Along with some beautiful temples, parks, handicraft shops and food vendors, which seem to be found at every turn in Thailand, there are some very unique things to see and do while visiting Bangkok’s island villages. Koh Kret has several small, quaint villages scattered around the island. You can easily get from one to another by foot or bicycle, these being the most popular choices, as many paths are too narrow for practical use of scooters.
The largest village contains a couple age-old Wats (Thai Buddhist temples). There are food stalls scattered throughout. Most interestingly, there is a typical Buddhist stupa which has a slight twist. At one point it started sinking down a slope into the river, until reinforcements were made and the stupa was saved. Rather than propping it back upright, it was left on its tilt, and has become iconic amongst Thais, much like the leaning tower of Pisa in Italy. There is also a large museum with fairly old relics, paintings, wood carvings, and historical depictions of life on Koh Kret when it was initially created.
Within all the villages, amidst the handicraft shops, you will find an overwhelming amount of gorgeous pottery. An island built on a clay bedded river has its perks. You will find many huts are actually housings for massive kilns which cook the pottery solid. Most were busy working away as we passed through, yet all had a warm welcome to invite you in to see their workshop and experience a moment of their craft. Watching the wet clay pot spinning on the kick wheel spun Marianne into a short rendition of Unchained Melody. It’s a good thing there were others present, as the rustic setting could easily encourage visitor reenactments of the famous scene from Ghost. We bought ornamental clay pots and quickly got out of there, before things got hotter than the kiln.
Walking through a marshy part of the island, on a path connecting two of the villages, there is an old traditional Mon housing complex on stilts and bamboo platforms which has been preserved for visitors to explore. It holds relics from the ancient way of life which used to occupy this manmade island. It’s serene and certainly intertwined with its natural surroundings. As with much of Koh Kret, it’s certainly a breath of fresh air away from the heavily polluted streets of Krong Tep (Bangkok).
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