Photo Walk #3: A Bus Ride to Yodpiman Market

Photo Walk #1: https://michaeldesrosiers.blogspot.com/2021/03/my-cameras-canon-eos-500d.html

Photo Walk #2: https://michaeldesrosiers.blogspot.com/2021/05/photo-walk-2-neighborhood-photo-walk.html

I'm off on another photo walk, but this time, it's a little different. With a ten baht coin in my pocket, I could buy fare for more or less any bus in the city. I grabbed my trusty Canon, boarded the first bus that I saw, and waited to find out where it would take me.

I hopped on Public Bus #8 and rode it all the way to the end of the line. I wasn't sure where it would end up, but I had a general idea that it would take me somewhere in the Old Town. It was a beautiful sunny day, and I enjoyed the breeze blowing in through the open window. I was ready for an adventure.

Along the way, we came to Victory Monument, the big roundabout in the middle of Bangkok's downtown. The Victory Monument itself was built in 1941 to celebrate Thai victory in the Franco-Siamese War, when the Siamese army drove back the French, thwarting their colonial ambitions and keeping Thailand, to this day, the only Southeast Asian nation never to have been colonized by a foreign power.

The area around Victory Monument is always abuzz with color and activity. Colorful taxis, noisy buses, market stalls, shops, restaurants, shopping malls, and more circle the monument.

The bus ended up in a quieter part of town, alongside the river. I had never taken the #8 all the way to the end of the line before; generally I get out around the Golden Mount. I have been trying to make a point of riding the bus more often lately.

I had taken the #8 bus, infamous for it's crazy drivers, but convenient with me as the only bus that really goes everywhere I might want to go. The #8 isn't airconditioned, but it only costs 10 baht to go anywhere in the city. In my opinion, it's one of the best ways to get around Bangkok, especially if you can sit by the window, feel the cool breeze, and watch the city scenery go past.

Since I was in an area that I had been to, but had never really explored much, I was excited to set out on foot and snap some photos. The COVID-19 situation is getting bad again here, so of course I was wearing my mask and staying as safe as possible. Trying to explore outdoors is my way of getting exercise and fresh air while mostly avoiding people! Due to the restrictions, most places were closed, and there weren't many people around.

I stood along the river in the nearly deserted Yodpiman Riverwalk, and looked out at the distant Wat Rakhang. It was quiet - almost spooky - along the Riverwalk. Most of the shops were closed, and besides a lone Starbucks and the bored-looking security guard, it was empty. COVID has been really bad for business, especially at places like this that generally cater to tourists.

A little ways down I could see the burgundy dome of Santa Cruz Church, one of the oldest Portuguese outposts in Thailand.

It was a beautiful sunny day. Winters here in Thailand always come with a grey and constantly overcast sky, so I'm happy to see the blue sky again. I've missed it for the past few months.

I've ordered a circular polarizer filter for my camera, and I'm waiting for it to arrive. It should help bring out the beautiful colors of the sky, and help make the water look more interesting in my photos.

As I walked along the river, the strong smell of garlic hit my nose. I was near the famous Yodpiman Market, and as I got closer, I could see pallets of bundled garlic ready to be set out or sold at the market stalls. I admit, it made me a little hungry!

The Yodpiman Market is best known for its early morning flower trade. I was a bit too late for that, though. You have to arrive around 4:00 in the morning if you want to see the busiest and most colorful moments of the flower market! 

Yodpiman Market also sells lots of food, produce, dried goods, and more.

There's a large golden shrine right in the center of the market. If you visit at just the right time, a beam of light from the skylight falls directly on the glittering shine, making it seem to glow from deep within the dimly-lit market.

I believe the shrine is dedicated to His Majesty King Rama V, but I didn't get a good enough look at the statue inside to be sure.

Some small shops just outside of the market were selling flowers beneath colorful pendant banners.

I decided that I wanted to visit this temple to take some photos, but the gates were locked.

The Rama I Memorial is one of the most famous monuments in the city. It was built in 1932 to celebrate the 150th anniversary founding of Bangkok and the current Rattanakosin Kingdom of Thai history.

The monument is dedicated to King Phutthayotfa Chulalok Maharaj, or Rama I, who founded the ruling Chakri Dynasty and established the new capital of Siam at Bangkok.

The monument is beautifully detailed, and sits alongside the banks of the river near one of the city's many bridges.

It was a quiet day. Maybe people were staying inside because of COVID, or maybe to avoid the hot weather.

A neighborhood tom cat was sitting outside a small local shop. Sometimes cats don't care to have their pictures taken, but this little guy was quite photogenic and didn't mind at all.