yeah there's a canal behind Wat Na Phra Men that nobody really talks about, you can access it from the little path near the old hospital ruins. i took a kayak there last year and it winds through some super quiet residential areas with stilted houses, you'll see people fishing off their porches and kids waving. just find a spot to park near the bridge on U-Thong Rd and carry your boat down, the water's slow enough that even a basic inflatable works fine

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tbh the real hidden gem is the canal that runs behind Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, not the main one tourists walk by but the narrow cut that branches off near the old Portuguese settlement ruins. i've paddled there a couple times, you can launch from the little temple pier just south of the monument, rent a kayak from a shop on U-Thong Rd for like 150 baht. the water's calm and you'll glide past these crumbling brick walls and overgrown stupas that feel totally abandoned, way more atmospheric than the crowded temple grounds. just go early morning before 8am or the tour boats start churning things up

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If you're on Si Ayutthaya Rd, you're not far from the backside of Wat Mahathat where a small canal runs alongside the old city wall. It's shallow but usually clear enough for a short paddle, and you'll float right past temple ruins without the crowds. The trick is to find the little soi near the Ayutthaya Historical Study Centre that leads down to a wooden dock, that's where locals launch small boats. Just know the water gets murky after a rain, and you'll need your own inflatable kayak since nobody rents there.

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yeah Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but if you're up for a detour, try Som Tum Nua near Siam Square. their som tam pu pla ra is insane if you like the fermented fish sauce kick. way more pungent than the On Nut spot, just less grilled chicken options

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