BANGKOK: RIVER BOATS AT THE CHAO PHRAYA RIVER

I was at the Shangrila Hotel Bangkok watching the Chao Phraya River, now still with waves but the boats continue to navigate... or are the waves produced by the speedy boats?!?

I was supposed to be here almost a year ago but my trip was postponed by the torrential rains resulting in flooding in Bangkok last October 2011! But things are so much better now in Bangkok.

There are many types of boats that ply by the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok and I was so intrigued looking at the river taxis, the cargo boats, the lighted Pagoda boats.

This boat plies from the Peninsula Hotel to the Shangrila Hotel.

These are what I call the pagoda boats. But I think this is what they call the Chao Phraya Tourist boat.

This is a special boat service for travelling along the Chao Phraya River. The boat route, connected to BTS Skytrain at Taksin Bridge station, starts from Sathon Pier and proceeds up the river to Phra Arthit Pier (near Khaosan Road). The boat stops at 8 major piers which provide easy access to important tourist sites such as the Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho, Chinatown, Khaosan Road etc. A guide is provided on board and the boat is not crowded as the express boat. The boat service is available daily from 9.30 to 16.00 hours, departing every 30 minutes. 

One day river pass is available for unlimited trips at 150 baht which includes a Chao Phraya River Guidebook. 

These are the private "cigarette long-tail boats" which are fast and available for tours in the City's huge canal system.

In Bangkok, long-tail boat services are available at many piers along the Chao Phraya river, offering different routes, such as those from Khlong Bangkoknoi to Bangyai, and from Khlong Bangphrom to Khlong Bangramat. The fares depend on the distance of the route. Most boats are in service from 6 a.m. to 9.30 p.m.

Public river taxis run from dawn till dusk from Khlong Toie to as far north as Nonthaburi, and the trip lasts about an hour. River taxis come in different forms.

This is called the Chao Phraya River Express Boat. 

There is a motorboat service on the Chao Phraya River called "Chao Phraya River Express Boat". The boats run between Wat Ratchasingkhon (in southern Bangkok, near Krungthep Bridge) and Nonthaburi province.

There are three types of boats, spotted by a flag in different colours. The local line has no flag and fares range from or orange flag; and the fares range from 13-32 bath, depending on the distance and types of boats. After disembarking at a main pier, you can cross the river using the ferry service

this fast boat is really filled with people just standing

These are the Cross River Ferry Boats.

From almost every boat landing in Bangkok, there are cross-river ferries that ply back and forth across the Chao Phraya River. The fare is about 3 baht and usually collected at the entrance to the landing

These are the other boats I saw.

this a very long low-lying cargo boat slowly plying the Chao Praya River

What I was intrigued about is the speed of the boats in Bangkok's Canal system. I expected the rides to be leisurely but no, the boats are really fast and there are lots of locals and tourists riding these.

I just enjoyed watching them go by...

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Note: the italicized notations are taken from:
http://www.thaiwaysmagazine.com/bangkok/transportation/bangkok_transportation_boat.html