We had an empty Sunday, so instead of wandering around another characterless Bangkok mall full of overpriced branded crap, we ventured over to Koh Kret.
A ten-minute taxi ride took us to the ferry pier at Sanam Neua temple, and fifteen minutes and seven baht later, we were on the island. Koh Kret (เกาะเกร็ด) is a small four-square-kilometer island in the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi province, just north of Bangkok.
An artificial canal was built in the 1700s to cut out a meander in the river and shorten shipping distances. Today, the island is home to several temples, Mon villages, and local markets selling mostly touristy trinkets, pottery, and food. There are no cars on it, so the bicycle is the preferred form of transport.
Being a weekend, the place was busy with locals and tourists escaping the stifling heat and seeking shelter in one of the many riverside cafes and bars. We planned to walk around it but with temperatures hitting 37 degrees, we managed a couple of kilometers before seeking out the craft beer place.
