Trains and Boats (but no Planes)
This week the elevated Pink Line opened despite some stations not being fully ready yet.
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This was going to be another joint try-out trip with Mike.
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At Talad Bang Yai Station I took the Purple Line to Nonthaburi Civic Station where the signage was already put up.
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However, the direct walkway to the station was still under construction.
Since the stations are about a 10-15 minute walk on the ground level from each other, this was not really a problem.
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For now staff will give you this free Single Journey Card.
This monorail is similar to the one used on the Yellow Line. (*)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/198b43_313501850d7f4b15a128929b5a799aed~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_153,h_118,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/198b43_313501850d7f4b15a128929b5a799aed~mv2.jpeg)
Ready to board!
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/198b43_5de2704a585044758cc56e57c68a7e4b~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_153,h_115,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/198b43_5de2704a585044758cc56e57c68a7e4b~mv2.jpeg)
Lots of passengers were standing and taking photos/videos, just like us...
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The extension to Muang Thong Tani isn't finished yet.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/198b43_1342831b9287447b99d93083da98b02d~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_153,h_130,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/198b43_1342831b9287447b99d93083da98b02d~mv2.jpeg)
The front and back windows provide excellent views!
Altogether there are 3 connecting lines: Red, Green, & Orange, this last one is almost finished.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/198b43_e83612ec77434a528cbb59cb00039c0a~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_153,h_126,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/198b43_e83612ec77434a528cbb59cb00039c0a~mv2.jpeg)
Arriving after standing a good hour at the final station: Min Buri.
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Unfortunately we very quickly discovered that there's almost nothing in the surrounding area, except for the unfinished Orange Line station.
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We quickly decided to turn around and hop on the train to the previous station: Min Buri Market.
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We walked around a bit on the market and headed towards Khlong Saen Saeb.
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Turned out there's a Min Buri Pier where electric boats run!
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/198b43_940caf610e60494396a2130c213a8b20~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_153,h_121,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/198b43_940caf610e60494396a2130c213a8b20~mv2.jpeg)
We quickly hopped on board, not many passengers even though riding this electric boat was still free of charge.
As you can hear it was a very, very peaceful ride!
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/198b43_e4fa684ec9c84472b928761e38d1d069~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_153,h_121,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/198b43_e4fa684ec9c84472b928761e38d1d069~mv2.jpeg)
Just before Pratunam Bangchan Tai Pier was a huge sluice.
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No problem, a 2nd boat was already waiting for us on the other side.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/198b43_6125cfd38f1545b298d8f3ca39f3b9f2~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_153,h_115,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/198b43_6125cfd38f1545b298d8f3ca39f3b9f2~mv2.jpeg)
Electric boats are quiet and peaceful, but also very slow, both of us began to yawn from time to time.
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We passed Yamiyatun Muslimin Mosque and quite a few more, definitely a Muslim part of town.
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The boat driver did a good job, but Wat Sriboonruang was the terminal pier.
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There we changed to an old Khlong Saen Saeb Express boat, a completely different experience.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/198b43_d226b48079a8494c94fbba804f3cf2af~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_153,h_115,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/198b43_d226b48079a8494c94fbba804f3cf2af~mv2.jpeg)
Noisy, faster. and at times bone-shaking as everything was vibrating!
We were happy to get off at Pratunam Pier, but all in all in a good trip!
BONUS
Years ago when I started using this express boat regularly, water management wasn't that great I guess as the water level in the khlong was at times much higher.
In those cases, the whole roof of the boat was lowered a lot in order to be able to get under the bridges!
I remember everybody on board had to bend over quite a bit, different times...
And recently I saw that happening again, although just a little!
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