Bangkok travel guide
| VITAL INFORMATION | |
| Population | 6,643,000 |
| Languages spoken | Thai, English |
| Currency | Thai Baht (THB); 1 THB = (approx.) 0.03 USD |
| Average temperature | 70F - 95F year-round |
| High season | November through March |
Give it a chance and Bangkok will pummel you stupid, strip you of all your money and dump you in the river. It’s an intense place, an unyielding city of nearly 7 million, a 600-square-mile miasma of motion, confusion and insanity. But if you’re wily, slick and just a little nuts, you’ll be able to overcome the madness and conquer the metropolis, walking away with enough stories to keep your buddies entertained for weeks. So steel yourself for the onslaught and charge into the city.
The glimmering and austere technological architecture of Bangkok’s new futuristic airport seems to promise an efficient, organized and controlled trip. Don’t believe it for one minute. An army of greedy cab drivers, travel agents and con artists is waiting just beyond your terminal to squeeze every penny out of your exhausted body. The flight from the U.S. is about 18 hours, and even if you manage to get a few winks, you’ll likely feel like a zombie after you extract yourself from the 747’s seat. You will need a plan. Before you leave, book your hotel and find out how much a taxi ride from the airport to the hotel should cost.
If you want luxury, book a room at the Novotel Lotus Bangkok in the city’s glass tower district. You’ll get a four-star room for about $85, smack-dab in the middle of Bangkok’s upscale shopping haven. If you want something more authentically Thai, however, get a reservation at the Shanti Lodge near the National Library. The little guesthouse crouches on a quiet backstreet near many of the city’s temples and cultural sites. There, you’ll find a rattan-walled room with a fan for about $10. Even without the air-conditioning, it’s probably the nicest cheap guesthouse in the city, and the staff is knowledgeable and speaks English very well.
Day 1: Hit the markets
Settle in and get ready to face Bangkok head-on. Today, you’re going to dive into the city’s furnace: commerce. Bangkok -- and Thailand in general -- is driven by a great steaming boiler of markets. First, you’ll head to Khao San Road to dip a few toes in the hot water. It will be packed with tourists, but it’ll give you a good idea of what to expect from the rest of the trip. Poke along the street, peer into sidewalk stalls and sample the local cuisine. When you’re ready, jump on Bangkok’s skytrain and head into the fire: the Chatuchak Weekend Market.Chatuchak lies right outside the Mo Chit skytrain station. It’s only open on Saturdays and Sundays, so plan accordingly. The market is a labyrinth of more than 15,000 cell-like stalls frequented by a crowd of more than 200,000 shoppers a day. Locals and tourists alike haggle to the death for everything from handicrafts to food; it’s a crowded, stinking and frenetic warren. Don’t even try to navigate; instead, wander aimlessly through the hot, perplexing maze. Grab a cool drink and a skewer of mysterious yet delicious roasted meat.
You will be tempted to stay up all night with a bottle of Thai rice whisky and a few locals, but turn in early. Tomorrow, you’re going back out into the heat to explore some of the city’s ancient and dazzling temples.
Day 2: Royal Palace and temples
Rise early and arrange travel to the Royal Palace. You can grab a tuk-tuk, Thailand’s open-air, three-wheeled, two-stroke turbo taxis, but the ride will likely cost a premium. Another option is to grab a regular taxi and make sure the meter is on. Otherwise, the driver might try to charge you three or four times the actual cost when you arrive at your destination.The Thai royal family doesn’t live at the Royal Palace anymore -- they have some new digs nearby -- so the place is open to tourists. In fact, it’s teeming with them. But the Royal Palace is not to be missed. It’s a gleaming gilded edifice with insanely detailed tile work and craftsmanship. Enter through the majestic gate and ride the torrent of tourists into the main courtyard. From there, follow your instincts. You’ll be dazzled at every turn and mesmerized by the sheer implausibility of the palace and its temple.
