Yes, even Bangkok has a heart. It can be found between the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya and the railway line, encompassing the original royal palace, the older temples and Pahurat and Sampeng, the Indian and Chinese districts. Only on foot can Sampeng really be savoured, in spite of manholes and motorcyclists.

In the words of a popular guidebook, Sampeng is “... a confusing and crowded array of jewellery, hardware, wholesale food, automotive and fabric shops.” If Yaowaraj and Ratchawong Roads are the spine of a piscine Chinatown then the fine herringbones are the sois and troks, the alleys and lanes. Beyond Chakrapet Road lies Pahurat, whose alleyways are crowded cheek by jowl with a Sikh temple and the fabric shops of Indian merchants.

Most images were taken with Nikon D70 (6.3 mpx) in RAW format, earlier ones as 35mm transparency. More images of the Royal Barge Procession and the Mahachai railway.

All images are available for licensing, please visit www.travelgame.org.