Murderous traffic jams! and other Bangkok, Thailand Warning Or Danger Tips

Watch out for traffic jams - especially in the middle of the city (around Siam Square) and around peak hours (morning and evening rush hour traffic). You can be jammed up really tight and everything will come down to a crawl if not a complete stand still. Perfect chance to test that patience of yours...especially if you are in a open-aired tut tut in the midst of all that pollution, heat and humidity.

If you are rushing to the airport around peak hours, I would suggest that you give yourself a generous lee way (get to the airport early) less you intend to miss your flight and stay another day.

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I have met my fair share of taxi drivers trying NOT to go via meter and try to stick me with an inflated taxi fare, especially when night falls and you are returning to the hotel late. I usually slam the door shut and walk off and find the next available taxi, not that there are any shortage!

I am no push-over tourist and you shouldn't be too, no matter how strong your currency is compared to the local currency.

Also, watch out for the Tuk-tuks. It has never happened to me but my friends had suffered in their hands. Instead of driving them to the requested location, the Tuk-tuk driver sent them to shops that they had commissions with and tried to get them to buy items off these shops. My friends were pretty much chagrined and enraged and refused to part a single cent. They pretty much swore off all Tuk-tuks in Bangkok thereafter. However, not all Tuk-tuk drivers are unscrupulous though so exercise your judgement.

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BKK can get REALLY hot & humid during the dry months (Mar-Aug) with temperatures reaching 40C with high humidity. The heat can be pretty sapping on soul and energy. Clothes will cling to you after a while so make sure you bring lots of breathable cotton clothes or the new ClimateCool and Dryfit clothes. Keep the polyesters at home.

Make sure you drink lots of fluids, eat lots of vegetables and fruits. Take more showers if necessary to cool yourself down. Getting dehydrated or a heat stroke is not at all enjoyable.

BKK is also known for its traffic pollution so it is advisable not to walk too much near the centre of town after noon time as pollution usually reach its peak the few hours after noon.

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