Bangkok Tourist Attraction Review: Koh Kret

Koh Kret

(locally known as เกาะเกร็ด) is a small island located in Chao Phraya River in the province of Nonthaburi, and is some 2 km long and 1 km wide. It has seven main villages, the largest and most populous being Ban Mon, who were a dominant tribe of central Thailand between the 6th and 10th centuries AD

Koh Kret is an artificial ‘island’, the result of a canal being dug nearly 300 years ago to shorten an oxbow bend in the Chao Phraya River. Today, Koh Kret is known for its rural atmosphere, its distinctive pottery and its busy weekend market.

The island is served by ferries from the banks and you will have to take the Chao Phraya Express Boat to boat pier #N 33, Prakket (last pier) And then a cross river ferry from there. Of course, you can take a taxi to the cross river ferry, but I recommend the boat.

OTOP Village - One Tambon One Product (OTOP) is a local entrepreneurship stimulus program designed by Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra during his 2001-2006 Thai Rak Thai government. The program aimed to support the locally made and marketed products of each Thai tambon (subdistrict).

Drawing its inspiration from Japan's successful One Village One Product (OVOP) program, the OTOP program encourages village communities to improve the local products' quality and marketing, selecting one superior product from each tambon to receive formal branding as its "starred OTOP product". It provides both a local and national stage to the promote these products. OTOP products include a large array of local products, including traditional handicrafts, cotton and silk garments, pottery, fashion accessories, household items and food.

After a military junta overthrew Thaksin's government in 2006 following an election cancelled for irregularities, the OTOP program was cancelled. However, it was soon revived and rebranded.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and Lonely Planet

Friday 27 ^th of February 2015 and my alarm went off at 07:40 and today there was no time lolling around in bed. I swung myself out of bed. I had my “ TUNA & ONION SURPRISE ” ® with a glass of tea. Yeah, only one glass of tea and I was soon on my way to the subway.

I changed to the sky train at Silom and I was soon on the Sathorn Pier. I asked the girl how to get to Koh Kret. She told me to take the orange flagged boat to #N 30 Pier, Nonthaburi. From there I could go by bus or taxi to the Wat Sanam Nua. And from Wat Sanam Nua there is a cross river ferry to Wat Poramaiyikawas on Koh Kret.

She also told me that I could look for a boat at the end station #N 30. I said thank you and I bought my ticket, 15 Baht and the orange flagged boat was soon approaching.

We passed pier #N 13 Khao San Road and from there the Chao Phraya Express Boat was pretty empty and I enjoyed the ride. I got off the boat at pier #N 30 and I Was soon speaking with along tail boat driver. We looked at a map of the Koh Kret, and we could only see Koh Kret on the map. The very same map you can see above in the “blue box”

He wanted 800 Baht for 2 hours with the boat. And there was no end to everything we would have time to do during the 2hour trip.

There is a path around the island made of concrete, and according to internet this walk path is 6 km long and I was hesitating. I had expected more than 2 hours just to walk around the island. Of course, including stop etc.

The long tail boat guy pointed at a point North of the island (in the middle of some text with information about Koh Kret) showing how we would come down to Koh Kret.
- But we South of Koh Kret, I said
- Yes, he said continuing to navigating the map North of Koh Kret with his index finger.
- WE ARE HERE! I said pointing South of Koh Kret (in the middle of some text with information about Koh Kret)

I navigated through the text South of the map with my index finger and I navigated around the Koh Kret. I wanted to take a tour around Koh Kret to see the whole island from the Chao Phraya River. The long tail boat guy was back North of the island with his index finger. I was thinking,well, nothing appropriate to write about here.

I left to look for a taxi. I really wanted to go with the boat, but this was for sure going to turn in to trouble.

The 2 hour limit and the 800 Baht, this would for sure going to end badly. So I took a taxi to the ferry pier at Wat Sanam Nua. Located on a Soi to Chaeng Wattana. Good to know, next time going to the immigration I can take the orange flagged Chao Phraya Express Boat to Nonthaburi and taxi from there to the Immigration.

The ferry just left when I came down to the pier. There was a lady from Germany coming down from the temple. She told me that she had seen me on the Chao Phraya Express Boat. She told me that she had paid 105 Baht for the taxi and that we could share on the way back. I told her that I had paid 120 Baht.

She made a big number of the fact that she only had paid 105 Baht.
- Maybe my driver found a short cut?
- 120 Baht, including tip, I said.

