Bangkok

sunbear · Bangkok

Bangkok...the capital of Thailand (or Siam of old) is a must on any visit to Thailand. A city that has something of a bad press...sex tourism...traffic congestion...pollution. All these things exist but it is also one of the most exciting cities to visit, exotic and yet accessible with friendly smiling people.

Running through the centre of the city is the Chao Phraya river, a facinating thorough fare for the tourist which allows access to many of Bangkoks must see sites. Travel on an organised trip in a rice barge or on a longtail boat, or just use the public boat network. Formost of the sites is the Grand Palace. This complex of royal buildings and temples decorated in gold leaf and ornate is worth half a day of anyones time. Within the city there are many temples of worth. Take Wat Po for example which is a large temple complex famed for its massage school, you can even learn massage techniques yourself. It also has a huge reclining Buddha decked out in gold leaf.

There are plenty of day trips to take as well..perhaps to the Bridge on the River Kwai, or to the Floating Market for the morning, or to Ayuthayya the ancient capital of Siam, where the ruins give some idea of the size and splendour of previous Thai dynastys. You return via river taking in the sites of daily Thai life, overtaking vast barges with loads of Pepsi and Coke...or Singha beer,

That famous sex trade well its there...visit the streets Patpong 1 and 2. There you'll find an excellent night market, and also various bars and clubs where various shows are on offer...a board outside will explain whats happening...a pretty girl (or ladyboy but you won't be able to tell) might try to entice you in. However like London or Amsterdam, these areas are only a small part of Bangkok are are easily avoided if you wish. They are though like the red light area in Amsterdam on the ordinary tourist trail.

If you like shopping then Bangkok might be a place for you...shops range from night markets where one can haggle for fake goods to designer shops where the Gucci is the real thing. Department stores abound.
If your there on a weekend visit Chatachuk Market with its thousands of stalls....you'll realise where all those trendy shops back in Britain get there stock from...you can get some too but at a fraction of the price you'd pay back in Britain.

Getting about...well Bangkok used to be famous for its traffic jams (still is) but the tourist has other ways of getting around the city these days...there is the Skytrain an elevated railway system thats modern clean and comfortable and takes you too many of the places you want to be. There is an even more modern underground to use as well. If you must travel by road then metered taxis are cheap and plentiful (just make sure the driver uses the meter or agree a price before setting off), or if your brave whizz around the city in a tuk-tuk (a thee wheeled open sided contraption).

Where to stay. Bangkok has a wealth of fine hotels...its one of the cheaper places in the world to stay in a true five star hotel, some regarded as the among the best in the world. However the three and four stars are usually excellent as well.

Eating out. With a large expat population and the increasing sophistication of the Thai people, Bangkok is something of a foodie heaven. It goes without saying that there are excellent Thai restaurants ranging from the street hawker who will sell you a meal for twenty pence to five star establishments. There are also many foreign food establishments ranging from Italian, German, Indian, Mexican, Japanese even British. Many of the restaurants are cutting edge in design and the menu they offer. Or you could take an evening cruise complete with dinner.

Me well I would stay for three or four days...its a rewarding but exhusting city, so head for some R & R to a glorious Thai beach for the rest of your holiday.

GoldenChippie

great report Sunbear

Its not somewhere i've ever felt like i wanted to go, I worry that i would feel intimidated by the crowds or the noise - is it like that?

sunbear

guest,
Actually Bangkok is not intimidating like that...theres not crowds of people hastling you, trying to drag you into shops etc. Night markets for example while busy are fun places...the haggling is good natured and part of the entertainment. Department stores are like the ones in UK but better, although I had to laugh at the Marks and Spencer department in the Central Department Store...a stand of biscuits and snacks and a stand of smellies. I might be a naive tourist but I feel safer walking in Bangkok at night then I do in many areas of London. I've walked down little back alleys and locals have just smiled a hello. I've had Thai people help me cross the road (sometimes that can be tricky).

What hustle and bustle there is comes from the normal day to day running of a big city, just as say with London, just they run it a bit differently. You can go in shops browse and come out again with no obligation. I've been to other countries like Egypt and Kenya where I've had a lot of hassle, I've had nothing like that in Thailand. The only minor issues I've had are some shop keepers saying major attractions are closed when they're not - they're trying to get you to go somewhere else where they will earn commission...but even that is not major hassle. Just politely say no thanks and go on your way.

