Coastal Walk in Samut Prakan
Over the weekend, I decided to go for a walk along the coast in Samut Prakan. The starting pointing was at Wat Asokaram, near the estuary. From here you can see the other side of the river. As the walk progressed, all I could see was the Gulf of Thailand. I have done this walk several times before, but they have now paved the path nearly the entire way. So, it is now possible to go all the way on your bicycle. If you walk without stopping, it would take you about two hours or so. It was low tide when I went. The best time to go is when the tide is changing from high tide to low. The following are the photos that I tweeted live during the walk.
My plan for today is to explore the coastline in Samut Prakan. First up will be Wat Asokaram & the coastal walk pic.twitter.com/doOznCZDDj
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
Good morning from Wat Asokaram (วัดอโศการาม) in Samut Prakan. Map: https://t.co/FTqZJBfomJ pic.twitter.com/c4XzPnNDvq
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
Statue of King Ashoka at Wat Asokaram in Samut Prakan. He was an Indian emperor who embraced Buddhism #Thailand pic.twitter.com/yNhoXlwUdl
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
Worth exploring at Wat Asokaram is the residential area for the monks built on stilts above the mangroves pic.twitter.com/BHm3NbQIMU
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
If you walk to the Western end of Wat Asokaram (see map), you will reach Soi 1 which has access to the coastal walk pic.twitter.com/LxfZ1PUCrF
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
The gate between Wat Asokaram & the coastline closes at 6:30pm. There's also a shop here #Thailand pic.twitter.com/HHOV3End7P
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
This is the coastal track in front of Wat Asokaram. Looks like they are improving it #Thailand pic.twitter.com/cMHaXIIIp4
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
This is the estuary for the Chao Phraya River. You can see Phra Chulachomklao Fort on the other side of the river pic.twitter.com/qhPydDzROe
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
Looks like they are building a sea wall along the coast here. Good for cycling. But I'm not sure how far it goes pic.twitter.com/62toqVRGYT
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
This stretch of the coastline in Samut Prakan is nicknamed "Bangsaen 2". There are several restaurants here pic.twitter.com/QZTymCSQGT
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
This is Sai Lom Seafood restaurant (ร้านอาหารสายลม) on the coast in Bang Pu. Map: https://t.co/yShNLuFcl1 pic.twitter.com/91cZP5HXj9
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
It's low tide & lots of people are out in the mud looking for cockles & other shellfish #Thailand pic.twitter.com/QCe5o0vWMr
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
This is a new 100 meter long pier near the private shipyard in Bang Pu. Map: https://t.co/VAPLdyr5Rw pic.twitter.com/VWkhOCUgsY
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
It's a nice location & I was tempted to stop & eat at a small restaurant. But the open sewer is a bit smelly pic.twitter.com/WGfIlj1Wkj
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
A shrine shaped like a boat for Prince Chumphon, Father of the Thai Navy. Map: https://t.co/eHxAo2jeKR pic.twitter.com/cyWjUMXNiM
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
What do you reckon this boat is for? Dredging? pic.twitter.com/GC1qD9W9W3
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
A lucky find for me on my coastal walk in Samut Prakan. An ice cream vendor! A big cup with sticky rice was 20 Baht pic.twitter.com/Si6NdUHFPT
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
A nice wooden pier behind Wat Sichan Pradit in Bang Pu. Great breeze here. Map: https://t.co/ce4w9Btc25 pic.twitter.com/TXmW4xyD2E
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
In the distance I can just make out Sukta Pier in Bang Pu. This is much larger with a ballroom & restaurant pic.twitter.com/tBKR9m7vQJ
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
At the boundary to Bang Pu Seaside Resort, there's this fence with razor wire & a gate. But easy to go around & over pic.twitter.com/iF9SPaA8Qa
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
I've finally reached Sukta Pier in Bang Pu. From Wat Asokaram it took me nearly three hours to walk along the coast pic.twitter.com/y2FidjxWZQ
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
They've done a really good job re-planting mangroves at Bang Pu. It wasn't that long ago that this was all mud pic.twitter.com/cljtIqBEVd
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
A break for lunch at Sukta Pier in Bang Pu. Spicy stir fried minced pork with basil & topped with a fried egg pic.twitter.com/cUSr9bHkxk
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
Sukta Pier in Samut Prakan is important historically as this is where the Japanese army landed on 8th December 1941 pic.twitter.com/kxR5umYBra
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
At Bang Pu Seaside Resort, there are bungalows from 500B to 2,600B. Call 02-3239530. Map: https://t.co/eVtXzj60Ib pic.twitter.com/BpqgC0meOo
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
I was hoping to explore the mangrove forest learning center & continue my coastal walk to Tam Ru, but gates locked pic.twitter.com/LoMUKhg31b
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
Apparently the Mangrove Forest Learning Center & boardwalk at Bang Pu is only open on weekdays https://t.co/Po4QAgK5oh
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
I walked to the road & now in a taxi heading back to Wat Asokaram in air-con comfort. I hope you enjoyed my photos pic.twitter.com/AFCMjsF9as
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
Map of the route & photos of the trail along the coast in Samut Prakan. Good for cycling too https://t.co/qmzIX6H64a pic.twitter.com/xS8Fon3ILW
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) June 19, 2016
Excellent, thanks for this Richard! Where would you recommend to park the car?
I parked at Wat Asokoram. You can catch a taxi or songtaew back.