Bangkok Travel

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Bangkok City of The Angels

Bangkok is the First City you should visit if you are going to Asia for the first time. Bangkok City Travel is really easy and well organised - the airport is modern and well connected to the City. Even Taxi rides to Central Bangkok are reasonably priced and Hotels are always a bargain here.

 If you really fall in love with Thailand you might consider buying a property here or in a coastal resort. You may have to form a limited company to do so however. Local estate agents will advise you on this.

Bangkok History 

Bangkok is the capital, largest urban area and primary city of Thailand. Known in Thai as Krung Thep Mahanakhon (, ), or ???????? Krung Thep () for short, it was a small trading post at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River during the Ayutthaya Kingdom. It came to the forefront of Siam when it was given the status as the capital city in 1768 after the burning of Ayutthaya. However, the current Rattanakosin Kingdom did not begin until 1782 when the capital was moved across the river by Rama I after the death of King Taksin. The Rattanakosin capital is now more formally called "Phra Nakhon" (), pertaining to the ancient boundaries in the metropolis' core and the name Bangkok now incorporates the urban build-up since the 18th century which has its own public administration and governor.

Since its inception as the capital of Siam, it was at the center of European Colonial plans, but due to its strategic location in Indochina, it acted as a buffer-zone and brokered power between the European forces. Through this, it gained notoriety in the world as an independent, dynamic, and influential city. And in the span of over two hundred years, Bangkok has grown to become the political, social and economic center of Thailand, Indochina and Southeast Asia.

As a direct result of the 1980s and 1990s Asian investment boom, numerous multinational corporations base their regional headquarters in Bangkok and the city has become a regional force in finance and business. Its increasing influence on global politics, culture, fashion, and entertainment underlines its status as a global city. In 2009, it was the second most expensive city in South-East Asia behind Singapore.http://www.citymayors.com/statistics/expensive-cities-asia.html

The city's wealth of cultural landmarks and attractions in addition to its notorious entertainment venues has made it synonymous with exoticism. Its historic wealth coincides with its rapid modernization, reflected in the cityscape and the urban society. The Grand Palace, Vimanmek Palace Complex, its thousands of temples, and the city's notorious red-light districts combine draw in 11 million international visitors each year, trailing just Paris and London.http://www.euromonitor.com/Trend_Watch_Euromonitor_Internationals_Top_City_Destinations_Ranking

Bangkok has a population of approximately 6,355,144 residents while the greater Bangkok area has a population of 11,971,000 (January 2008). http://www.citypopulation.de/Thailand.html The capital is part of the heavily urbanized triangle of central and eastern Thailand which stretches from Nakhon Ratchasima along Bangkok to the heavily Industrialized Eastern Seaboard. Bangkok borders six other provinces: Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon and Nakhon Pathom, and all five provinces are joined in the conurbation of the Bangkok Metropolitan Area. It is served by two international airports, Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Don Muang, four rapid transit lines operated by the BTS, MRT, and the SRT, with plans to add eight more by 2020.

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Breaking News from Bangkok 

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Bangkok video 

China Town, Bangkok

This area is always crowded - especially a week before Chinese New Year like this.

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Unmissable Bangkok 

In Order...

