze
and views of traditional stilt houses and
to us as newbies. Happily, when we over-
came our reluctance, they proved to be fun other iconic sites only possible from the
and memorable. All set a high bar for what klong.
travel can be when you step outside your The next day, after our festive welcome
comfort zone - a lesson reinforced many dinner, our transport back to the hotel was
times on this trip. a tuk-tuk, the city’s ubiquitous three-
The bus ferried us on all long trips be- wheeled motorized “rickshaws.” The trip was
tween cities, but in between we experienced exhilarating. We zipped around city streets
local transportation of every sort - some we sparkling with lights and crowded with Thais
probably wouldn’t have tried on our own - enjoying the balmy night. We’ve ridden tuk-
tuks before in other countries, but we might
starting with our outings in Bangkok. have opted for another way home after a
After touring the capital’s old Kudi Chin nice dinner, if traveling on our own. We’re so
neighborhood, home to descendents of
glad we didn’t.
32 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2025
