Monthly Photos　July 2012

Photos taken by ILCAA staff and associates are posted here once a month; most of them are taken during their field research in Asia and Africa.

(The copyright belongs to the photographers.)

Train Arrival at a Small Terminal in Bangkok

At the west bank of Chao Phlaya River in Bangkok there is a railway station called Wongwian Yai, which is the terminal of Maeklong line. Railway terminals are likely to be large and busy. Surprisingly, however, the station does not fit into such a popular image of “terminals” at all. It has only one track and one platform, it all looks very simple. When I took this picture, a woman was crossing the track in front of the train which advanced so slowly that it's wheels had almost stopped turning. It made me realize how relaxed the atmosphere was.

The passengers getting off the train did not look like business people or long distance travelers. Rather, their appearance made me guess that this line served as a life-line railway. Boxed eggs in the cabin strengthened my feelings.

Maeklong line is split by Tha Chin River between Maha Chai station and Ban Laem station, 30 km south west of Bangkok. Every passenger must change to the ferry to cross the river. Though I felt interested and wanted to see it, I had to go on with my field work. I turned back to the city center with slight reluctance.

12 SEP 2011
in Bangkok, Thailand
Photograph by Michihisa UMEKAWA

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