When was the last time you breathed in fresh air and saw a clear sky?

Where was the last time you heard the sounds of nature around you...

Have you ever experienced a simple way of life? Have you ever received kindness from strangers? ...

I believe many people want to take a break from their busy lives and escape to a slower pace of life, right? I have a place I would like to recommend that takes less than 2 hours to travel from Bangkok. I'm talking about Samut Songkhram Province, or as we all know it, "Mae Klong".

I traveled along Highway 35, also known as Rama II Road, passing the Mahachai-Nageleua intersection at around kilometer 63. I then stayed on the left lane and used the elevated parallel road. After that, I crossed the bridge and entered the city of Mae Klong. It was quite an easy journey.

The first stop, we recommend that you stop by to pay respects to the Buddha for good luck at Wat Bang Kaphom, which is about 5 km from Maeklong city center. Take the route that will take you to Amphawa Market.

Wat Bang Ka Phrom was built during the Ayutthaya period, around the year 2321. The most interesting thing in the temple is the old wiharn, which is located next to the main wiharn.

This old viharn is a brick and mortar building that does not have a gable apex, bargeboards, or a makara. The pediment is decorated with Chinese-style stucco, which is a characteristic of Chinese architecture in the style of royal taste during the reign of King Rama III. There are two entrances on each side and two windows, one on each side.

The entrance to the temple is round in shape, with statues of soldiers standing guard on both sides of the door. In the center of the temple are four large footprints of the Buddha. The walls of the temple are also home to many ancient Buddha statues, and something I have never seen before anywhere else is the low-relief stucco murals on all four walls, which interestingly tell the story of the Buddha's life.

In addition to the main attractions, the temple also boasts several other interesting spots. These include the Wihan Luang Pho Dam, a traditional Thai wooden building open on all four sides, which houses a large black Buddha statue. The Wihan Phra Non houses a reclining Buddha statue, Phra Sangkachai, and Luang Pu Ruesi Uthamo. Behind the Wihan Phra Non, there is a large old pavilion where vendors gather to sell their wares on Saturdays and Sundays. The goods on offer are mainly local produce. This temple is truly unique and holds great historical value.

Let's continue to the Tha Kha Floating Market. I think this floating market still retains the most unique characteristics of the word "floating market" according to the way of life of the villagers as far as I have experienced. Here, the focus is not on catering to tourists to the point of having to adapt to the trends of society and forgetting their own identity. Instead, this place has managed to maintain its own identity quite firmly. I first came here several years ago, and this is my second visit. I can say that the feeling I have this time is almost no different from the first time.

The image of the grandmother rowing a boat to sell vegetables and fruits, even though she doesn't have a clear voice to shout and attract customers, her facial expressions and eyes made me unable to resist supporting her products.

Besides the boat vendors, there are also shops on the shore selling a variety of goods for you to take home. Most of the products are fresh vegetables, fruits, and various snacks.

Originally, the Tha Kha Floating Market was only open on the 2nd, 7th, and 12th waning or waxing days of the lunar month in the morning. However, it is now also open on Saturdays and Sundays. If you want to experience a traditional floating market, I recommend that you don't miss visiting this market.

We've already visited the Buddhist temple, so now let's head to a Christian church. Our next destination is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, also known as Bang Nok Khwaek Church.

Bang Nok Khwaek Church was built in 1890 by Father Paul Salmon, a French missionary. It took six years to build and follows the French Gothic architectural style. It is constructed of fired bricks with walls plastered with black mortar and a black sugar syrup sealant, giving it a beautiful appearance. The church is located right next to the Mae Klong River.

The interior of the church is spacious. The walls are adorned with stained glass from France. There are statues, pulpits, baptismal fonts, candlesticks of various shapes, and carvings depicting stories from the Christian Bible, which are very beautiful. When visiting the church, visitors should dress modestly and be respectful. This church is considered the most beautiful and oldest Catholic church in Thailand.

From the church, we jumped to the temple again. The next destination is Wat Bang Kung, which is not far from Wat Bang Nok Khwaek. Wat Bang Kung is located in Bang Khon Thi district, in the area of ​​Bang Kung camp. The wonder here is that the temple's chapel is covered by large trees, making this chapel one of the Unseen Thailand.

This small chapel is covered in the roots of various large trees, including banyan, fig, and kapok trees. It gives off a similar vibe to the Ta Prohm temple in Cambodia. This chapel was built during the Ayutthaya period.

Inside the chapel is the enshrined Luang Pho Phutthamani Nil, a Buddha statue in the attitude of subduing Mara from the late Ayutthaya period. There are murals from the late Ayutthaya period depicting stories about the life of the Buddha. There are images of the Buddha preaching and the Buddha sitting in a niche flanked by his chief disciples with their hands in the attitude of veneration.

Currently, the caretakers have cordoned off the chapel with ropes and have posted signs prohibiting tourists from climbing in to take pictures at the chapel windows. I think this makes the chapel lose a lot of its charm. The caretakers should find a better way to protect the tourists. But I understand the caretakers' intention to preserve this ancient site for future generations. If tourists didn't climb on the windowsills of the chapel, the caretakers wouldn't have to resort to such measures.

