Bangkok Things to Do Tips by beebah

MUSEUM SIAM : Brand new (and fun!) museum in BKK Museum Siam Review

NATIONAL DISCOVERY MUSEUM INSTITUTE

Located near famous "Wat Pho" and The Grand Palace. This newly opened museum features "Thainess" stuff from the past until nowadays. Kind of hands on exhibition. History of the nation. "Who are we, where we come from.." From Old Kingdom of Siam, Bangkok in the 60s to modern Thailand.

Hours : Open everyday except Mondays from 10:00 - 18:00
Special activities on Saturdays and Sundays. Twice a day 10:00 - 12:00 and 13:00 - 15:00

Show at "Muse Square" every Fridays at 17:30 - 20:30
Admission : Still FREE for now.
For more photos of the museum. Please visit
Panda's blog

Post by Nao

And Review at HFlight

(Photos credits : YaiTuaRai @ hflight, nao @ pantip & k. Panda @ bloggang)

Address: 4 Plubplachai road, Phranakorn

Directions: Museum is in building that once was Ministry of Commerce. Near "Wat Pho" Temple. Click here for location map

Phone: 0 2622 2599

Talad Nam Talingchan (Talingchan Floating market) Floating Market Review

For those who don't like super famous "Damnern Saduak Floating Market" because it's way too touristy and everything seems to be overpriced for foreign visitors. This could be alternative option to experience other floating market.

Buying-selling activities are active only weekends at Talingchan floating market. Located along "Klong BangKhunSri" (BangKhunSri canal .. but some call "Klong Chakphra") This area is full of orchards. Fruits will be sold during weekends here from early morning from 7:00 AM until afternoon around 2:00 PM. There're also local restaurants, stalls, orchid market around.

Sight seeing boat can be hired there. It will take you to see around fruits orchards, orchid farms, etc which will take about 2 hours. Price for adults is about 70 Baht+ and children for 40 Baht+ each.

Or longer trip (3 hours) they will take you to see snake farm, visit famous temple there. Adults 120 Baht+ and children for 60 Baht+

Last option is "dinner tour" which takes you to visit local people there and their houses. Include dinner with host. This would take around 4 hours. Boat leaves at 4:00 PM and comes back around 8:00 PM : Adults 200 Baht +and 100 Baht+ for children. But only with 40 passengers minimum. Advance booking is required.

All these you can contact one of them at the market. Some agencies avatiable there

Address: Talingchan District, Bangkok.

Directions: Take public bus No.79 from Rajadamnern Road .Bus stop opposite Lottery Office.Off at Talingchan Police Station.From there can take "Song-Thaew" (pick up) to the market. On the way back can take the same bus (no.79) back to Khaosan Road.

Phone: District Office : 02 434-3148

Music in the park Lumphini Park Review

Music in the park is another activity arranged by Bangkok Metropolitan. Every weekend around 5.30 PM until 8-9 PM in some public parks in Bangkok such as "SuanLumpini" or "Suan SantiChaiPhrakan" (Suan = park)there're small concerts free of charge for everyone.Music style depends on each season.Could be from Jazz ...Orchestra from university ..to contemporary Thai music.

Bands are changing every week.At the moment is season of "Era of Thai music" but not always traditional Thai music though.It could be contemporary (mixed Thai-western music) too.

Recline and relax on the green grass to listen to music is interesting for lazy weekend,isn't it?

Update : Feb 2007
From this weekend upward. It will be Thai traditional music concerts. Go check it out!

Address: Suan Lumpini Park,Suan SantiChaiPhrakan

Directions: Suan Lumpini. not far from silom.Take a bus no. 14 opposite Central World Plaza (former world trade center) and off the park.(oppposite Chula hospital)

Suan Santi Chaiprakan. At PhraAthit Pier , 10 minutes walk from Khaosan rd. Just next to the river.

Laid back evening at Phra Sumen Fort Park. Phra Sumen Fort Review

Everyday at 6:00 PM. There's free aerobic dance exercise class here. Music will be too loud (and those tracks they pick are just awful) but it's fun to see bunch of people excersing and dancing! come on!

And some other activities can be seen here as well. Including Brazilian Martial Art Capoeira group. Come to stretch out their moves every evening (as long as it's not raining), Thai classical music & Jazz Band who come whenever they feel like (?) , Jugglers, and family picnic :-)

If you have free evening. Here is another place to chill out spending easy day.

Address: Banglupo Pier, Chao Phraya River, Bangkok

Directions: Take a short walk to Phra Athit Road and turn left

Siam Paragon: Lost in the luxury madness Shopping Review

Its Grand opening to welcome coming 2005 was talk of the town. Everyone in this city were talking about "Have you visited Siam Paragon??" or how crazy it could be. The place was set to be upscale shopping mall. Hosts all of those luxurious brands from paris, milan, new york..etc

In my opinion. I think it's still quite empty inside. But best part is they have BEST bookstore I have ever seen in Thailand. (Kinokuniya, lot of foreign books..english, french, japanese,lot more)

Good choice for spending your day to feel the "Glorious Phenomenon" in Bangkok. Food Loft is OK place to eat. Not that crazy price. And crazy massive Aquarium underground.

Address: BTS "Siam" Station.

