Travel Destination: Bangkok
About Bangkok
Travel and Leisure magazine ranked Bangkok as the best city in the world while Conde Nast Traveler magazine dubbed it as best city in Asia. It must be because of the number of tourists that it hosts every year or the city’s historic sites which are really impressive or is it because of the shopping finds or, well, the list can go on and on. Bangkok presents an experience that is truly Asian—warm, welcoming and wow. People here party, shop, eat and just have a good time.
This city is Thailand’s major tourist gateway. It is in the must-see list of most local and foreign tourists because it has both old and new attractions. Despite being a global city, it has maintained its identity and that’s what this city’s charm is all about. Today’s Bangkok residents is a mix of natives, Indians, Chinese and Western people. So aside from the famous Thai cuisine, it’s also easy to find other cultures’ gastronomic fares that tourists can taste and sample.
Beside the interesting flavours of the city, you can expand your discovery of the place pretty easily. There are taxis, buses, Skytrain, MRT and tuk tuk (an auto rickshaw) to take you around the city. In some cases, walking is better because of the congested streets courtesy of heavy traffic most part of the day.
Whatever form of transportation you choose to go around this city, no boring moment would get the best of you because there are many things to see along the way. Shopping is the main preoccupation of tourists here so join in the fun. Bangkok is a strong competitor of Hong Kong and Singapore when it comes to shopping opportunities. The most popular items to buy are jewellery items (Thailand is known for selling gold in very affordable prices), art, antiques, handicrafts, gems, textile and gadgets. Haggling is imperative when you shop in flea markets and roadside stalls, part of the joy of shopping this side of the city. Head to Siam Square, Pratu Nam, Bang Lamphu, Soi Lalai Sap, Silom, Sukhumvit, Chatuchak, Yaowarat, Center Point or Phahurat and enjoy great bargains.
Shopping in department stores is also recommended but they have fixed prices although you can go to Bangkok during sale season and visit Central World Plaza, Siam Paragon, Siam Discovery, Siam Center, Peninzula Plaza, Narai Phand, Emporium, Pantip Plaza and Gaysorn Plaza.
Festivals to visit are the Bangkok Songkran Festival in April, Royal Ploughing Ceremony in May, H.M. The Queen’s Birthday Celebration in August, Trooping of Colours and H.M. The King’s Birthday Celebrations, both in December.
The temples (called Wat in Thai) are Bangkok’s main attraction. No visit would be complete if you haven’t seen the historic sites Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha, known as Thailand’s holiest shrine), Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn, can be reached through the Arun Amarin Road or by boat from the Tha Tien Pier), Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha, largest Bangkok temple) and Wat Saket Ratchaworamahawihan (Temple of the Golden Mountain, it takes 318 steps to reach the top but it offers a great view of Bangkok).
The Grand Palace is the most famous landmark located in the Old City. This complex was built in 1782 and here is where Wat Phra Kaew is also found. Visitors must be aware that there is dress code to comply with—no sleeveless tops, no bare feet, no bare shoulders, now see-through clothes, no shorts, no mini-skirts are allowed—because this complex is considered a holy place.
Whether it’s the old side or cosmopolitan side of the city that you want to explore, Bangkok’s boom is due to the fact that it offers the best of both worlds on a silver platter. All you have to do is gladly accept.