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| The happy cobbler |
Ask Bangkokians where Nonthaburi is and you will most likely get very different answers from different people. Some say it is part of metropolitan Bangkok. Others say it is a separate city and is provincial capital to the province of Nonthaburi, that is the province that lies directly north of Bangkok . Yet others will tell you it is a distant province that is not so easy to get to on your own.
In actual fact Nonthaburi, which is technically a separate province located about 20-km northwest of Bangkok, is contiguous with the sprawl of the Bangkok metropolis. Its existence dates back 400 years when Ayuthaya was the capital of the kingdom. And according to the latest national census, it is the country's second largest city with a population of 270,000.
Whether it is a province by itself or a part of Bangkok, Nonthaburi is definitely worth a day's trip.
There are many ways to get to the city of Nonthaburi - by road, bus or ferry along the Chao Phrya River. We settled for the last option since this is the most leisurely of the three, the fastest and cheapest. The boat ride costs 13baht per person one way and offers magnificent views of Bangkok from the river.
On arrival at the jetty, immediately to the right, stands the old Provincial Hall built by King Rama IV of the Rattanakosin era. The building is of European architecture decorated with patterned woodwork and the Fine Arts Department has registered it as a historical site. The Provincial Hall has been re-located to Ratchawitthayalai. Catty-corner to the old Provincial Hall is Rim Fang floating restaurant. It is an unpretentious wooden structure with a large section that floats out on the river. This, is the main dining hall. More about the restaurant in my next posting.
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| Busy Pracharat Road, Nonthaburi |
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| Lynna posing with the City's Watchtower |
The market is a sea of people and street vendors proferring a very wide range of merchandise and food. You'll see mainly locals here; in fact for the entire afternoon, my wife and I were the only camera-wielding tourists around. Durian stalls are in abundance together with the ubiquitous mangosteen, lychee, and stone apple. This is because Nonthaburi is located in a fertile basin alongside the Chao Phrya river and is perfect for fruit cultivation. The province produces many award-winning durians.
We left at about 5pm but I was told that it really gets maddeningly crowded in the evening when the office workers are out to shop and eat.
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| Waiting patiently for our city-bound bus |
Although there are many interesting sights to visit in Nonthaburi including temples, gardens and fruit orchards, I think its best feature really is its people and lifestyle and of course the sight, colour and smell of its local market.
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| Street vendors busy making dumplings |
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| Popular shop selling pig trotters |
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| Pig trotters - so so tempting! |
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| Roadside cobbler |
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