What you REALLY should see in Bangkok -
First BUY a MAP !
  • Royal Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo
    As this is a religious and Royal area its advisable to wear long slleved clothes and not too revealing clothes at all or you may be refused entry. Great Statues,temples and frescoes.May close at luchtime.
  • Wat Po Temple - next to Grand Palace - super temple and has a great MASSAGE SCHOOL where you can get a real massage from a student at a very reasonable price.They also offer a massage course at a low price but it takes 30 hours. Unusual Statues in courtyard
  • National Museum - interesting Thai History with free English speaking tours (check for details)
  • Wat Rajnadda - strange temple with large Amulet market nearby
  • Wat Traimit Temple has a Huge Solid Gold Buddha on the edge of Chinatown
  • Chinatown - Fascinating markets and alleyways selling just about everything
  • Wat Arun - low cost boat takes you across from Royal Palce - iconic view of Bangkok and great views from up the temple spire.
  • Chatuchak Weekend Market - hundreds of stall selling everything you can imagine (and a lot you can't !)upsetting tiny caged animals and bird sections including ones banned by CITES - not for animal lovers... stick to silks,copy watches (VERY Cheap !)and silver jewellery at bargain prices
  • Jim Thompsons House (just off Siam Square) Silk entrepreneur and probably CIA Agent,He disappeared mysteriously in Malaysia. He was responsible for the growth of the Silk Industry in Thailand. Silk is a great souvenir and fairly cheap in Bangkok.
  • Erawan Shrine - small temple with colourful dance troop who perform religious dancers.Bird sellers sell birds to release to bring merit to your soul.
    Only place you can regularly see Real Temple Dancers.
    Other dancers are in Big Hotels and Nightclubs or restaurants.Try Dusit Thani Hotel for good evening Dancer show with dinner.
  • Patpong 1 and Patpong 2 - a bit tacky by day this red light district becomes a las vegas style street (s) complex by night. Don't take your maiden aunt - its really VERY naughty indeed. Has a good but slightly expensive street market at night - don't forget to haggle - they expect it ! There are also Gay areas nearby and Soi Cowboy reminds me of Vietnam in the 60's !
    *** HIV is rife in the clubs of Bangkok. ***
  • Snake Farm - a bit of a shocker and slightly tacky IMHO.Demonstrations of slithery things and milking them - Also put Puthons round tourists necks for photo
  • Ayutthaya is the ancient capital and has fabulous ruins (full day tour or taxi ride) Take mineral water - you'll need it.
  • Thai Dancing - often with thai dinner in larger hotels like the Dusit Thani. Good fun but sitting on low seats may be uncomfortable for some visitors.
  • Damnoern Saduak is the Floating Market about 60 K from Bangkok - usually a full day tour starting at 6.30 am and including a visit to the Rose Garden with martial arts and elephant displays this is a great day out - may also include the crocodile farm and zoo according to your tour company or taxi driver !
  • Jam Factory .....
    Oh says the taxi Driver - the Royal Palace doesn't open for 2 hours -
    would you like to see a jam factory ?
    ** Its a GEM FACTORY ** and its NOT cheap... tell him you are meeting someone at the Palace....
  • Getting around :
    Taxis now have meters.
    Tuk-Tuks (three wheelers) are cheaper.
    If you have to get somewhere FAST there are motorcycle taxis - you take your life in your hands with either of the last two !

Bangkok Hotels 

All Accomodation from Guesthouses to Super Luxury Hotels is here !

You can find any kind of accomodation in Bangkok -
The best medium price areas to stay are on Rama IV Road and in the area surounding Lumpini Park (A little more expensive but still good value)

Luxury Hotels are to be found overlooking the Chao Prya River and these are still excellent value.

Value accomodation is to be found in the Backpacker guesthouses in the Khao San Road in the Banglamphu area and these are really cheap.

Areas to avoid staying in (unless you are actually looking for Sin) are in the Patpong Road 1 and 2 Redlight district which also has a night market area and the Sukhumvit area immediately near Soi Nana (another Red light District).
In fact you won't have to look very far for Sin anywhere in Bangkok - pretty much every hotel and taxi will try to punt you on to a massage parlour or entertainment complex. However it's not compulsory !
Bangkok has superb restaurants and I would advise keeping to Thai food - excellent quality almost everywhere.
There are a number of food markets (mostly open in the evening) and your hotel will guide you to the nearest one.
I have found the Airport Hotels to be a bit on the expensive side and not as helpful as central Bangkok ones. A Hotel booking service is in the arrivals part of the AIrport and they will find you a hotel (only book for one night - its cheaper if you stay one night and then either rebook through a local tour company or find another hotel it could halve your hotel costs for your stay)

Bangkok Video Kaoh San Road 

Thailand Bangkok Kaoh San Road

Thailand Bangkok Kaoh San Road

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Bangkok Guide Books 

Top 10 Bangkok (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides)

Amazon Price: $8.64 (as of 12/18/2009) Buy Now

LUXE Bangkok

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/18/2009) Buy Now

The Rough Guide to Bangkok 4 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)

Amazon Price: (as of 12/18/2009) Buy Now

Bangkok (City Guide)

Amazon Price: $12.91 (as of 12/18/2009) Buy Now

Bangkok Videos 


Grand Royal Palace in Bangkok

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Bangkok Rose Garden, Thailand

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The Rose Garden in Bangkok - Thai Boxing

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International Orchids Bangkok 2007 - #1

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Floating Market in Bangkok. Thailand

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Amphawa Floating Market

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China Town, Bangkok

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Go Beyond Basic Travel in Bangkok!

