Hello everyone, this is our first post. We apologize in advance for any mistakes.



Today we will review our trip to Amphawa. This trip to Amphawa was initiated by our beloved teacher who instructed us to promote Amphawa in any way we could, but with one caveat: we had to pay for everything ourselves, find our own time, and come up with our own activities. The reward? A measly 5 points and a happy heart. Ta-da!



Let's get started (all photos are taken with a simple camera, a phone camera, and pure heart)





This time, our concept is "Smile for Amphawa" and this is the origin of the topic name...





“A Smile for Amphawa” Today, we will go and share smiles in Amphawa. We will receive smiles from Amphawa to share with others, to show that everyone in Amphawa smiles, both the locals and the tourists who visit. This demonstrates that Amphawa is a small source of happiness for many people.



First, let me introduce the team members who joined us in the sun and rain.

We are third-year marketing students at Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi.



Today, Mai and Aom will be the ones taking pictures for everyone. Mai and Tee will be the ones facilitating everyone by falling into the water instead, paddling the boat, and jumping into the water!!!


The physical part is stuck with the task of waiting to make a report at home. We are not angry, but bring the money!!!!!!!



We started our journey on Sunday morning (17/4/59) at the Victory Monument, with our stomachs full from breakfast at home.

The journey from Victory Monument (next to Century Mall) started around 11:00 am and took about an hour and ten minutes (including a 10-minute stop at a gas station). The fare was 80 baht per person.



Smiles all around from the moment we boarded the van in Bangkok.



Our public relations concept is to have cucumbers dressed in Thai costumes holding up signs that say "Smile for Amphawa" and giving flower garlands to tourists and vendors.


At that time, we were the only Thai people on the whole bus. I guess it was because Songkran had just passed, so there were a lot of foreigners. The van we were on would also stop to drop off passengers at the Rom Hub market. If anyone wants to get off here, you can.



And this is where the van stops. Just walk straight for 200 meters and you will reach the market. But as soon as we got off the van, we immediately asked to take a picture to promote and explain to the tourists who were on the same van as us, because they looked puzzled all the way, wondering what we were wearing!



As soon as we arrived at the market, we started with the first cute shop at the entrance. The aunt was very lovely and seemed very excited about our beauty queen. This shop sells a variety of things, including products made from winter melon, drinks, and souvenirs. The aunt also gave us our first garland.



The lady smiled, the auntie smiled too, click!



Stepping inside, we came across the Kesmani shop. It's a traditional Thai dessert shop with a variety of unique and hard-to-find Thai desserts. The taste is extraordinary, I must say. More importantly, the owner is very kind. He explained the process while making the desserts and even let our lady try her hand at it. Best of all, the prices are very reasonable, around 30 baht per box.



Next up, a shop that got us really excited. It's a place where they skewer marshmallows and jelly, then dip them in a fondue fountain. There were three fondue flavors available: blueberry, chocolate, and another one that was probably strawberry (but it was already sold out). The prices were 10 baht and 20 baht per skewer, and they had a buy 5 get 1 free deal, so we quickly grabbed some. We started eating them right there in front of the market.



Along the way, there are many interesting things to see, decorated in different styles. Some shops sell souvenirs, some are decorated in Thai style, and some sell old-fashioned snacks that are hard to find. The charm of a Thai floating market.



We continued walking until we started to feel tired due to the hot weather. It was around 1 pm, so we decided to buy a boat ticket for 50 baht per person. The boat would take us to 5 temples. There were many boat tour operators in the market, and their prices were not much different. We could choose any operator we liked. We were lucky to find a very friendly, polite, and well-spoken boat driver. He won the hearts of our entire group. He kept calling out to customers in a loud and friendly voice, almost without taking a breath.



It had been almost 20 minutes, and the boat still hadn't left because there were no more customers. The super friendly boat driver saw that we were starting to complain and get hot, so he immediately came to tell us that he was sorry for the delay and would reduce the price from 5*50 = 250 to just 200. But we were all beautiful and kind-hearted, so we let it go. It's okay, really. (The driver was so cute and trying so hard to get customers, we couldn't help but give in.)



Then we picked up more people along the way, hopping from boat to boat like this.



The journey before leaving Amphawa Canal is not that scary. It looks shallow up close, and most importantly, the water here is clean and clear.


Here is the translation:

Here are some recommendations for those who are coming: During this time, the weather is hot. Please bring water and a smelling salt with you on the boat. As for sun umbrellas, the boat driver does not recommend them because the wind is quite strong when the boat is running in the big river. It is dangerous to open an umbrella against the wind. It is recommended to wear a jacket or a shawl instead. It is beautiful and light, something like this.



The atmosphere on both sides of the canal.



As the boat sailed, we chatted about which restaurants we would like to try. We saw so many delicious-looking restaurants along the way that we couldn't wait to eat even before we started exploring.



