"Unique & Fun: Bangkok" Bangkok by Ewingjr98

Bangkok Travel Guide: 10,212 reviews and 22,529 photos

The Grand Palace - Bangkok
The Grand Palace
Introduction

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.

My Visit
Painting in Wat Phra Keo - Bangkok

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.

24 May 2004
Guards at Wat Phra Keo - Bangkok

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 and Cons
  • 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
  • Last visit to Bangkok: May 2004
  • Intro Updated Nov 13, 2006
  • Add to Trip Planner (?)
  • Report Abuse

Reviews (30)

The Giant Swing - Bangkok The Giant Swing Things to Do (10)

The Giant Swing is located in the middle of a major intersection. The 21-meter-high wooden swing was once used in... more travel advice

Wat Arun - Bangkok Wat Arun -- Temple of the Dawn Things to Do (10)

Wat Arun is one of the top temple attractions in Bangkok and sits along the Chao Praya River. I did not go in, but took... more travel advice

Floating Markets - Bangkok Floating Markets Things to Do (10)

If you take a canal tour, you will run across a floating market or two. These are not the authentic, famous floating... more travel advice

Thonburi Snake Farm - Bangkok Thonburi Snake Farm Things to Do (10)

While on a boat trip of the Grand Canal in Thonburi, we stopped at the Thonburi Snake Farm. I wasn't expecting much for... more travel advice

Comments (4)

  • Reply
    RoyJava's Profile Photo
    Jun 21, 2008 at 12:25 AM

    My brother is living in Macau doing choreography in the Grand Lisboa Hotel Casino... December 24 we will go again, and for Bangkok. Great to read yours BKK, and didnot know about the Giant Swing, greets RoyJava

  • Reply
    CALSF's Profile Photo
    Aug 29, 2004 at 1:08 PM

    Helpful page with all the tips. Looks like an interesting place to visit. Not sure about the snakes though.

  • Reply
    MissNicole's Profile Photo
    Jun 24, 2004 at 4:40 PM

    Thanks for your info, i'm hoping to go to Bangkok and the south and what you showed me only makes me more eager to go!

  • Reply
    thecatsmeow's Profile Photo
    Jun 20, 2004 at 9:49 PM

    Nice page. I wish there was sound so I could get the pronounciation of the phrases you have listed. I have been reading about Thialand and the more I read the more I would like to go.=^oo^=

Ewingjr98's Related Pages

Bangkok Travel Guide

 
Explore the World
Travel Destinations
Ewingjr98's Profile Photo

Ewingjr98 Visits Here Frequently!

Ewingjr98

“"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." ~ Ernest Hemingway”

Online Now

Male

Top 1,000 Travel Writer
Member Rank:
0 0 0 4 9
Forum Rank:
0 0 6 4 9

Badges & Stats in Bangkok

  • 30 Reviews
  • 55 Photos
  • 1 Forum posts
  • 4 Comments
  • 4,164PageViews
  • See All Stats
  • See All Badges (68)

Have you been to Bangkok?

  Share Your Travels  

Latest Activity in Bangkok

Photos in Bangkok

See All Photos (55)

Top 10 Pages

See All Travel Pages (298)

Friends

See All Friends (28)

Travel Interests

See All Travel Interests (5)

Latest Bangkok hotel reviews

Centara Grand at CentralWorld
650 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 17, 2013
Fraser Suites Sukhumvit
296 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 8, 2013
Regency Park Bangkok
109 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 15, 2013
JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok
584 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 18, 2013
Bally's Studio Suites Sukhumvit
130 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 17, 2013
Four Points By Sheraton Bangkok, Sukhumvit 15
626 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 17, 2013
Silom City Inn
189 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 12, 2013
The Ascott Sathorn
197 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 25, 2013
Diamond City Hotel
99 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 4, 2013
Pratunam Palace Bangkok
3 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Mar 1, 2013
Citin Pratunam Hotel
394 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 18, 2013
Malaysia Hotel
90 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 5, 2013
Mac Boutique Suites
50 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 29, 2013
Tenface
242 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 28, 2013
Boonsiri Place
100 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 5, 2013