KO KRET

A little ways outside of Bangkok there is an island on the Chao Phraya River called Ko Kret. There's no question that it's an island, but the river isn't that big, so it's more like the river splits into two for a while and then rejoins, leaving a big chunk of land in the middle... if that makes any sense. But considering the island is only a three minute boat ride away, it is noticeably isolated from it's metropolitan surroundings.

Ko Kret holds one of Thailand's oldest communities of Mon people. One of the things Mon people are historically known for is their pottery, a tradition that is still upheld on the island. They use local clay to make their hand-thrown ceramics, and a number of old and dilapidated brick kilns can still be found. There are no cars on Ko Kret, only bicycles and motorbikes, and all of the little paths and walkways branch off of one main road that circles the island.

Mac and I rented bicycles for a little more then a buck and took a spin around the island. At a leisurely pace the ride took a little more then an hour. There are a couple of small towns on the island at which the road narrows and becomes lined with little shops and restaurants, many of which sell the local pottery. Even though there are no cars on the island, Mac and I still encountered a traffic jam when school let out and the narrow path became full of kids in uniforms all doubled up on their bicycles. After a nice lunch on the river, Mac and I took off to meet our friends to go fishing. It was a good day trip.