Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine January 2020 | Page 70

Travel / Bangkok
5
senses:
sight
Ayutthaya
E/ One Bangkok
neighbourhood where
visitors will see plenty
of residents on two
wheels, is on the paths
and pavements of
Ayutthaya. Situated just
north of the current city
limits, this sprawling
complex of ruined
buildings was once
the Thai capital.
I/ Daerah di Bangkok
di mana pengunjung
dapat melihat banyak
penduduk lokal
bersepeda, di jalan-jalan
dan trotoar Ayutthaya.
Terletak di utara batas
kota, daerah yang
dipenuhi reruntuhan
bangunan ini dahulu
adalah ibu kota Thailand.
68
1
 hile Taipei has Dajia and New York its Central
W
Park, Bangkok has the island of Bang Krachao,
known locally as the city's 'green lung'...
Maintenance, on a bike, you’re not
travelling in a landscape: you’re part of
the landscape. Cycling is truly the best
way to see this city because riders can
see, smell, and hear everything.”
Biking oasis
While Taipei has Dajia and New York
its Central Park, Bangkok has the
island of Bang Krachao. Known locally
as the city’s ‘green lung’, this (virtually)
car-free, bucolic oasis on the banks
of the Chao Phraya River is a cyclist’s
utopia. A short ride across the water
from downtown Sukhumvit,
it’s a million miles away from the
glitzy malls and sterile skyscrapers
of the capital’s main commercial
district.
“A few years ago, Bang Krachao
was a secret spot frequented only by
Bangkok residents in the know,” says
Amorn Oun-Anong, founder member
of the Bangkok Cycling Club. “While it’s
now on the itinerary of many cycle tour
operators, this tranquil patch
of greenery still makes for a perfect
afternoon’s biking. If you can’t make
it to the north of Thailand, then a little
piece of jungle on Bangkok’s
doorstep is the next best thing.”
2