A century ago, they conveyed rice across the
country. After a major refit and a face
lift, these barges now transport pampered
tourists along Thailand’s main watercourse.
The massive Chao Phraya River, one of
Asia’s great waterways, cuts a huge swathe
through Bangkok on its way to the Gulf. Also
known as the River of Kings, it adds an
extra dimension to the city’s transportation
options with perpetual traffic in the form
of water taxis, longtail boats, hotel
shuttles and sightseeing launches. They ply
up and down accompanied by a very diverse
variety of commercial craft using the river
as a more efficient means of delivery than
the over-extended road alternative. The
embarkation point is the Central Pier
conveniently situated next to the Saphan
Taksin Skytrain station, giving commuters
the opportunity of extending their range to
include destinations up river that are out
of reach for the current transit systems.
The magnificent Grand Palace is just one
that springs to mind.
Tucked away
upstream is the Anantara Riverside Resort
and Spa, an Asian styled tropical paradise
cleverly landscaped in an 11 acre site. It
has considerable river frontage and its own
jetty from which two shuttles cross each
other continuously connecting guests free of
charge with the city centre every 20
minutes. Most notably, its large quay is
also the base for a fleet of converted teak
rice barges operated by Manohra Luxury
Cruises. These ancient boats provide a novel
way to explore Thailand.
With origins
stretching back a hundred years, the hulls
have been lavishly converted into 5 star
luxury river cruisers, one of which has been
dubbed ‘The Orient Express of the River’.
This particular boat, the Manohra Song, has
four air conditioned staterooms with queen
sized beds and en suite bathrooms. There is
also a generous lounge and dining area with
a bar and a sun deck. Materials that
dominate the interior design include warm
teak and mahogany, while the custom made
furniture is covered in colourful Thai
silks, cottons and oriental rugs. From this
jetty, guests set out in these exquisite
boats to explore the enigmatic Chao Phraya
River that stretches north for 372
kilometres, taking in historically
significant towns that are densely populated
specifically because of their access to the
river. These trips could be for a night or
several days, the most popular being a
cruise 100 kilometres upstream to the
ancient fortified city of Ayutthaya. This
was the old capital from which the kings of
earlier times ruled Siam. It was also the
place where European sailing ships met up
with Chinese junks for the trading of silks,
spices and exotic timbers.
One of the
antique hulls has been converted into a
stately restaurant that takes off every
night to provide Anantara guests with a
lavish epicurean adventure in a spectacular
setting. Every morning Mondays to Fridays,
this vessel also sets forth from 8am until
noon for a unique Thai cookery class. After
meeting the chef and crew, guests cruise to
a jetty near a local market where fresh
produce is taken on board. The boat then
weaves its way along the busy river while
food is prepared. This is accompanied by an
explanation of the ingredients and methods
used to produce a five course Thai meal.
This gourmet repast is then eaten before an
unforgettable backdrop that only a river fit
for a king could provide.
The weather
needs to be considered when taking to the
river and the best time to go is between
November and January, when skies are clear
and the humidity low. From February onwards
tropical conditions begin to take over as
temperatures and humidity increase
progressively until May when the monsoon
winds bring torrential rain. Rain tips down
until the end of July, after which good
sailing conditions return.
INFORMATION
• Roy Watts travelled to
Thailand courtesy of Tourism Authority of
Thailand and Flight Centre:
www.flightcentre.co.za.
• The flight
was on Thai Airlines who earlier this year
introduced a direct connection to Bangkok
thus eliminating the need for the bothersome
dog leg routes of yore.
http://www.thaiairways.co.za/
• Anantara Riverside Resort and Spa:
http://bangkok-riverside.anantara.com/
• Manohra Rice Barge Cruises:
www.manohracruises.com
