Minibus passes by Wongwian Yai.

As early as 5:00am,Bangkok buses were already on the move from their respective depots.
Being an early bird,I was near the Wat Traimit area bus stop joining a handful of Bangkokians waiting to catch our respective buses.

 Since this bus stop is near the corner road,it's quite difficult to see the glaring bus number as it was still very dark.You need to lift your hand to hail it otherwise they just zoom by.

My destination is the Sai Tai Mai Southern Bus Terminal and usually waited for Number 507 bus. There were many Number 1,4,7 & 8 buses passing by.

Buses are either red(non a/c-free of charge) or yellow(air cond) .
 Bus Number 1 route:-Grand Palace,Charoen Krung,Hua Lamphong,China Town,Harbour Dept,Si Phraya,Oriental,Sathorn/Saphan Taksin,Menam Riverside Hotel.  

Bus Number 4 route:-Klong Toei market,Klong Toei,Lumphini,Silom/Sala Daeng,Chulalongkorn Hospital,Sam Yan,China Town,Hua Lamphong,Charoen Krung,Little India,Itsaraphap Rd,King Thaksin Statue  

Bus Number 7:-Klong Kwang,King Thaksin Statue,Little India,Charoen Krung,Hua Lamphong,China Town,Klang Hospital.  

Bus Number 8:-Big C ,Lat Phrao,Ratchadaphisek,Phahon Tothin,Chatuchak Park / Mo Chit,Saphan Kwai,AriSanam Pao,Victory Monument,Mahidol University,Uruphong,Bobe Market,Little India,Memorial Bridge(depot)

 Having waited for an hour half and couldn't find any sign of Bus 507 so I enquired around.
I was given to try Bus Number 5 or 7.Happily I hopped into one Bus 7 but was booted out after a short distance,"rot may(bus) pai(go) Tai Mai(southern terminal),mai mee(no)"
 It was getting brighter now when I walked to Yaowarat Road which had a more vantage point to see the buses numbers.
Rather than waiting any longer I decided to hop in any buses that will take me to the Thonburi side across the Chao Phraya River.
Got hold of a yellow mini bus No:104-40 and I mentioned Tai Mai with a sigh of relief to be allowed in.
Bus Fare:7baht.That's so cheap to travel using public transport.  

Simple Thai phrases while taking a bus.
1) Where is the bus stop?(bpai rot may yoo tee nai)
2) Which bus goes to Silom Road?(bpai tanon see-lom bpai rot may sai nai dai bahng)
3) Does this bus go to Pin Klao?(rot may nee bpai pin klao rue bplao)
4) Does this bus stops at Chinatown?(rot may nee ja jort tee yao-wa-raht reu bplao)
 5) When is the next bus to Morchit?(rot may bpai Mor-chit kan dtor bpai ork ghee mohng)
6) How much to..?(bpai.....thao rai)
7) How much is it?(thao rai)
8) Where is this?(tee nee tee nai)
9) Is this near Wat Pho?(tee nee glai glai Wat poh mai)
10) Could you please tell me where to get off?(chuay bok hai pom/dichan long noi)
11) I want to get off at Sanam Luang.(pom/dichan ja longtee Sanam Luang)

The minibus ride passed the Phra PinKlao bridge across the Chao Phraya River into the other side of old Bangkok district of Thonburi.

Practically at every bus stop,the minibus will pick up passengers in the morning rush hour.There was not much of a heavy traffic and the flow was very smooth.
As the bus move slowly near the Wong Wian Yai big circle roundabout which is at the junction of Somdet Phra Chao Taksin Road and Prachathipok Road,I could see a group of people doing their morning exercise workout in this beautiful landscaped greenlung of old Bangkok.
Though Thonburi is on the west bank of the Chao Phraya, it's still administratively part of Bangkok.

Wong Wian Yai's major landmark is the King Taksin Monument at this traffic roundabout.
Nearby Somdet Chao Phraya Road in Khlong San district is the Princess Mother Memorial Park which was built to preserve the area where the late Princess Mother resided during her childhood.

The park next to Wat Anongkharam lies a building housing exhibits of the Princess Mother familiy history.

Further up at the end of Tha Din Daeng Road is a pier where one can take shuttle boats across the river to Ratchawong and Sampheng market in Chinatown.

At the roundabout is a huge photo portrait of the beloved monarch of the Kingdom of Thailand,His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The Wong Wian Yai train station is just less than a kilometre from this roundabout and the whole area was bustling with various kinds of activities.
This is a place where one must also explore when in Bangkok to get a real taste of the life of the local communities here.
Not forgetting also are the infamous bamboo flute makers around Bang Sai Gai in Itsaraphap Road. Near the BTS Wong Wian Yai station is the Aiya Residence & Sport Club budget hotel.