If you come to Mae Klong and don't visit the Amphawa Floating Market, it's like you haven't been to Mae Klong at all. For those who want to experience the traditional way of life of the Amphawa people, I recommend coming on a weekday. You will see Amphawa in a different light.

I had the opportunity to stay overnight near the Amphawa Floating Market, which allowed me to experience Amphawa in two different atmospheres: evening and morning.

The atmosphere after sunset was mesmerizing. The lights in the sky painted the scene, adding vibrant colors to Amphawa.

The morning atmosphere was incredibly peaceful. It's been a long time since I've seen such a sight. Monks were out collecting alms early in the morning, some rowing boats, others walking along the small paths that run parallel to the Amphawa Canal. The way of life in Amphawa, a life where time moves slowly, is hard to find in today's society, where everything seems to be a race against time. I hope this slow pace of life continues in Amphawa for a long time to come. The atmosphere of Amphawa without the crowds is simply charming.

Among the souvenirs I would recommend from Amphawa Floating Market is "Pla Tu Crispy Rice Crackers" because Pla Tu (Mackerel) is a famous product of Mae Klong. Pla Tu Crispy Rice Crackers can be found throughout the market for 20 baht per bag, but it might be a bit difficult to find on days when the floating market is closed. I walked around for a long time but couldn't find it, so I asked an auntie (vendor) who was selling fresh produce in the market. And what I received was more than just an answer. The auntie walked me to a house that was quite a distance from her stall. During the time when the market is closed, this house is a hair salon, but when the market is open, they also sell Pla Tu Crispy Rice Crackers. If the auntie hadn't taken me there, I wouldn't have had any souvenirs to bring back home. Before we parted ways, I didn't forget to raise my hands in a wai to thank the auntie. She smiled back with a warm heart. In addition to the souvenirs I brought back home, I also received the kindness of the people of Mae Klong.

For accommodation, I would recommend "Amphawa Na non Hotel & Spa", which is located near the Amphawa Canal Bridge, about 100 meters away. It is designed in a Modern Tropical style. In front of the hotel, there is a 7-Eleven and parking space.

The ground floor of the hotel is an open space, allowing for good air circulation. The decoration is in brown tones. Originally a coffee shop, it has now grown into a hotel. The lobby is located in the central part of the hotel. When facing the lobby, the right-hand side is an area for guests to sit and relax.

The guest area is designed with a focus on color, including furniture, cushions, and floor tiles. I really like it. This area can also be converted into a small meeting room.

The left side is the dining room.

There is also a space for reading books. The elevator here is a touch-activated type.

I was impressed by the design concept even before I entered the room. The room number design uses light shining through a clear plastic sheet with the room number written on it. The light hits the white ceiling, making the room number visible from a distance. The lighting in the hallway is not as bright as other hotels, making you want to sleep as soon as you open the door.

Let's take a look at the room I stayed in. For this trip, there were 4 of us, so we chose a suite room. Inside each suite, there are 2 bedrooms, 1 living room, and the bathroom is separated into a wet area and a dry area.

Upon entering the room, the bathroom area is located on the left side. It includes a sink and two separate rooms: a toilet and a shower.

Walking through the bathroom, you will find the living room area, which is a space for members to do activities together. Inside the Suite room, there are 2 bedrooms, each separated by a sliding glass door, making the room look airy and spacious.

The bedroom will only have a bed, a lamp, a wardrobe and air conditioning.

The other bedroom is also sparsely furnished, with only a bed, a lamp, a wardrobe, and an air conditioner.

Another point I would like to take you to see is on the 5th floor.

The 5th floor is a rooftop terrace where you can order food and enjoy a high-angle view of Amphawa.

Let's take a look at the breakfast room.

The restaurant area will be an open-air space, allowing guests to fully enjoy the natural breeze.

Breakfast includes Thai food, hot dogs, ham, fried eggs, vegetable salad, and fruits. The taste is considered okay.

For restaurants that I would like to recommend, there is Phawat Som Tam Kai Yang. Although the name of the restaurant is Som Tam Kai Yang, there are other menus that seem unlikely to be found in a Som Tam Kai Yang restaurant.

Super Som Tam is a corn som tam with salted egg and fresh shrimp. The taste of the som tam will have a creamy taste from the salted egg and the flavor is enhanced with wasabi. It's delicious! This menu is 140 baht.

Sweet shrimp, boiled shrimp with seafood dipping sauce. I think the taste is average, the appearance is not very appealing because the cucumber is full, stealing the scene from the shrimp. This menu is 80 baht.

Scallops with Garlic Butter. This dish arrives with the sizzling sound of a hot pan, followed by the aroma of butter and garlic. It's so delicious that I had to order a second serving! The price is 120 baht.

Steamed mussels with basil The aroma of basil wafts up to your nose, and the mussels are plump and juicy. This dish costs 120 baht.

I really wanted to order the mackerel salad omelet, which is one of the restaurant's signature dishes, but since they were out of mackerel salad, I got the crab omelet instead. This dish costs 120 baht.

Spicy and sour Tom Yum soup with mackerel, the strong flavor contrasts with the sweetness of the mackerel meat. Sipping the soup is very refreshing, it's delicious!

In the end, I can only hope that "Mae Klong" will continue to maintain its identity as a haven for those seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of the capital for many years to come.