Shopphing Travel Guide

Picture choosen by : Ms.Sally May Hidden Treasures of Khlong Phra Kanong There are still hidden treasures in Bangkok not discovered by tourists. Some of these treasures you will find along Khlong Phra Khanong and Khlong Prawet Burirom.
This one of the lesser traveled Khlongs of Bangkok yet nothing is more quintessential Bangkok than traveling the little known back canals. Boats operate regularly on this khlong from 5pm to 11pm about every 20 to 30 minutes. The boat service starts in front of Phra Khanong wet market and ends at Srinakharin Pier near Seacon Square Shopping Center. The boat trip is roughly 30 minutes costing around 15 Baht. In the small sois of Phra Khanong Market are a lot of differnent types of goods from clothes to mobile phones, to household items as well as religious items. And as with any Thai fresh market there are also lots of food stalls with savour food or colorful sweets. On the khlong you will immediately notice the old architecture. Lining the canal will be old teak wood homes, ornate temples as well as mosques. A lot of Indian and Muslim families are living in this part of the town.
At famous Wat Maha But built in 1762, you will learn of a famous folk story of Mae Nak. Mae Nak is probably the most famous of all Thai ghosts. The story dates from the reign of King Mongkut (1851-1868).
According to the legend Mae Nak and her husband, Tid Mak, lived in a small shack. Thid Mak had to leave her to go to war. While he was away Mae Nak died while in child birth. Her ghost would not leave until Tid Mak returned. On his return he met Mae Nak and not knowing that she had passed away believed her to still be alive. When he finally did realize that his wife was a ghost, he fled to the temple. Mae Nak was furious and terrorized the village even to causing the death of several people in the village, including her best friend. The monk Somdet Phra Phutthachan (To Phromrangsi) heard of this. He came, cut a piece of her forehead bone to make a buckle, and wore this at all time. Mae Nak was pacified and let her husband live in peace. This story has become popular in Thailand through several films, plays and musicals. In the temple grounds is a shrine to Mae Nak. People come hear to contact the spirit world wanting to know the numbers for winning lottery tickets or to ask assistance in ridding themselves of some pesky ghost. But many, in particular pregnant woman, are afraid of this shrine and will avoid it. Another remnant of ancient Bangkok further down the khlong is the Khlong Suan Market. Rows of two storey wooden houses along the khlong. "Klong Suan will touch you with its old shophouses and stalls selling a variety of tasty traditional foods.