“Khlong Si Wa Ta Klom, you say?” a passerby might ask, their brow furrowed slightly in thought. Right here, nestled amongst the bustling streets of Bangkok, lies Khlong Si Wa Ta Klom. It might not be as famous as its cousin, Khlong Saen Saeb, but its story is no less fascinating. Khlong Si Wa Ta Klom, like many of Bangkok’s canals or ‘khlongs’, whispers tales of a bygone era. Imagine a time when Bangkok, the “Venice of the East”, was a network of waterways, the lifeblood of the city. Khlong Si Wa Ta Klom was a part of this intricate web, its waters reflecting the sky as boats laden with goods and people traversed its length. These canals, you see, weren’t just for transport. They were the heart of commerce, buzzing with floating markets, their banks echoing with the calls of vendors and the laughter of children. As Bangkok grew, many of these khlongs were filled in, making way for roads and buildings. But Khlong Si Wa Ta Klom, though quieter now, remains, a silent sentinel of a bygone era, a reminder of the day when Bangkok lived and breathed on the water.
Garuda Museum
Behold the Garuda, a four-meter sculpture spreading its wings. This is the entrance to Southeast Asia’s one and only Garuda