SWEAT IN THE CITY — A verdant jungle perfect for exploring by bicycle awaits just across the river. Despite being a mere hop across the Chao Phraya, Prapadaeng is unexplored territory for many Bangkokians, which was evident when nobody recognized the photos I posted on Facebook.
In a bid to get back on my bike and breathe some cleaner air, I ditched my usual weekend plans of lounging around, watching DVDs and instead hopped on my bike to explore the jungle and mangrove-covered patch of land known as Bangkok’s “Green Lung.”
Cycling to a pier near Wat Khlong Toei, bikers pay 20 baht each to pile their bikes into a tiny boat. Although it’s a short crossing to the other side, this ferry service is not a particularly comfortable ride for those averse to small, unstable boats carrying far too much cargo.
The cycle-less or urban-riding wary can always hire a rusty, old one at Prapadaeng, or for something smarter, numerous bike tours are happy to charge an arm-and-a-leg to cycle around the area.
Once off the boat, one almost forgets they’re in a big, dirty city. That is unless you crane your neck to see the skyscrapers towering over the palms and trees which shade the little paths and tracks running through the area.
Most keen cyclists in Thailand will have cycled through pretty farm land, mangroves, dilapidated temples and lush green jungle, but there’s something novel about it in Prapadaeng, simply because it’s so close to Bangkok. For new cyclists, there’s no pressure to ride for hours and risk the numb-bum or aching quads that longer rides may cause. There’s also no need to make a day of it; a couple of hours is plenty of time to leave your house, get there and get back. No big mission, no sore bottom and no Google Map scrutiny required – the area is quite simple to navigate. That’s my kind of cycle trip.
Despite the convenience of its proximity, my friends and I learned the hard way that the area is still remote when it comes to bike malfunctions. A word of advice; bring a repair kit. Despite efforts from some locals to help repair a flat tire on a friend’s bike without adequate tools, the tire remained flat as a pancake.
Thankfully, whatever helps keep Prapadaeng a relative secret from Bangkokians and tourists also means it’s beautifully quiet. You will pass the odd cyclist, runner or cycle group, but on the whole you’ll have the place to yourself and the few people who live in the houses scattered throughout the farmland.
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