I regard Bangkok and Thailand as a safe hassle free destination.

Pam7

It is noisy...hustle and bustle...but I love it!!! We stayed in hotel parallel to Khao San Road - backpackers Mecca - Viengtai Hotel. http://www.khaosanroad.com/ . On arrival in Bangkok - late afternoon - we'd just booked into Asia hotel short taxi drive away..ready for quick change....meal at the street market..bed..early morning (3 o'clock!) call ready for back to airport and internal flight out to Koh Samui. From there we did and went where we wanted..when we wanted! Then off to Koh Lanta....Phi Phi next...then Krabbi...then Phuket..and back to Bangkok for couple of days to 'do' the sights. (I've got a Travel Diary we did - pm me if you want a quick read!

)

Posted at same time as Sunbear

- agree 100% but still feel you have to be a bit 'on the ball' in Bangkok - I wouldn't like to walk the back alleys on my own...whereas in India....I felt completely safe! The islands, particularly Phi Phi, are very dear to my heart...and I'm still so very sad that probably most of the wonderful people we befriended there may have been caught up in the Tsunami.

sunbear

Ah another Bangkok fan. I actually think the major dangers in Bangkok for the unwary tourist are the uneven pavements and the traffic. The backpacker environment is a bit different from the one the average tourist encounters in Thailand.

Liked the look of the Viangthai. Our last few stays have been in serviced apartments, prefer the extra room they give - got Le Bua at State Tower for $45 US a night B & B....great views from 50 floors up.

Yes Phi-Phi and Krabi are my favourite parts beach wise along with Khao Lak, we'll have to have a seperate Destination review for those

. I spoke to few people caught up in the tsunami some amazing stories, yet so little evidence now of what took place.

laws1

Great Report Sunbear

One of our fave destinations. Wifey is keen to go back, for us we have only been three times as stopovers for 3 and 4 nts Staying in Aisa and Mandarin Hotels.

Patpong is a good market even had a drink in one of the better bars. Not in the least prudish but found some aspects of the sex trade sad. Seeing age 60+ brit tourists with teen or 20 something girls makes you angry :evil:

Done a few boat trips and Thai shows. Best trip for me was River Kwai seeing the war graves and trip through the jungle on death railway was a touching experience.

Found the Thai people so friendly, once we booked a boat trip, then called to say called on the day of pick up to say we would not be going (I was a bit queasy) They sent someone to our room with a refund

Now that would not happen here

sunbear

Hi laws1,
Yeah the sex industry side of things is one of the things I dislike about Thailand..real no hoper western guys with beautiful Thai ladies on there arms. On our first visit we bumped into an acquaintance who lived out there...he was running a bar on Soi Cowboy. As part of our induction to Bangkok he took a group of us (husbands and wives) to a few clubs in Patpong...quite an eye opener especially as the best looking ladies were acually lads. As I was with my OH the club ladies came over and had a chat. Actually lovely girls brought in from the poorer parts of Northern Thailand...they saw it as one of the few ways they could escape the poverty and improve their families lot.

One hotel we stayed at had a lady boy show, I was cringing wishing the ground could swallow me up as a gorgeous looking ladyboy in a long velvet number picks me out to sing too and sat on my knee. Would not have minded a gorgeous lady.

The war graves at Kwai are very moving and so beautifully kept.

sunbear

Should have mentioned how warm it is...when we go in Feb/ March its in the low thirties centigrade...much like the weather outside at the moment but a tad more humid.

Aslemma

It's nice to see an up-to-date report on Bangkok as I haven't been for years but absoutely loved it then. My son has been twice and says that he found it even more comercialised the second time so didn't like it as much. It's the sort of place that whatever goes wrong. and sometjhing invariably does, like the bus breaking down on an organised tour, or the waiter depositing half the meal onto my lap instead of the plate, the standard response is 'No problem."

Simon

I really liked Bangkok when I was there (12 years ago was the last time I think) - I wonder how much has changed since I visited. I've been to nearly every corner of Thailand, but I do wonder how tourism has changed it in the last decade. Probably not for the better, I'm guessing!