Bangkok

. . . from on high, and not

By Grant Cameron

August 19^th, 2014

Coming to Bangkok

We begin our journey today coming from the old international airport, Don Muang to the north of Bangkok. A perfectly good name for an airport, but some years ago the powers that be decided it was incorrectly spelt, and changed it to Don Meuang International Airport. Since then, of course, Suvarnabhumi (pronounced Suwannaphoom) has become the new international airport, some kilometres east of the city.

Nevertheless, we’re looking to the north, from the way we once would have come.

"Spaghetti Junction"

Yes, even Bangkok has one, and this is it, almost in the heart of the city. Our view has turned slightly east from the preceding photograph.

If you follow the railway line at the right, you will come to the Makkasan City Interchange Station, providing an express rail link to Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Thailand is famed for its elephants, and this is Bangkok’s very own “white elephant”, but more of that shortly.

Suvarnabhumi airport

“Where”, you might say? Yes, it’s there, in the distance, barely visible in Bangkok’s heat haze, and if you look top right of the photograph you will see it.

In the foreground is that Makkasan interchange station, and to its left is the Asoke toll plaza of the Sirat Expressway.

Downtown

The high rise sprawl that makes up Bangkok’s heart, spreading left (east) down Sukhumvit road which goes all the way to Cambodia. At the top, right, is the “river of Kings”, Bangkok’s famous Chao Phraya river.

Royal Bangkok Sports Club

Our view has now turned south, and we are looking to and past the Royal Bangkok Sports Club, with the roads Henri Dunant and Ratchadamri moving away from us on the clubs’ right and left hand sides, respectively. Our muddy but wonderful river of Kings is still there in the background.

To VICTORY

Monument, that is, the large military monument at the center of the traffic circle at the intersection of Phahonyothin Road, Phaya Thai Road, and Ratchawithi. A familiar landmark, the monument was erected in June 1941 to commemorate the Thai victory against France in the Franco-Thai War.

Time to descend

Leaving our high perch (which you will learn about shortly) we walked along Bangkok’s streets to our next destination. On the way we found ourselves on the wrong side of the tracks, railway tracks that is. The track may look overgrown, but the line is still used, though infrequently, and people have made shanty homes along both sides of the track.

LIFE GOES ON

This elderly lady was making breakfast. Her life is clearly hard, and to many from the west they would be uncomfortable walking this close to people living in poverty and down on luck, fearing for their safety. In fact all the people greeted us with smiles and friendliness. This old lady even offered us to share her breakfast.

YOUNG and old

While not living in the optimal of circumstances, kids get on with their lives which involves playing and having fun. It must be a blast to have your own “private” rail road just outside your door. Who needs double-o guage model railways when you can have the real thing. The boys are on their way to breakfast with grandma.

Business is slow

En route to our final destination we went upmarket for our own breakfast, but the vendors simply seemed disinterested.

At last, Makkasan

Bangkok’s very own Baht 26 Billion (USD 860 Million) “white elephant”. The Makkasan City Interchange station and 28.6 kilometers (17.8 mi) Airport Rail Link opened for service on August 23, 2010.

Services consists of two Express Lines, a 15-minute nonstop service between the Makkasan city air terminal and the airport, an 18-minute nonstop service between Phaya Thai and the airport, and a City Line commuter rail service with 8 stations.

Currently (June/July 2014) it is estimated that less than 400 passengers use the facility daily. Future extension is expected to see rapid growth in the usage of the service.

A welcoming robot?

Not quite, but a fully functioning air-conditioning system maintaining a lovely cool and fresh environment in the almost deserted station, a welcome and blessed relief from the heat and humidity of our walk here.

Wait, . . . look, . . . there’s actually someone here.

pillars of strength

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the busy express line

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your final destination?

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Expanse of space

Or an exspace of panse?

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And finally the reveal

Good magicians never reveal the secret of their tricks; the “reveal” to a magician is the normal culmination of a trick.

As a photographer, we have no “tricks”, and so nothing of consequence to “reveal”, except to reveal to you from where our aerial shots of the city were taken - Bangkok’s Baiyoke II tower, Bangkok and Thailand’s tallest building.