She suggested that we should tour Koh Kret together and then we could share a taxi back to the Chao Phraya Express Boat. I told her that it was a shame with all the garbage laying and floatingaround. She told me it was looking good as it was much worse 10 years ago.

She went on and on, and she must have been under the impression that I just arrived to Bangkok and she was going to show me the ropes.
- 10 years this and 10 years that

I was listening politely and there were soon 2 Thai ladies passing and I started to speak with them. Please give me a break with the “10 years this and 10 years that” So yes, when the 2 Thai ladies passed I grasped the straw to get a break and I (always polite) started to speak with them.
- Do you speak Thai?

Well, after that there was no more “10 years this and 10 years that” Well, actually, she distanced herself from me. Good, I can walk around Koh Kret all by myself. The ferry left the pier on Koh Kret.

Took a few minutes to cross the Chao Phraya River and as soon as the passengers were of we got on board. We had to wait for a few minutes before we left the ferry pier at Wat Sanam Nua

NE corner of Koh Kret and we can see the big Buddha on the other side of the river

Waiting for the ferry to leave

Leaving Wat Sanam Nua

We're not alone on the river

Wat Sanam Nua

The pier on Koh Kret

Took a few minutes and we were alongside the pier at Koh Kret. I stepped up on the bridge and I paid the 2 Baht for the ferry. There is a temple at the ferry pier, Wat Poramaiyikawas and Ipassed a sign saying “museum”. I followed the sign but as I never found any museum I left the temple and the museum behind.

I was a wee bit thirsty and hungry and there were some vendors. And a group of University Students in their uniforms and a video camera on a tripod. Of course, I went to investigate. And if the students would come under the impression of me being creepy I was just there to buy a bottle ofwater. Blue sky and it was really hot.

Well, as I was on the NE corner of Koh Kret I decided to walk towards West on the North side of the island. I entered a small alley with souvenir shops and placed with food. I was hungry but there wasn't any restaurant I wanted to try. Well, many of the places were closed as well. Saturday and Sunday and the island is full of visitors.

I stopped in a shop and I bought 2 small packages of cookies, 5 Baht each. I finished my water and cookies and I continued on the concrete walk path towards the West.

You're better off avoiding some of the bridges

Most likely an old factory of some sort. I like the tree in the funnel on the left hand side

I like the tree in the funnel

Old canoe from when they creek was full of water instead of garbage

Now the canoe is full of garbage

Old water pump

I'm back on the East side of Koh Kret

I'm back on the East side of Koh Kret

Now I only have to walk along the river until I'm back at the Wat Poramaiyikawas

I was back at the East side of Koh Kret after 90 minutes or so. I was at the SE corner of the island and there was also a ferry service across the Chao Phraya River. But as I wanted tocomplete the full walk around Koh Kret I decided to walk North along the Chao Phraya River until I reached the ferry pier at Wat Poramaiyikawas

I had stopped at one place on my way to buy a bottle of water and I drank my water sitting down at the restaurant as there was an electric fan and shadow.

The only exciting thing that I saw was an old funnel with a tree growing out of it. But it had been a nice walk and if it had not been for all the garbage theisland would have been very nice

I had not seen any pottery places on my tour, but I passed a sign saying pottery centre when I walked North along the Chao Phraya River on my way back to the ferry.

The village was closed down, they are only open during the weekends when there are business to be made. There was the big ovens for the pottery, but they looked to be discontinued. And there were a more modern looking, and smaller gas burner for the pottery.

But it was nice to walk North along the Chao Phraya River as I knew that I would soon be on theferry leaving Koh Kret behind. Yes, it was nice to know that I was soon on my way out of here. I was looking forward to the taxi ride back to the back to the Chao Phraya Express Boat, Nonthaburi pier, N 30 in air condition.

I was also a wee bit hungry so a snack would be nice. I was lucky approaching the Wat Sanam Nua. I came around the corner and everything was red and decorated with the red ice cream company flags. Yes, I wanted an ice cream.

But luckily enough the ice cream place was closed.

A cross river ferry

Local recycling centre?

I follow the sign to the pottery centre

The pottery centre

Old ovens at the pottery centre

@ the pottery centre

@ the pottery centre

@ the pottery centre

@ the pottery centre

@ the pottery centre

@ the pottery centre

@ the pottery centre

I continue towards the ferry pier

Ice Cream lovers club house - Lucky it was closed

I continue towards the ferry pier

I continue towards the ferry pier

Now I can see the end of it and the ferry pier

Wat Sanam Nua on the other side of the river

The ferry is coming to pick us up

The ferry is coming to pick us up

The ferry is coming to pick us up

The ferry is coming to pick us up

I saw the boat leave the Wat Sanam Nua when I was back at the cross river ferry pier. Good, no need to wait for very long. I paid 2 Baht for the ticket and I'm ready to leave Koh Kret behind. When the ferry arrived the passengers got off and I got on board.

