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Ria Limjap forgoes the busy streets
of Bangkok and follows the gentle
rhythms of river life in Amphawa
Gowith
the flow
AS MUCH AS
I enjoy the charms of
Bangkok — like the wonderful food and
non-stop shopping — my Thai friend
Nok has convinced us to make the trek
to a part of her country that’s not often
seen by visitors: Amphawa.
The best way to get to Amphawa is
to hire a car from Bangkok, so you can
be comfortable for the less-than-two-
hour drive. A more economical option
is to take a mini van that seats over a
dozen passengers for around THB80
(PHP110) per person — but you may
have to wait for the van to fill up. Either
way, it’s an easy trip and the roads
radiating out of the capital are in fairly
good condition.
“It’s not the same floating market
you see in pictures,” says Nok. “It’s
a peaceful place where Thai people
enjoy a slow life.” After all, the district
of Amphawa is the smallest province
in Thailand — an hour-and-a-half drive
out of the city — in Samut Songkhram,
63km south-west of Bangkok. Along
the way, Nok explains that Princess
PHOTOS
LESTER LEDESMA, RIA LIMJAP (ROOM)
Clockwise from
top: Amphawa on
a sleepy weekday
morning; a smiling
Buddha will ensure
you get a peaceful
sleep; local knick-
knacks at the
Amphawa market;
spicy fishcakes
await diners