198 River Race Horses

If the Barges are the work horses of the Chao Phraya then the Long Tail Boats must be the Race Horses. They speed up and down ferrying passengers, most tourists, like taxis on the river. As far as we know they’re unique unto Bangkok. (If you’ve seen them elsewhere let us know, okay?) They have to be an awful waste of energy. They have huge gasoline engines balanced on pivots with a drive shaft extending behind, into the river. The driver controls speed by lifting or lowering the LONGTAIL, often causing a rooster tail.

LongTails at Rest