Tips 1 - 10 of 10 Bangkok Things to Do
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You remember the quintessential photographs of wooden canoes with multicoloured fruits, flowers and vegetables, paddled by Thai mamasans with big smiles? That was Floating Market 20 years ago, that is history, that is over! You may take your snapshot here now of rows and rows of souvenir stands lining the canals, and boatloads of tourists. After the 2 1/2 hours drive from Bangkok ...
The floating fruit mamasans are still there, so donot scratch this tourist place right away. Enjoy the souvenir market, and want to see the real Floating Market? Come the night before to Damnoen Saduak and take a nice hotel. When you get up early in the morning (7am - 8am) you'll see mamasan in her original and favourite doings ... selling multicoloured fruits, flowers and vegetables.
Special note: I heard there are several small family business South of the Floating Market. They love to welcome tourists and there is a enthusiastic tourist office in Damnoen Saduak who can arrange boat-sails to these families (for about 500 THB).
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Address: Damnoen Saduak
Directions: About 2 hours by car outside Bangkok city center
Website: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/7c3af/160d76/
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Statues: KINNARI-BIRDWOMAN
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World-famous, but there is hardly to find anything about their background. They are named BIDADARI, in Thai the Kinnari or "Bird-woman".
These female images do have the looks of a beautiful girl or lady, though the lower part of their body is the one of a bird! It is told the original images were memories of ancient creatures of female nature who travelled between the Upper- and the Underworld, like "angel-girls".
That is why they moved around like birds and, whispering like girls they told all kind of secrets to the people. I found this one along the road near Rama IV, and will place lateron the famous golden ones who are also at WAT PHRA KEO, the Royal Grand Palace. In Pattaya see these Kinnarai's in WAT CHAIMONGKRON (see link).
Isn't she a remarkable as well beautiful creature???
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Address: Road Rama IV, Bangkok - Thailand
Directions: Centre Bangkok
Website: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/7c3af/161f12/a/
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This place is one of Bangkok's most heavily touristed areas. It is Jim Thompson's House & Museum complex, a very historic spot. The house-owner Jim Thompson used to be Thailand's best-adapted foreigner who created the first international appetite for Thai Silk. And became a tireless promotor of traditional Thai arts and culture over the world.
The place is a very nice one to pass some time, and we enjoyed the Thompson Bar and Restaurant for a great lunch. Loved the beautiful garden view and surroundings, all touched by that typically colonial taste. Read the book Jim Thompson The Unsolved Mystery by W. Warren. It is about Jim Thompson's intriguing disappearence ... and visit the Jim Thompson Factory Sales Outlets (see link).
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Address: Rama I Road, Pathumwan District
Directions: National Stadium or Siam Skytrain station
Website: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/7c3af/160d76/c/
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WAT PHRA KAEW always is named with the Grand Palace in Bangkok. The sacred monument is located within the walls of the Palace which buildings are named Phra Borom Maharatchawong. The Grand Palace complex is famous for its monuments, temples, decorated halls, statues, and ofcourse the world-famous WHAT PHRA KAEW, or the Emerald Buddha.
More to come ... trip by the legendary Chao Phraya River!
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Phone: 02-224-1833
Address: Maharaj Pier, Chao Phraya, Bangkok
Website: http://www.discoverthailand.com/
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You can visit a lot of markets in Bangkok, but the one you've heard about is the CHATUCHAK Weekend Market. This is it! The MUST of the Thai markets, where everything imaginable is FOR SALE! If you cannot buy it on this market place, you cannot buy it anywhere else.
You do need a full day to see just a part of this huge weekend market area. To buy whatever comes in your mind, and to do what anybody does on a market; to beat the crowd and the heat! So bring bottle of water or just make a pit-stop at one of the many food stalls. And best time is to start early in the morning ...
We already have been told to buy the thing you want, seeing at the first time. Because you're never gonna find the place back! There are maps available, an information centre, ATM's for cash, ... And the toilets? Sorry, hard to find, filthy, dirty, hot ...
Well, what to buy? Let's make a try ...
Handmade silks produced by the mountain people, fighing cocks and fighting fishes, fluffy puppies (ooow, I couldn't bear to watch, so many in one box!), crawling snakes, eating bugs, all jeans you've seen downtown, design clothes next to knock-off designer watches and bags, souvenirs-souvenirs-souvenirs!
Etc. etc. etc.
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Address: Mo Chit Station, Bangkok
Directions: Simply take the Skytrain to the end terminal called Morchit which is exactly where the market is located.
Website: http://www.discoverthailand.com
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This is a relief to the Patpong area, a Must-Do on the backpacker, and got even a trendy touristic place because of the "Beach" movie with Leonardo Di Caprio. Though I heard the Khao San Road already was a famous area before the "Beach" movie shot some parts here. I loved the Khao San Road, the street so alive with the spiritual touch ... and so many backpackers, even it is touristy, crowded and noisy.