I was quite surprised to see that the boat had all these passengers going back and forth between Koh Kret and the pier at Wat Sanam Nua. And just after I had taken my seat on the rail all the Students came down the bridge. Of course, they recognised me. We were soon on our way back to Wat Sanam Nua. I can put Koh Kret behind me.

How to kill a day in Bangkok #17
Review:Koh Kret

How to get there:Get on the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Nonthaburi boat pier, N 30 and a taxi from there to Wat Sanam Nua. About 120 Baht as per February 2015. Or take a taxi all the way from Bangkok to Wat Sanam Nua. Walk down to the river and there is a pier. The boat across the river is 2 Baht one way (February 2015)

They also have long tail boats from Nonthaburi Chao Phraya Express Boat Pier #N 30. 800 Baht for 2 hours. The guy pointed at the map and he showed me how we would approach Koh Kret from North. I pointed to the map.
- We're South of the Koh Kret?

He pointed North of Koh Kret again. Well, he did not even know where we were so I skipped the long tail boat. And 2 hours, then you can be sure to run in to trouble with this people aboutpayment. And yeah, your good mood will soon turn to a bad mood. Taxi, about 120 Baht one way including tip.

2 Baht for one way across the river. (Paid when you arrive to Koh Kret) Totally 244 Baht and no hassle with the long tail boats. And they have a bad reputation, at least to say. And a simple search on the internet will provide you with more warnings than you can handle.

Bangkok Post: A river trip to hell, for locals and tourists

Get out and travel, Travel scams: The boat scam in Bangkok

I got off the boat and I turned right and thus walking towards the West on the North side of the Koh Kret. I walked through a village with some restaurants and souvenir shops. I could see the giant Buddha on the other side of the Chao Phraya River. It was very hot walking along the concrete path.

But there was places to buy water around the island so there is no need to walk around thirsty. The concrete path around the island is 6 km long and there is a fair amount of motorcycle traffic on the island. But as I avoided the weekend I was almost alone on the concrete path.

Rated:

It was OK. If you have a day to spend and the boredomdrives you up the walls. You don't fancy lolling around in bed.

Yeah, why not, you have some extra money to waste. So get up early and take the tour to Koh Kret. A full day required for this, 7 hour at least.

You have the same kinds of area in Bangkok. The souvenirs, well, pretty much the same as you find along the roads in Bangkok. As I was there on a Friday most of the places were closed. But it came with a perk! The place was not crowded. Saturday and Sundays and the island is very crowded, at least this is what I have heard.

If you're looking for “fine dining” on Koh Kret you will be disappointed, there are a few restaurants, ROAD SIDE style. But you don't need to walk around thirsty as they sell sodas and water all over the island.

You can rent a bicycle and you can also go around the island with a motorcycle if you don't liketo walk as I did.

So what can you expect to see, well, nothing exciting. The only thing I saw that I remember is the three growing on top of a factory funnel. This is what I will remember from Koh Kret. And you can see the three on one of the pictures above so you don't need to go through the trouble going there.

Review Man

As no surprise the Students recognised me and I were soon chatting with them. I don't rememberthe name of the university, but there were going back to Bangkok. One of the girls were busy taking a video so I had to be aware of what I did and how I behaved.

We had to wait for a few minutes before we could leave the jetty as there was a tug and barges loaded with sand passing in the river.

It was actually quite surprising the first time I saw how many of these barges passing on the Chao Phraya River. And I remember when Ivisited my friend on Maersk Mediterranean, the port was full of these barges. So the river is busy and this is part of what I like going on the Chao Phraya River.

The boat was quite full when we left Koh Kret and when we were back on the “main land” I went to buy yet another bottle of water before start to look for a taxi.

Didn't take all that long before I was sitting in a taxi heading for the Chao Phraya Express Boat. I would get of the boat at Sheraton Hotel to go meet the girl at the River City at 5 o'clock. And I really hope I can avoid any restaurants. Well, slim chance. I ended up at the Italian Restaurant on Sheraton, a huge set-back for my diet.

Tomorrow morning, yes, there is no end to the Chao Phraya Express Boat adventures. I will take off for a temple tour with the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat. You don't need to get out of bed early as you just have to click HERE to find yourself in the middle of that adventure.

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