Take a few minutes to relax near the palace’s main lawn, bask in the sun and watch the international visitors prowling the grounds with their cameras. When you’ve had enough, take a brisk walk to Wat Pho, the city’s largest and grandest temple, where you will find even more splendor and Thai history to gawk at. The temple was built in 1788 and is home to a 150-foot-long golden reclining Buddha. It’s a maze of multicolored spires set among gardens filled with statues. And if you want to learn more about the dazzling things around you, glom on to a passing tour group. Most won’t mind you hanging around for a few minutes and you could meet other interesting travelers.
Day 3: Ancient Ayutthaya
After stewing for two days in Bangkok’s cauldron, you’ll be ready for some peace and quiet. You’ll find it about 55 miles north of the city in the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, which was the seat of all power in Thailand from 1350 to 1767. During that time, the royal family built an amazing array of resplendent temples along the city’s river.It’ll take a little more than an hour and cost you about $1 to reach Ayutthaya by train from Bangkok's Hualamphong station. In terms of sightseeing, you’ll have a few dozen temples, historical sites and museums to choose from.
But first, head to Wat Rachaburana. King Boromrachathirat II built the temple in 1424 in honor of his two brothers, both of whom died during an elephant-back duel for the throne. Boromrachathirat refused to fight and won the throne by default. The temple is a somber brick masterpiece lined with hundreds of stone Buddha statues that surround a huge Buddhist religious monument called a chedi. The stone-and-brick tower rises about seven stories above the surrounding plane. It’s a serene scene that’ll ease your frazzled nerves.
Wat Phra Mahathat, a crumbling yet impressive edifice, lies directly across the street from Rachaburana. It was once a grand scene, but it’s mostly in ruin now. Still, the ancient site is worth a visit.
If you have a few more hours in town, try to arrange a river tour. Tour guides ferry passengers along the waterway around sunset, granting fantastic photo opportunities of the city’s splendid temples. The ride is a live-action timeline -- you’ll slide past ancient sites like Mahathat and newer temples built within the last 50 years. It’s a great way to get a feel for Thailand’s long and fascinating history.
tips for the trip
- You might be tempted to stock up on some inexpensive Thai jewelry during your trip. Be very wary. Some jewelry stores sell subpar stones for inflated prices. If you want to purchase anything that costs more than $500 U.S., make sure you know what you’re doing.
- Bangkok may seem hostile and ready to rip you off, but remember that many Thais are simply trying to earn a buck. For them, life in the city is a struggle. Keep that in mind when somebody attempts to overcharge you.
- Despite all that’s been said about con artists in this article, most Thais are very friendly, especially when you take an interest in their language. Pick up a Thai phrase book before you go and ask the locals to help you out with pronunciation. It’s a great way to make new friends.
- Bangkok is so vast that even the taxi drivers get lost. Always carry a business card from your hotel or guesthouse and make sure there are directions in Thai on the back.
- Tips aren’t expected in Thailand, but they’re appreciated. When you receive exceptional service, don’t be afraid to tip, but don’t feel obligated to tip every roadside restaurant or food vendor.
one night in bangkok
Three days in Bangkok simply isn’t enough time. A determined and hardened traveler could spend a month exploring the city without seeing everything. Still, if you only have a few days, this itinerary will give you a great cross section of Thai society. While Thailand can be frenetic and taxing, it can also be tranquil and enlightening.References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangkok - Bangkok
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Po - Wat Po
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayutthaya_(city) - Ayutthaya
http://wikitravel.org/en/Ayutthaya
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/asia/thailand/bangkok
http://www.accorhotels-asia.com/1712/detail/default.aspx
http://www.shantilodge.com/bangkok/index.html
http://www.into-asia.com/bangkok/markets/chatuchak.php
http://thailandforvisitors.com/central/bangkok/ratanakosin/prakeo/
Bangkok Travel Guide
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