"Unique & Fun: Bangkok" Bangkok by Ewingjr98

Bangkok is a massive sprawling city known for its seedy "anything goes" nightlife and its spicy food. These are both true, but Bangkok also has some of the friendliest people in the world, and many great attractions such as the Grand Palace, dozens of Buddhist temples, and the Chao Praya River.

Painting in Wat Phra Keo

21 May 2004

I arrived from Singapore on 21 May. Upon deplaning, I immediately stopped at an ATM for some local currency, then found the Bangkok Airways ticket counter for an onward flight to Angkor Wat. I was very lucky to find that tickets leaving the next morning were 1/2 the usual price! After buying tickets, I caught a bus to my hotel in Sukumvit. It rained throughout my 45 minute ride to the city.

I arrived in Sukumvit at around 6pm, checked into my hotel, and went for dinner. My concierge recommended a small restaurant called Food Center on the main drag in Sukumvit. They had very tasty food at a good price, and they had a nice outside bar along the sidewalk where people watching was easy. Later in the evening I walked to Soi Cowboy, which was mainly "hostess bars," full of girls working for drinks. I sat outside and had a few Chang (elephant) beers and actually had a few elephants walk by during the evening. Later that night, I went back to my hotel, stopping at the first floor dance club for a little while.

22 May 2004

The next morning I got up at around 6am, caught a cab to the airport, and just made my flight to Siem Reap & Angkor Wat.

Guards at Wat Phra Keo

On 24 May, I flew back from Cambodia to Bangkok. I arrived back at the Nana Hotel early in the afternoon, checked in, then took a cab to the Grand Palace. Unfortunately it was closed for the day, but the friendly security guards pointed out a few good places on my map, grabbed a tuk-tuk driver to show me around, and even negotiated my fare for me. My first stop on the tuk-tuk is Golden Mount, which certainly has the very best views of the city along its spiraling staircase. At the bottom is one of the cleanest, most well kept temples I saw in Bangkok. The next stop was the Chao Praya suit shop and an area jewelry store. I wasn't intending to buy anything, but I ended up ordering two suits...the price was right! My last stop with the tuk-tuk driver was Wat Indravihan, the Temple of the Standing Buddha, where it began to rain and rain.

While I waited for the rain to cease, I met up with two of the guys who worked at the temple, and they offered to take me outside of the touristy areas for an authentic Thai massage. I was a little uneasy, but I agreed. My new buddies hailed a cab and we drove over the bridge to Thonburi and their "favorite" massage parlor. There, we had a few beers, then proceeded to the room where you pick out your masseuse. She then walked me up to a private room, left while I put on pajamas, then gave the best massage of my life! And really, no funny business! Later my Thai pals and I went to a karaoke bar and a dance club called Excite.

25 May 2004
This was my only full day in Bangkok, so I was out to make the best of it! After sleeping in a little, I took a taxi to the river and took a 2-hour boat ride to visit the canals of Bangkok, some floating markets, a few temples and a snake farm. I got off the boat at Wat Po, had lunch, then toured the temple. My next stop was Wat Phra Keo and the Grand Palace where I spent a few more hours. After the temple and palace, I was ready for a break so I grabbed some fruit at a local market and sat down at a small bar for a few drinks and some snacks. After dinner, I stopped by the Giant Swing and the Democracy Monument on the way back to Sukhumvit. I'd had a loooong vacation, so I actually went to bead early...around 10pm.

25 May 2004
My last morning, I got up around 8 am and took a taxi to the airport. There I grabbed a quick meal and caught my flight to Seoul via Hong Kong.

• Pros:Active nightlife, Amazing temples, friendly people
• Cons:Horrible traffic, Hot!, Huge & sprawling city
• In a nutshell:Enjoy the nightlife and people, but be prepared for the traffic