Leaving the small canal to the big river, the wind is so cool, but the sun is quite hot. Plus, the water is splashing. My blouse is wet all over. But I'm not afraid of that. If you come to Amphawa and don't get splashed by water, it's like you haven't arrived (that's what the driver told me).



The driver told us that we have about 15-20 minutes per temple. We need to be on time because the boat will have to wait in line one by one. Get on together, get off together. Understood, execute!



The first temple we visited was Wat Thong Khung. There wasn't much to see at this temple because we were in a hurry, afraid of missing the boat. After paying our respects to the Buddha and gilding the Buddha statue, we rushed back to the pier to wait for the boat.



A beautiful photo of a woman smiling with a temple name sign.



We arrived at the second temple, which was very close by, called Wat Bang Khae Yai. This temple offers the opportunity to make merit by releasing various kinds of fish, starting at 10 baht. Every temple has shops selling drinks and snacks, so you don't have to worry about getting hungry along the way. We bought drinks at every temple because it was really hot.



And on the way to the third temple, the weather was still hot, alternating with cool water splashing from the canal. I'm starting to get used to it and have fun. Along the way, we took a lot of pictures of the houses along the river. There was one house that looked like Tik's house in the drama "Jao Ban Jao Reuan". I'm so into the drama!



And the third temple is Bangkaeklang Temple. This temple is quite cool because it is quite spacious, the air is comfortable, there are many trees and there are swings to sit and play. There is also a shrine to the goddess. But the highlight is the Mieng Lamyong, which is very delicious. I can confirm this myself because I ate several sticks myself. The price is only 4 pieces for 10 baht. The aunt makes it fresh right there.







The fourth temple, Kasem Saranaram Temple, also offers coffin donations. We didn't go inside this one, as we were starting to get tired and wanted to find a cool place to sit and rest. So we don't have any pictures from inside. We then waited for the boat at the pier as before.



The fifth temple is Wat Bang Ko Thepsak. This temple is peaceful and has clean restrooms, making it a comfortable place to visit. There are also two large cows in front of the temple that you can make merit by feeding. This temple also has a "ทันใจ" deity and a "กระซิบ" deity. Women should whisper to the left ear of the "กระซิบ" deity, while men should whisper to the right ear.



Next up was Bang Kung Temple, a bonus stop suggested by our boat driver. The crew voted on whether to visit, and the majority said yes. Despite the scorching sun, the wind was cool and strong. We were greeted by goats, camels, water lilies, and horses, all eager to be fed. There was even a plane in the temple grounds for us to take photos with.



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This must be the big boss of this cage.



This temple also has camels (how hot it is, ask the camel). They are very big, even the camel's legs are taller than us. But it's a pity because they are in a cage that is not very big. They can only walk around a little bit.



This temple actually has another church, the Bodhi-covered Church. A friend who had been there before told me that the Burmese had occupied this temple in the past, but the church was not visible because it was covered by a Bodhi tree. However, as we had limited time, the walk from the pier to the church was quite far, so we skipped it. We just walked around feeding the animals. The pier at this temple also has fish, which are quite large because the water is very clean and there is no garbage at all.



After visiting all six temples (5 temples + 1 temple that the driver gave us as a bonus), it was time to return by boat. It was quite worth it to take the boat, as the price per person was only 50 baht, but we were able to visit 5 temples. It took about 1 hour and 45 minutes (I guess the driver was able to give us the bonus temple and not spend too much extra time because we were very disciplined. As soon as the boat arrived, we all got on board without anyone having to wait for anyone else. We were very lucky!)



The rest, I would like to continue below. Thank you to the kind boat driver who took us on a tour, explaining the places and even taking us to the last temple. The price is in the tens, but the service and hospitality are 100%. The people of Amphawa are really kind. Our Nang asked us to take a picture with her. 1 2 3 Smileeeeeeeeee



After getting off the boat and taking a picture with the boat driver as a ceremony, we stopped to refuel. We chose to stop at the restaurant "Bhawat Grilled Chicken", which has a lot of deliciousness guaranteed. Our mother asked for a guarantee too. But which one is the chicken and which one is the mother? Hehe.



The raw materials come in a basket.



Affordable prices that will please the gang. Let's go! What's good? We're hungry!



This meal cost 703 baht, which is not expensive at all. We ordered salted egg salad, grilled pork salad, shrimp fried rice, steamed squid with lime, and papaya salad. We also had a pot of rice, a large bottle of soda, a small bottle of soda, two large jugs of ice, and two bottles of water. It was delicious and we ate everything, so the restaurant barely had to wash any dishes.



An army marches on its stomach. After filling our stomachs, we continued our walk and saw the simple way of life of the people living by the river. I also secretly took a picture of a young man taking a bath. He was so cute.