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curated content from YouTube

Bangkok News 

No reason to worry about Bangkok pigs
Pig farms in the capital are not at risk from typeA (H1N1) influenza, as there are so few swine farmers in the city, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ...
Thais: US tip led to seizure of arms from NKorea
BANGKOK ? Thai authorities were acting on a tip from the United States when they seized tons of illicit weapons from a plane from North Korea, ...
HSBC, Bank of Nova Scotia Said to Bid for Siam Bank
... an analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in Bangkok. ?Siam City is probably the last banking license available for sale to foreign investors by the government ...
Seven killed, 11 injured in Myanmar bombing
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Seven people were killed and 11 injured when a bomb exploded in southeastern Myanmar, official media reported on Friday, blaming ethnic ...

Bangkok Links 

Welcome to Bangkok Tourism Division @ bangkoktourist.com
Has responsibility for promoting Bangkok as a tourist destination as well as supporting tourism activities involving Thai customs and culture.
Bangkok & Thailand online guide book - 1stopbangkok.com
Where to shop:. Plush malls, busy markets & fake Rolex's. Health and help:. Emergency services, tourist police, hospitals. Bangkok tours: ...
Bangkok Hot Guides
Markets in Bangkok are still the best places to find some great bargains. Apart from the popular tourist markets like Chatuchak Weekend Market and Suan Lum ...
Destination Guide : General Information in Bangkok
Useful tourist information on Bangkok can be obtained from the official website of the Bangkok Tourism Division : www.bangkoktourist.com ...
Bangkok Tourism and Travel Guide - IgoUgo
Visit IgoUgo for the best online travel guide to Bangkok tourism, hotels, restaurants, things to do, and more. Submit your own Bangkok reviews and photos to ...
Scams and Conmen - Bangkok Tourist Traps - VirtualTourist.com
Travel tips: Bangkok tourist traps, including Scams and Conmen, courtesy of real travelers and Bangkok, Thailand locals. Get real travel advice from real ...
Thailand Dental, Thailand Dental clinic by Bangkok Dentist Tourism.
Thailand Dental, Thailand Dental clinic by Bangkok Dentist Tourism. Thai Dental Tourism is a union of Asia's most accomplished doctors specializing in ...
Welcome to Bangkok Tourism Division @ bangkoktourist.com
A free city map can also be picked up at The Bangkok Tourist Division office, Bangkok Tourist Information Booths throughout Bangkok and the TAT office . ...
Bangkok Tourism - Bangkok Vacations
Bangkok tourism - plan your next vacation to Bangkok using our comprehensive travel guide.
Bangkok Temples and Attractions
Bangkok Temples and Attractions - Grand Palace, Temples, Grand Palace, River Cruises.
Bangkok City & Temples Tour
Discover three of Bangkok's finest temples: Wat Trimitr, with its 900-year old solid gold Buddha, Wat Po, with its reclining Buddha and traditional massage ...
Bangkok temples and wats in Thailand
Temples Bangkok, guide to wats, temple and wat info for Bangkok Thailand.
Wat Arun, Bangkok's Temple of Dawn
Wat Arun, Bangkok's Temple of Dawn. ... A Small Pavilion, Wat Arun, The Temple of Dawn, Bangkok · Wat Arun's Khmer-style Prang · Temple Details at Wat Arun, ...
Bangkok Temples - Bangkok Wats - Bangkok, Thailand
Perhaps the most beautiful of Bangkok's temples, Wat Benajambophit combines western religious influences (stained-glass windows! ...
Bangkok Temples Tour including reclining Buddha at Wat Pho
Bangkok Temples Tour including reclining Buddha at Wat Pho, per person. Season, Apr 01, 2007 to Mar 31, 2008, Apr 01, 2008 to Mar 31, 2009 ...
Travel Talk - Which Bangkok Temple to Visit Next?
To post a message in "Which Bangkok Temple to Visit Next?", compose your text in the box below, then click on "Post My Message" (below). ...
Temple of Great Relic (Wat Mahathat), Bangkok, temples in Bangkok ...
AsiaRooms.com provides information about Temple of Great Relic (Wat Mahathat), Bangkok.
Wat Arun - Bangkok's Temple of Dawn
Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, by Supachai Panyaviwat Wat Arun is almost an icon - the symbol of Bangkok dating back to before this city was the capital of ...
Travel Thailand - Bangkok temples pictures from thailand photos on ...
Travel Thailand - Bangkok temples pictures published by rfna70.
Bangkok Temples
Bangkok Temples Bangkok Temples - the spiritual inside the modern. buddhadownaisle. Buddhas-ear_DSC0069. Form-on-Buddha_DSC0074. reclining-buddhaDSC_0075 ...
Keyword Album: bangkok temples
Keyword Album: bangkok temples. Size: 1 item. Temples & Monks. Album: Temples & Monks. Size: 64 items. Keywords: bangkok temples ...

