Pra Artit Road : The Allure of the Past

I have to say that among all the areas around Kao San road, Pra Artit road is among my favorite. This is not only applied to me. It applies to other Thai people as well. One reason why Thais like to hang out on that road is because of the scenery overlooking the new Rama VIII bridge and the beautiful Chao Praya river. However, there is only one part of the road that you can actually see the river, which would be at Santi Chai Prakarn park located next to Pra Sumen Fort, one of the only two reamining forts that remain standing from the original fourteen, all of which was built by King Rama I to protect the new capital from the natorious Burmese. If you enter Pra Artit road, you will not miss it! Pra Sumen Fort is the landmark of this road especially at night when it's lit by the warm yellow light making it even more monumental.

Sati Chai Prakarn Park, a small patch of open space that stretches down to the riverfront, is popular for Thais both young, and old. They come here to relax, and have a picnic, or even do a group aerobics on an open area next to the river. Many tourists find it hard to resist the beauty of the Rama VIII bridge that stretches across Chao Praya river. Ones can easily be drawn to walk through the park toward the riverfront to take a picture of these two intriguing monuments.

Restaurants, bars, hostels and coffee shops are clogged up Pra Artit Road from both sides, making it somewhat impossible to know that you are actually next to Chao Praya river, which is kind of sad, in my opinion. There is still a presences of foreigners from Kao San road to be seen here since Pra Artit road's within a waling distant from it. Many backpackers like to stay on this street since it is a bit more quiet at night, and more calm in general. Life is a lot slower here compare to Kao San areas. Perhaps, it is because all the well preserved buildings along the road as well as colonial-style mansions like Ban Pra Artit, and Ban Tha Chang. With blast from the past kind of experiences, it is obvious why Pra Artit road is very popular among university students, and other young trendsetters as well as tourists who are looking for the place that is full of characters.