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chedi

Only one island which nearest Bangkok. It became an island when the King Taay Sra of Ayuthaya kingdom decided to make a canal cutted the cape and shorten the Chao Phraya river. The canal called Lad Koh Noi canal . After the stream changed the way , canal became bigger than the old river and cape became an island. After Ayuthaya period, King Taksin , who reign during Thonburi period (before Rattanakosin period) set this place as a community of Mon ( invaders from Burma).
Mon people here was built some temples in Mon style ,easy to notice by chedi. The old Mon tradition, believe and culture ‘re still alive . I ‘ve been there during Songkran (Thai New Year), it ‘s also the Mon New Year . People always go to temple and pour water to chedi and blessing for a good things. The mothod of pouring by raise up a water container to the spired of chedi (by rolling a string) and water ‘ll pour from the top . It ‘s not thai tradition.
The area around this island also a place of pottery making. It ‘s a big pottery manufacture area in Central Thailand. Originally , they mainly produced plant pots and home utilities products ,but one of the best pottery here is water container in Mon style. All these potteries always carved the surface with very delicate details. You can see some beautiful pottery in the museum wher located behide the temple.
Around the main temple ,there ‘re so many sourvenir shops where offer pottery & product from coconut tree (recommend for Sunee pottery shop),food stalls and restuarants where serve Thai & Mon food and Thai desserts. Also you can see some pottery manufactories which you can see how they make it.

Activities :
Visitting temple
Watching pottery and dessert manufactory.
Hiring boat around the island, watching people lifestyle and garden.
Walking along the small road ,it ‘ll reach you around an island in 1-2 hours ,sightseeing for greenery gardens, temples, local people lifestyle and traditional houses.

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temple

Poramai yikawaas temple

Former name ,Pak Ao temple. This temple was built since Ayuthaya period (more than 200 years ago) . It was abandoned after Ayuthaya kingdom destroyed and became as Mon community in King Taksin reign, the Mon who came was built a Mon style chedi called Rang Kung chedi.After that King Rama V came for renovation again . He changed the name to Poramai Yika-waas as present. The meaning is the temple of grand mother. The king also established this temple as one where collect Tripitaka (buddha law books) in Mon language which is hardly found for now.
Ubosot or ordination hall was renovated during the reign of King Rama V , inside there’re a mural painting in the style of King Rama V which got some details from European influence.
Viharn with a big reclining buddha image .
The great Mon style chedi.

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Old temple

Chim-plee temple
Formerly name is Pa Fai temple . Once was an old mon temple and renovated on King Rama III . The new Ubosot is in King Rama III style.

Pa Lay Lai temple
Not so far from Chim-plee temple , an abandoned temple with Ubosot , chedi and buddha image in Pa Lay Lai pose. This pose included buddha in European sitting ,in front of the buddha are sitting monkey and elephant .

Salakun temple
Not so far from island is a temple which famous in amulets. In the reign of King Rama V, the monk named Acharn Soon who lived here was respected by the king. He collected a lot of European glasses and Mother of pearl inlaid boxes which can be seen in temple museum.

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local house

Koh Kret as Thai dessert center
Koh Kret ‘s also the center of Thai dessert manufacture,cause of this area is a good dessert resources.The product is so wellknown in delicious and spread over Bangkok and surround . So you can see a big community which mainly produce in Thai dessert here. For visitting thai dessert community ,shopping and see how they make them, you must hire a boat to Klong Kha Nom Waan or dessert canal. There ‘re some interested shops as follow :
Baan Khun Taew
The center of Thai dessert & restaurant ,offer Thai classical music by local people.
Baan Khun Somchai
Not so far from the above.

How to go :
-If you don’t like to discovery with public bus. There ‘re boat trip to Koh Kret in oneday ,but on Sat and Sun only. Contact Supatra express boat company at Mahatrat pier. Opposite Mahathat temple.
-For public bus, take a bus no. 32 (begin from Wat Pho –Tha Chang pier –Tha Pra Chan pier – Thammasat Univ.- The National Museum- Phra A-thit rd.- Bang Lam Phu- Sam Sen-…. And end at Pakkred ). Or air-con bus no. 6 run and end at the same as 32. When stop there, walk to the West (about 1 kms.pass stalls market ) or take a tuk tuk to Wat Sanam Nue pier, cross the river to Koh Kret by boat (2 B/ person).Then you ‘ll reach Poramai Yika-waas temple.