The Chao Praya river snakes through the central plains of Thailand passing the historic town of Ayuttaya before twisting through the center of Bangkok proper. The central plains, with Bangkok lying in the center, contains about half of Thailand's 50 million inhabitants. The Chao Praya river is a main artery hosting barges and tugboats carrying an array of goods from Thailand to the far reaches of the globe.
Between the large manufacturing plants, and ramshackle residential houses propped strategically up on high stilts, various temples hug the shores which are increasingly being overrun by water hyacinth. The invasive species was imported to Thailand by a former Queen hoping the water plant would grace a royal garden or two.(a story I have heard told several times but never officially confirmed) Today, the water plant clogs many of the canals and rivers deeming them virtually useless.
Many people come to the riverside temples to make merit to the Monks and the fish. It is believed that giving to the temple, or Monks in general, constitutes good karma and therefore a more prosperous life and afterlife. Along with this ritual, people also make merit by feeding the fish at the riverside temples. Since non-killing is considered one of Five Precepts of Buddhism, the fish congregate near the temples where they are well-fed and free from fishing practices.
