Bangkok Travel

Unmissable Bangkok 

In Order...

• 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 !