On the way to the floating market.

Photo by John Macbeath Watkins

Canal Life in
Thailand
Photography by John MacBeath Watkins

The region around Bangkok is low, swampy ground, still tidal though it is about 25 miles
from the sea. To farm it, plots had to be built up. Soil dredged for this purpose left canals
that could be used for transportation, much like the way Venice was built up.

In this vast network of canals is a way of life slowly disappearing as roads encroach.
The commuting bus is a planing long-tail boat 60 feet long and 5 feet wide.
Long-tail boat at sunset on the Chao Phraya. Photo by John MacBeath Watkins

Fast mobile restaurant. Photo by John MacBeath Watkins

'Fast' food arrives at your door via a stepped hyrdoplane. Slower food is paddled quietly
to your door.
Food seller delivers a meal to customers at their front porch.

Photo by John MacBeath Watkins

Woman in old-style sampoa

photo by John MacBeath Watkins

A paddle boat is the basic form of

transportation.
Monk collecting offerings. Photo by John MacBeath Watkins

People keep large jars filled with canal water, which they clarify by sweeping a block of
alum through it, for washing and other uses other than drinking.

Barge delivering klong jars. photo by John MacBeath Watkins

People are able to bathe quite modestly in
the canal.

Woman bathing in the canal at her front

porch.

Photo by John MacBeath Watkins

Children playing in the canal. Photo by John MacBeath Watkins

Children play in the canals, and every front porch has steps down to the canal.

Children paddling on a canal, Thailand. Photo by John MacBeath Watkins

Young men preparing to race, Thon Buri. Photo by John MacBeath Watkins
Young men's hot rods are low, planing boats with bows shaped like a Persian slipper.

Young hell-raiser in a fast boat, Thon Buri.

Photo by John MacBeath Watkins

Young Man working on his engine.

Photo by John MacBeath Watkins

A 'corner store' at the end of each

canal sits on tributaries that feed the
great river that Bangkok is built on,
the Chao Praya. These stores
function as a social gossip center as
well as a place to get provisions (or
sell them, if you garden for part of
your income.)
Selling snacks and durian fruit to the corner store. Photo by John MacBeath Watkins

The original purpose of the canals, draining land for farming and providing transportation
to markets, remains.

Large sampoa loading coconuts for transport to market.

Photo by John MacBeath Watkins

Craftsmen build small boats in teak or

camphorwood for basic transportation. I
purchased this boat, and it is now on loan to
the Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle, on
display in the boathouse. This is a modern
type, less complex and flatter than the older
style of boat that has better characteristics in
waves. I believe the change reflects the fact
that even fairly small sampoas are now
equipped with long-tail motors, and the
flatter shape works better for that. Some of
the older boats are still around, typically
built with excellent wood and craftsmanship,
but steel nails, which rust.