As I had to bringy car to the Toyota garage for yearly inspection, I had about an hour’s waiting time. So, I decided to take a taxi to Phra Arthit Road for a short walk to the local park by the river. It was around lunchtime so the weather was too hot for a thirty minutes walk towards my destination. Besides there was an ongoing construction project in that area. A new line of underground train station was supposed to be ongoing for three years. This meant that this old road would be reduced to only one lane during the construction. I was glad I took the taxi for this short journey.
Phra Arthit Road is in the old city of Bangkok as it’s very near the Grand Palace. This part of the city is full of old wooden houses, houses with neo-colonial style architecture and big old houses with Georgian and Rococo influences. But you’ll have to walk along narrow lanes and by the river to spot these old houses.
This road ought to be almost 120 years old as the old shophouses are mote than 100 years’ old. Phra Arthit Road means Sun Road, but I have no clue why it has this name. It’s customary in the old days to call the name of roads according to the names of Royalties who lived on those roads. The road where Toyota garage is located is called the ‘grandchildren of the prince’ road. So, the world ‘sun’ could be a nickname for one of the princes who used to have a palace on this road.
All the old shophouses has been renovated and restored several years ago. The local authority had been trying to preserve old houses and turning old parts of Bangkok into tourist attractions. A museum was set up in this area in a very interesting old building. Being near the Grand Palace, the souvenir shops and coffee shops seemed to be doing very well during high season. Local food stalls have become famous landmarks as several foreign movies used them as scenes in their stories. So, Thai youngsters have been there to take selfies during weekends.
The atmosphere was rather quiet during lunchtime on a working day. But the bright warm sunshine gave me lots of energy. As I didn’t have much time, I couldn’t inspect most of those small shops, restaurants and coffee shops. I noticed that most vendors had just got uo from their long night service. They weren’t ready to face customers! Some streetfood stalls were ready to take orders of fast food dishes. The vibes from the river opposite the road kept on telling me to be there.
I was torn between slowing observing all the small shops and rushing towards the river. I was trying to locate the old Indian restaurant which I stopped for lunch with an old college friend years ago. I was very grateful to her for taking me around this area for the first time after years of living overseas. Now I have lost touch with her and wondered how she was doing after the long lockdown. There was a nice PadThai fastfood stall somewhere but I seemed to miss it this time. It would be nice to have plenty of time and pocket money to just walk around and enjoy all the food and desserts among these shops. I could eat until I dropped on the ground for just a day!
It was so nice to have this brief moment to visit Sun Road after over two years of absence. If I had more time, I would walk for fifteen minutes to Khao Sarn road to see how the famous tourist hot spot has been recovering this year. Last year I went for a quick survey, the whole place was close and completely quiet. I couldn’t imagine the adverse financial impact on local people and lives during that time. The government was too gullible and fallen prey to organised campaign of irrational fear. People just switched off their critical thinking because of panic and fear.
Now more people have woken up to question about the adverse impact of coerced mass injections. So, I hope that people would have the motivation to rebuild their businesses and lives with more optimism and hope. The old buildings still looked very strong and stable as if nothing could harm them. They’d rather be the same old buildings with no desire for modernisation. Some old trees in narrow alleyways told me that they would try to keep this old city calm and peaceful. I would try to make time to spend a whole day eating and drinking till late evening one day.
Wishing you peace, good health and prosperity.
Stay strong and cheerful.
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