Bangkok DVDs 

Bangkok Girl : A Documentary about Thailand's Night Life

Amazon Price: $15.99 (as of 12/18/2009) Buy Now

Lonely Planet Six Degrees Series 3: Bangkok

Amazon Price: $15.00 (as of 12/18/2009) Buy Now

Beautiful Thailand - Travel

Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 12/18/2009) Buy Now

Thai Food 

Great Food - Low prices

Wherever you eat from a roadside stall to a five star restaurant) you'll get good tasty food with a strong accent on fish and chicken rice and noodle dishes.
Although there are many other nationalities restarants,I personally stick to Thai restaurants - there is such competition that almost all are great quality.
Hotels usually have both restaurants and coffee shops and the same kitchen serves both !

Want to Visit Bangkok ? 

Try Booking here -

Orbitz will find great prices on flights and accomodation to Bangkok.

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Bangkok Blogs 

N. Korean weapons seized in Bangkok were headed for Middle East: intel chief
18 (Yonhap) -- The North Korean weapons seized in Bangkok last week were bound for the Middle East, the chief US intelligence official said Friday. ...
No reason to worry about Bangkok pigs
Pig farms in the capital are not at risk from typeA (H1N1) influenza, as there are so few swine farmers in the city, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ...
Thais Investigate Destination of Weapons
By PATRICK BARTA and DANIEL MICHAELS BANGKOK -- Thai investigators searching cargo seized from a plane from North Korea have found weaponry that includes ...
Probe Of Thai Executive Chairman To Complete In 3 Weeks
They are accused of channeling their personal baggage via a special route to avoid paying taxes and fees on their flight from Tokyo to Bangkok last month. ...

Bangkok Photos 

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Current Weather 

Current weather conditions in Bangkok, Thailand

Local Pollen Reports

29°C (Feels like 31°C)

Last update: 12/19/09 12:30 PM Local Time

Humidity: 55%
Visibility: 10.0 km
Dew Point: 19°C
UV Index: 7 (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 1015.9mm falling
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: 16km/h From: Airport Conditions
powered by weather.com

Today


Mostly Cloudy
High: 31°C
Low: 22°C
Sunrise: 6:35 AM
Sunset: 5:55 PM

Sunday
Dec 20 


Mostly Cloudy
High: 31°C
Low: 22°C
Sunrise: 6:36 AM
Sunset: 5:55 PM

Monday
Dec 21 


Partly Cloudy
High: 32°C
Low: 21°C
Sunrise: 6:36 AM
Sunset: 5:56 PM

Tuesday
Dec 22 


Mostly Sunny
High: 32°C
Low: 21°C
Sunrise: 6:37 AM
Sunset: 5:56 PM

When NOT to visit Bangkok ... 

In August it rains - a LOT ! So much that the streets of Bangkok flood - up to three feet deep.
This could (with global warming) change however and you should make enquiries through your airline about the weather.
***Bangkok smells rather a lot when it floods. ***
I've found that October is reliably sunny and not too hot.. Summer can be very humid and close.

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