Mekhala Cruise
Location: Riverside
For centuries, The River of Kings has been the lifeblood of Thailand, carrying with it the history and culture of this proud nation. Flowing down from the fertile central plains for almost 400 kilometres, this birthplace of Thai civilization connects the ancient Siamese capital Ayuthaya with the modern capital Bangkok, where it remains an essential artery in the region's economic life.
Beautifully crafted, Mekhala is a collection of three restored rice barges that provide the setting for daily journeys between Bangkok and Ayuthaya, retracing the paths of former royal processions. Their journey is a fascinating insight into how life on the river has changed over this time.
The magic of this voyage is its unhurried pace that captures the subtle colours and moods of life on the river over a 24-hour period. A couple of hours into the journey, the bustle of the city is replaced by the tranquillity of the countryside.
Along densely wooded river banks, tin and timber homes nestle in the hyacinth-clogged shallows housing families whose lives are still bound by the ancient waterway. |