Directions: BTS "Siam" Station

Phone: http://www.siamparagon.co.th

Spot the naughty murals in the Wat. Grand Palace - Wat Phra Kaew Review

For sure murals in The Grand Palace is the loooonng one. As it is a complete serie of Ramayana. Ofcourse they're beautiful paintings and look at those details! and gold!

But there's still funny part in it. If you visit there try to spot the hidden naughty characters. These pictures are called "Khak" (means.. trash, rubbish, waste..) most of them are hidden around the corners, bottom of the picture, very top of picture because those areas are not so important. People usually don't pay attention. Main story and characters are mostly in the middle of the wall, eyes-level.

Sure The Artists got humors. I took some of them for samples. Anyway it's more fun to hunt them by yourself :-)

Address: Maharaj Pier, Chao Phraya, Bangkok

Directions: Murals around Wat Phrakaew

Tha Phrajan : Amulet Market

Large amulet market along side of Chaophraya river (between Tha Chang pier and Phra Jan Pier) . The variety of amulets, available there. From general Buddha images to weird look other sorts of things I have NO IDEA what they are.

(Sometimes you will discover monkey with big xx ..for some reasons.. I still don't know what is relation between big xx-monkey and protection from bad evil spirits!?)

Believing that Buddha amulets will keep you safe from accidents. Some REALLY old Buddha amulets could be as expensive as price of a house.. depends who made it and how old it is and from what temple.

I must say it's quite enjoyable for me to browse here too. Most of stuff have nothing to do with Buddhism. But it's been mixed with Brahma, Hindu, Burmese.. many other things. Results are these amulets. Pretty interesting. Worth a look.

And I'm not sure why. When we buy amulets we don't use the word "buy" but who use "Rent" (even you're actually buying)

Address: Between Phrajan pier and Tha Chang Pier

Directions: From Grand Palace, walking toward Phrajan Pier (or Thammasar University) market is in the lane behind the main street (look for Swensens.. walk into that Soi) inside there all the lanes are connected.

Little India in Bangkok Little India Review

"Pahurat" is the biggest whole sale market of garments and giftshop products. There're many Sikh Indians living in this area. You will find Saree in almost every shop. Here is also the place where brides to be come to shop for their wedding cards, thank you-gifts, wedding gowns too. Around here there're many hindu shrines as well.

Walking in those little and crowded Soi with loads of people is very challenging as sometimes the motorbikes full of fabrics share your walking lane!

Whole sale market here is great. Most of smaller shops in Bangkok they buy products from here to resell them again. (last time I got ear rings at 5 Baht a pair! which usually sold at 20 Baht)

Directions: Towards the western edge of CHINATOWN. Accessible by walk, after alighting from a Chao Phraya River Express boat at Tha (pier) Saphaan Phut, which is just to the north-west of Phra Phut Yot Fa (Memorial) Bridge.

Find your inner peace. Place for Meditation.

"Sathira-dhammasathan" is a place found by Mae Chee Sansanee Sthirasuta (a nun). Her life is very inerestting. (If I remember it right) Before she became a nun she was a model! Worked in very fancy fitness club and stuff. With many 'worldly' troubles, she was tired of those things. Buddhism and Dharma is the answer.

At Sathira-dhammasathan you can do 2 day meditation or 3 day (Starts on Friday afternoon ends Sunday afternoon) to balance your mind. Free from stress and pondering about the truth in our lives. You don't have to be Buddhist to do this. Everyone who's interested in welcome.

You might find the way how to adapt things you learn from here you use in your daily life.

Donation is up to you. Your oney will go to their fund. Pays the electricity and water bills.

Treatment is called "Anapanasati" You'll be practicing Dharma, Meditation.. includes Yoga in the morning. No contact with any outsiders during your stay. No cell phones, Snacks, Jewelry allowed. Food is vegetarian.

Place is very peaceful

Address: 24/5 Soi Watcharaphon, Ramindra 55.

Directions: From Victory Monument. Bus no. 26, Microbus no. 10. Get off at the bus stop after police air force. Or simply take a taxi to "Soi WatcharaPhon" The place is located 400 meters from main road named Ramindra. Should be around 100 Baht for taxi.

Website: http://www.sathira-dhammasathan.org/

Bangkokian Museum

Located in Soi Charoen Krung 43. Exhibits lifestyles of middle-class Bangkokians during World War II (1937-1957). Such as kitchen in the old days, studying equipments, The objetive of the owner of this museum is to show younger generations how hard time their ancestors had back then.. like using of the old style pot to cook rice that needed lot of care and time unlike these days you just push one button on electronic one and wait.

Another objective is to make us realise where we came from, know our root.

Doctor Francis who built this house is an Indian gentleman who lived in Thailand and married Thai lady. He planned to turn this house into a clinic for the poor people so they could come to have a decent treatment without paying any fee, he would do it for help. Unfortunately he passed away too soon. But you can still see medical equipments in the house.. they keep everything.

The area is great. House is very beautiful.

Opening hours: 9:00 am - 3:30 PM

Address: Soi Charoen Krung 43

Directions: If you off the taxi opposite post office HQ, just walk in the soi about 10 min. The house will be on the right

Phone: 0 2233 7027