Having missed the trip to find durian in Chanthaburi and wanting to make up for it with a small trip, the Bang Nam Phueng cycling trip came about unintentionally. The day before the trip, I was still in Hat Yai, and by the time I made it back to Bangkok, I was exhausted. But a promise is a promise, so I fought on!

Bang Na Nok Temple Pier (Inside)

We met up as planned, and although we were a little late, it wasn't too bad. Even if we had arrived on time, the weather wouldn't have cooperated. The sky was unusually clear, almost too clear, and it was hot. We arrived at the pier of Wat Bang Na Nok, which is located inside the temple grounds. This is not the same as Wat Bang Na Nai, which is located outside the temple. In the past, water transportation was the main mode of travel, but today Sukhumvit Road and Sathu Pradit Road are used more frequently. As a result, Wat Bang Na Nok is now located inside the temple grounds. Confused? Well, that's just how it is.

Bang Nam Phueng Nok Temple

The cost of crossing the river by boat is not expensive, and there is also a car ferry service available. On weekends, the area is especially lively with people. Upon arrival, we did not immediately look for bicycles to ride. Instead, we walked along a narrow path, which was crowded with vehicles, especially motorcycles, that were weaving in and out in a frightening manner.

The New Ubosot of Wat Bang Nam Phueng Nok

Upon arriving at the temple, one must pay respect to the Buddha and enter the Ubosot. The Ubosot we see here is a new one, built to replace the old one that is over a hundred years old. The old Ubosot still stands in its original location and has not been demolished. It is expected to be registered as an ancient monument, but it has not yet been restored due to limited budget from the Fine Arts Department. The restoration cannot be completed immediately.

We cut through the new church, passing by the old church with both a church and a cathedral. The old church is a gable-roofed church, built of brick and mortar. The exterior looks old and dilapidated, but the interior still retains traces of its past glory, which we always lament during our visit.

The exterior of the old church

The area around the church and the small chapel shows traces of the construction of a pavilion extending over the front door, which has been popular since the reign of King Dharma-Rattanakosin early period. The history of this ordination hall is rather obscure as there is no inscription indicating who built it. As for the principal Buddha image, "Luang Pho Yai", it is somewhat in the Ayutthaya style, but its characteristics are not clear because it is the work of local villagers in stucco, making it impossible to identify it definitively.

The pavilion that extended outwards has now completely collapsed, leaving only some of the supporting pillars. The roof, which is covered with clay tiles, has also begun to peel away in some places. The gable of the ordination hall has traces of stucco molding, but it has also fallen off completely. There is no evidence of a chofa, bai raka, or hang hong. The doors and windows all have traces of floral patterns.

Front Page of the Old Ubosot

Inside the Ubosot

The Great Father

**Phra Luang Por Yai**

The surrounding area has not yet been restored. The bricks and walls are beginning to crumble, causing significant damage to the interior paintings. Inside the viharn, there are murals of the Deities' Assembly from the early Rattanakosin period, each with unique robe patterns. The rear wall of the drum enclosure depicts the Phra Chulamani Chedi on the Tavatimsa Heaven. Notably, there is an image of the Phra Viman, the royal seal of King Rama III, floating on a cloud without any deities inside. It is unknown who created this image. All the windows are also painted with delicate guardian deities, still showing a considerable influence of Ayutthaya art.

The Assembly of Deities on the Second Neck Wall in the Wihan of Wat Bang Nam Phueng Nok

As Wat Bang Nam Phueng Nok is located outside the capital, the artists had more freedom and were less strict in the rules of painting. The style and popularity of the paintings changed more slowly than those in the capital during the same period. The paintings in the wihan and the ubosot were probably painted by royal artists or local artists who had been trained by royal artists, as they have a similar style and technique to those in the capital.

Divine Assembly

This is the translation of the Thai phrase "เทพชุมนุม" (Thep Chum Num).

As we walked through the church, we were filled with a mixture of admiration and regret. The murals and architecture were stunning, but they were also in a state of disrepair. It was unclear how much longer they would be able to withstand the ravages of time without proper restoration. Despite their dilapidated condition, they were undeniably beautiful. We couldn't help but wonder how magnificent they must have been before time took its toll.

We left the old ordination hall of Wat Bang Nam Phueng with regret, hoping to return when time permits. We then rented bicycles to travel to the next destination, unsure of the route ahead. We had only visited the Bang Nam Phueng market once before, by car, so we were unfamiliar with the area. Fortunately, the bike shop provided us with a simplified map to guide us. The three of us planned our journey with excitement, anticipating that we would be able to complete a large loop on our bikes within the time available.

However, as soon as we left the dirt road, we were off course from the direction we expected to go. We had to change our plan to avoid wasting time. The first stop from Wat Bang Nam Phueng Nok was changed to "Baan Thup".

"House of Incense"

The House of Incense is a place where visitors can participate in various activities. Some come in groups, while others come alone. However, there are many interesting activities to choose from, such as batik tie-dyeing or making incense, which is the namesake of the house.

On the day of our visit, the auspicious timing was not ideal, as a large group of cyclists from the Government Savings Bank was having a lively event. We decided to observe from a distance before moving on to the next location on our revised plan, which was the **Bang Nam Phueng Market**.

Originally, we planned to visit Bang Nam Phueng Market last, as we expected to spend a lot of money there. However, we ended up arriving at the market as our second stop. We strolled through the market, enjoying rice pudding snacks and the wide variety of goods on offer. The food looked delicious, but we didn't sit down to eat as we were already full from snacking. Most of the items for sale were clothes, but they were creatively presented in a DIY style and relatively inexpensive. We ended up spending quite a bit of money there.

A hat vendor who can paint various designs for customers on the spot.

Leaving Bang Nam Phueng Market with full stomachs but light hearts, we set off on our bicycle journey to the various destinations we had meticulously planned for this trip. Determined to make the most of the day, we aimed to cover as much ground as possible.