Maybe close to the river, untypically Bangkok spheres and crowded with Hippie-like entertainments that's the reason the area attracts tourists looking for good to reach and cheap accomodations, night-market, anything-cheap-to-buy place, fine food, bars, coffee shops ... and ofcourse a lot of fun! All matters that travellers love ... me included!
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Address: T. Khoa San Road (KSR) BKK
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Wat Pho: *W*A*T* *P*H*O*
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Come to the modest hero of Bangkok's holy temples, the WAT PHO. You'll find here the largest collection of Buddha images, rich, adorned, decorated, beautified and afterall so pure. Famous is the "Reclining Buddha", ie the Buddha's death (!), which is 46 mt. long and 15 mt. high, finished in godlleaf! But worth a nod are the other Buddha images like Phra Chinnarat, Phra Chinnachai and the Sukhothai (Rising of Happiness). Special dress code wanted!
The area, considered the earliest university in Thailand, is good to explore by yourself (info map available), and want to know more about the place better get a guide. It's great when the monks around are interested, and tell some in English about the environment, though hard to find, heeheeh! They are so neat! Remember not to touch a monk! That is forbidden!
And the WAT PHO is famous, too, for its Thai Massage school. get an hour-long treatment, ... but there's no AC (so very sweaty!) and rather long waits.
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Phone: 02-221-991
Address: Tha Tien Pier, Chao Phraya River, Bangkok
Directions: The entrance to Wat Pho is on Chetuphon road. Entrance is 20B. It's open every day, opening hours are from 08.00am to 5.00pm, with a break from 12.00pm to 1.00pm.
Website: http://www.discoverthailand.com/
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Things To Do: SUPER RICH
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Quite a head for a tip huh? For an inexpensive country like Thailand this is for those on a budget, and also for the ones who wanna buy too much. When changing money more than 4500 machines, included the ATM, can be used to withdraw cash. Banks or the more rare private money changers offer the best foreign-exchange rates. Most banks charge a 23THB commission and duty for each travellers cheque cashed ...
The best to change your money is at SUPER RICH. In the case you wanna win some and want to change a sum of money all at once (when thinking of a lot of changing you'll loose every time the charges) this place is the best rate!. Got this super rate by my brother who always wanna change US Dollars and Euro's (US$ = 15 Stang, Euros can be even only 10 Stang).
Aonther suggestion is VASU, near Nana SkyTrain Staion, it's located within a travelagency on the corner of Soi 7/1 and Sukhumvit, go to the back for money exchange. Note: dividing of Thai Baht in 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 notes, and coins of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 Satang.
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Address: 45-45/1 Rajdamri Road, Pathumwan
Directions: Opposite WTC, close to the 4-faced Buddha
Website: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/7c3af/160d76/6/
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This is a Hindu colourful temple built by Tamil immigrants. See the Hindu deities in full-colour on the main temple, which is topped by a gold-plated copper dome. Inside of this main shrine is Jao Mae Maha Umathewi, known as Uma Devi (it is the same as the legendary Mariammam, Goddess of Death). She is consort of Shiva who you can find here in a row. Together with Vishnu and the other Hindu deities.
There are a few Buddha images, so that just about any non-Muslim, non-Judea-Christian Asian can worship here. Thai call this temple Wat Khaek, which means "Temple of Guest", as people of Indian descent are viewed. Not appreciated by the Indians.
It's prohibited to take pictures when there is a ceremonial celebration, so I could take just these 2 pics ...
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Address: Thanon Silom
Directions: Chong Nonsi Skytrain station, on corner of Th. Silom and Th. Pan
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Patpong: SILOM ROAD
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I don't know why, but when for the very first time in Bangkok I always took my bearings by taking the SILOM ROAD and, from there to other places. Maybe because of this business district has the city's greatest concentration of luxury hotels, or just because of SILOM's ROAD most famous attraction named PATPONG!
Ofcourse PATPONG, once most famous as red-light district, has calmed down a lot and, for now draws more sightseers that ... flesh-seekers, heeheeh! Oh yeah, there are the Go-Go bars, ping-pong shows, Gay Men's equivalents, some restaurants "trés elegant" and the night street market, so do have a fun time on SILOM ROAD. Traffic can be thick in these part of town, but the SkyTrain, Subway and River Express provide some transport relief.
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Address: SILOM ROAD
Directions: Centre of Bangkok, when from Dusit Thani Hotel, left of Rama IV Rd.
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 Comments for RoyJava about Bangkok | | | | |
GenuinelyCurious Fri Feb 29, 2008 06:31 UTC
Great commentary and nice pictures, Roy... but where do you get a cup of coffee? Happy birthday, big guy. | cokes Sun Mar 11, 2007 19:11 UTC
Nice one Roy. I would love to visit here someday soon. As for the shopping part mmmm sounds good but definitely not eating bugs hahaha | gilabrand Mon Jan 15, 2007 07:25 UTC
I am already an experiend bug eater. Once I got a cup of hot chocolate from a machine, took a big sip, and found a cockroach in my mouth... | sprdak11 Wed Nov 15, 2006 20:57 UTC
Great, very informative travel page, very useful for all tourists. Greetings. |
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