Bangkok Things to Do Tips by riproy

Unless you can't stand crowds (in which case Bangkok isn't a great place to be) you must visit the Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok. Anything and everything is on sale. Illegal, bootleg, blackmarket, used merchandice; clothes, plants, animals, books, antiques, plastics, stamps, furniture, music, seafood, bras, shoes, hammocks, jewelry, on and on......
Open Sat and Sun, 8 am til 6 pm though some vendors may open later, close earlier. Horticulture and farm produce area open all week.

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Directions: In the Chatuchak area of Bangkok on Phaholyothin Road, near Central Ladprao, just off Wipawadi-Rangsit highway to airport, north end of Skytrain route at last stop. Near northern bus terminal.

Klongs are the filthy narrow black waterways in the city - not the Chao Phraya river which is filthy, brown and wide.
There is one klong in Bangkok that is used for public transport. Boats roar up and down it delivering people between the Democracy Monument (near Khao San Road and the Grand Palace) up past the Asia Hotel, World Trade Centre, and then following along Sukhumvit Road out to around Soi 61 or so. The boats are small since the klong is not wide, and they are packed with people when they are going to work mornings and coming home in the evening. Try not to take it at these times (unless you are experienced or agile) because you have to be quick getting in and out, and because the boat is not secured when picking up/dropping off people, so there is a risk of falling in.
In the boats, there is little knee room, and you will probably get splashed with icky klong water.
So why go? It is exciting, and the view of Bangkok is completely different from down in the klongs, esp between the Asia Hotel and the Democracy Monument stops. At one point the roof of the boat will start to collapse and you will think the boat is falling apart, but not to worry - it is just lowering a little so that it can pass under a low bridge! Freaked me out the first time i was on it.
The trip between these two places and anywhere along the route is also much faster by water as there are no traffic snarls on the klongs.
To protect yourself from splashing water, there is a tarp on the sides you can lift up and down.
A trip costs about 7 baht (2000 prices). It stops running at 7 pm.

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Directions: piers are not well marked so you will have to ask others where to get on

There are so many night markets around the city selling durable goods to fresh fruit to road side meals to lottery tickets. They are a tasty and cheap way to eat, and a great opportunity to people-watch. Never a dull moment in the Kingdom!

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Directions: Ubiquitous

At the Saphan Thaksin BTS (skytrain) stop, we hired a small long tailed boat to take us around the smaller klongs and along the Chao Phraya river. It cost around 800 baht for around 2 hours and the boat fit all 8 of us, so it was really quite cheap. The trip was nice, you see a different style of life along the river's edge. The smaller klongs are great to buzz along. The set trip takes you to a snake farm (they want 100 baht to get in - we just relaxed in the shade and bought fruit to eat from the local vendors). You continue on thru the klongs observing the interesting houses and other sites. Of course you are approached by vendors in boats selling beer and other drinks. We stopped at Wat Arun as well, and then he wanted to go on to Wat Pho.
It was very pleasant as the wind off the water feels cool and it view of Bangkok is so different. We really enjoyed this.

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Directions: You can hire these boats at many locations along the river. Ours left from the Saphan Thaksin area.