Canal Tour or DIY way?

yeah skip the floating market tours for sure, they're just canal traffic jams with overpriced souvenirs. instead take the khlong saen saep express boat from pratunam, it's like 20 baht and goes through the real working canals under all those low bridges. you'll see wooden houses, locals doing laundry, kids waving from the banks. get off at wat sriboonreung and walk to the golden mount from there, that's a solid afternoon. just watch your bag on the boat, it gets packed

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honestly just head to the pier near Wat Saket or the one by Tha Chang and grab a private long tail. you'll prob pay around 1000-1500 baht for an hour and they'll take u through the back klongs past stilted houses and little temples. the floating market tours are a bit overrated imo, too touristy and you're just stuck on a boat with a bunch of people. if u want something unique, ask the driver to go through the old city canals near Bang Lamphu, some spots feel like a diff world from the main roads. just negotiate the price before u get on, and bring cash.

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tbh i'd just wander down to the pier near wat arun, there's always longtail guys hanging around. u can haggle them down to like 800 baht for a quick loop through the klongs behind thonburi, way more authentic than those packaged tours. the floating market ones are a scam, just a traffic jam on water.

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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