This shop looks very inviting. It seems to be a cafe with a very cute decoration. However, we were just full from a papaya salad shop, so we didn't stop by. We could only take a picture to share with our friends.



Amphawa shirts are sold almost everywhere in the market, with a variety of designs to suit everyone's taste. Souvenir bags are inexpensive, and there are old-fashioned toys that you don't see in Bangkok, like rubber balls. At first, I wondered how to play with them, but my friend explained that you throw them up and they spin around, which is fun for kids.



We came across this shop and we stopped for a long time. We were so impressed! They sell firefly shirts and firefly dolls where we can choose the color of the wings. Look at the face of the firefly, it's so cute and fluffy, and when it's in the dark, there's a part that glows (I can't remember which part). The firefly wings can also be used as a blindfold. It's so cool! It's designed and made by Thai people. They also have postcards for only 15 baht each. The gang members bought one or two each. There's a cute stamp to show that we've been here. It's stamped with the words "Amphawa".



The sun is (starting to) set, the wind has died down, let's go up the bridge to see the view. Amphawa is quite a bit more crowded now than it was when we arrived in the middle of the day. It's probably because it's not as hot as it was during the day, so most people are choosing to come out for a walk in the evening.



Exercising to strengthen the legs. Going up and down the stairs to cross the street very often.



The evening sky is pink, with no tall buildings to obstruct the view. A change of scenery from the concrete buildings and train tracks in the city to the small canals and many boats in Amphawa.



While walking around, I came across this group of foreigners. They stared at our mother so much that they turned around. They must have been wondering what kind of clothes she was wearing. So, I took the opportunity to ask them if I could take a picture with them. I told them that I was working on a university project. They were okay with it and even gave us each a garland as a souvenir. I found out that all three of them were from Italy.



Amphawa Smile I smile, you smile, let's take a picture! One, two, three, click!



Exhausted from walking, our legs stiff and our energy depleted, we decided to call it a day and head back home. We retraced our steps, following the same path we had taken earlier.



I came across a vintage coffee shop called "Uncle Kiw's". Every menu item costs only 10 baht! Uncle Kiw, the owner, is as cute as his name suggests. He smiles and greets everyone while making coffee. His unique brewing method involves using a vintage milk can and then pouring the coffee into a glass of ice. The coffee is strong and refreshing, perfect for a pick-me-up.



On our way back to the van, we came across a market by the river. The breeze was so cool and refreshing, so we decided to take a detour and walk around for a bit. It seemed to be a market for local residents, but there were also a lot of food and souvenirs for tourists.



The place is full of souvenirs. How about some salted fish? There are also snacks, coconut sugar, and even portrait drawing. You name it, they have it.



The evening by the river was very, very cold. The wind blew so hard that our bangs were all over the place. 5555555555555555

We walked from the front of the market to the back, where someone was giving away puppies. The man had rescued them from a temple and treated any injuries before offering them for adoption. Anyone who is confident they can care for a puppy is welcome to choose one and give it a new home and a new life. If you want a puppy but can't take it home, the man said he would be happy to deliver it to you. He's so kind! Thais are so lovely.^^



The sun has set, it's time to go home. Let's walk back to buy tickets at the place where we got off the van earlier.



Here is the schedule for the van: The van fare to Century Monument is 80 baht per person, the same as the way here. Once you have your ticket, please wait for the van for a moment. There is a bathroom at the waiting area that you can use for 5 baht per person. So you won't have to worry about going to the bathroom on the van. Once you get on the van, you can just fall asleep. It's very quiet.



Even though it was just a short one-day trip, we had a lot of fun and gained a lot of experience. True happiness doesn't have to be found far away. We have friends, tourist attractions nearby, and a good atmosphere for us to experience. Even though it was a bit tiring and hot, this trip allowed us to share our happiness with others. We gave smiles to the people of Amphawa, and of course, we received smiles back. It doubled our happiness (such beautiful words!).



If you have a free day (or even half a day), Amphawa is a place we highly recommend visiting. It's just a short distance from Bangkok, and it offers a refreshing change of pace from the air-conditioned malls and screens of your phone or tablet. Here, you can experience the charm of small canals, wide rivers, and the local way of life, all without breaking the bank.

This is an approximate table of expenses.



Please note that*** visiting the temple here is very good. Mostly there is no compulsion to donate. The price of incense and candles is normal. Mostly it is according to faith.



Finally, we would like to thank all our friends who joined the trip and group, who sheltered from the sun and splashed water together, wiped sweat and wiped their faces for each other. Thank you to all the lovely and kind people in Amphawa that we met. Thank you to all the tourists who are interested in our small report. Thank you to the teacher in charge of the subject that allowed us to experience new things by ourselves. (5 points, please, 5 points for me) And thank you to all Pantip members who have read this far. If there is any mistake, we apologize. See you on the next trip.



Thank you to everyone who came to smile with us.

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