A Day in Bangkok

Aaron Bradford — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:55:11 +0000

Originally posted on Travel Asia - Travel Europe| Bangkok to Krakow.com

Photo from Flickr by MikeBehnken

No trip to Thailand would be complete without making at least a whistle-stop visit to Bangkok. Having booked the flight, organised your worldwide travel insurance and arranged accommodation, it’s time to plan your day in Bangkok.

Temples and Palaces

Famed for the impressive architecture, graceful spires and priceless treasures within them, the temples and palaces of Bangkok should be on every day-trip list. Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn), with its decorated 70-metre spire is one of the city’s most famous landmarks. The central Buddha image was cast in the reign of King Rama II and sits over the spot where his ashes are buried.

The Grand Palace is where you’ll also find Wat Phra Kaew, with its famous Emerald Buddha. Being a sacred site, visitors must follow a strict dress code of long sleeves and no bare shoulders or feet.

Markets

Lively, chaotic and colourful, Bangkok’s markets are in complete contrast to the often reverent atmosphere of the temples. In the Chinatown market you’ll find local delicacies cooked on the spot. Experiment with dishes such as bird’s nest or shark fin soup while browsing the wares of hundreds of stalls and small shops.

For a different market experience, a visit to the floating markets of Bangkok is a must. Small boats throng the canals clamouring for attention. Some are floating kitchens selling food cooked on the boat, while other have local goods and produce for sale. The most famous and popular among tourists is the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Noisy and chaotic, it’s an experience not to be missed.

Evening Relaxation

After a hectic day shopping and sightseeing, it’s good to relax and wind down with a meal. One of the best ways of seeing the city by night is to take a dinner cruise along the Chao Praya River, taking in such sights as the lit temples and soaring modern skyscrapers as you enjoy the luxury on board.

An alternative way to view the city by night is to have your evening meal in one of the many stylish rooftop restaurants in Bangkok. Choose carefully and you’ll get the perfect bird’s-eye view across the vast city in an awe-inspiring panorama. Book your table for late afternoon and enjoy cocktails as you watch the sun setting over the Chao Praya River.

A day in Bangkok isn’t much time to spend when there’s so much to see and do, but it’s enough to give you a rich taste of Thai city life.

Want to go backpacking around the world get tips, advice and travel articles from Happytimeblog.co.uk or Travel Asia - Travel Europe| Bangkok to Krakow.com

Photo from Flickr by: geoftheref

If you’re visiting Thailand during your travels, you’ll be met with a host of options for accommodation from windowless madhouses (think The Beach) to world-class resorts. Most people who go travelling can’t afford to spend money on luxury hotels, so here’s how you can save money and get the most out of your accommodation.

Get away from the city centre

Bangkok is a destination for all – from European hipsters in search of neon-lit hedonism to the choice of affluent Asians who like to consider affordable city breaks. Hotels and hostels in the centre of Bangkok – say, along the popular Th. Sukhumvit – will cost more than those out of town purely due to their proximity to the main shopping centres and great restaurants. If you can find somewhere 5 or 10 mins away from the centre by a taxi, or even better, close to a Skytrain or Metro station, then you’ll save yourself some money that could be spent elsewhere.

A taxi from the popular Khao San Road to the city centre costs around 120B (US $4) so try and factor any journeys you’ll make into any calculations you come up with when working out what a hotel will cost.

Negotiate!

There is always room for negotiation on anything – just remember to smile and always be polite. Negotiating is generally accepted at guesthouses and mid-range hotels, and you’ll do yourself a favour by learning some Thai phrases, notably ‘please’, ‘thank you’ and basic numbers. If you’re planning on staying for a more than a few days, you may be able to wangle a few nights for free.

Ask to see the room first

Always ask to see the room you’d be staying in first. It could help you in your bargaining position – if you’re not totally happy with it, you may be able to knock them down on the price. Remember, you can always say no after seeing the room; you are not committed to anything.

When are you staying?

Between May and October, due to it being ‘low’ season and prone to rain and flooding, there is always a fantastic selection of low cost holiday apartments on special deal. Some hotels advertise discounts of up to 30% during these summer months to try and get people in. Remember that even in rainy season, there’s still plenty of sunshine to be enjoyed.

Guesthouses

Guesthouses are great if you’re on a tight budget, as they can cost next to nothing. However you will have to compromise on comfort and living standards. The majority are basic, cheap and cheerful. However, cheaper places tend to attract a younger crowd, meaning they can be quite noisy, so it’s worth bearing that in mind, especially if you’re a light sleeper.

Tipping

Tipping is not expected or mandatory, especially in hotels. However if you leave a tip on the first night you may find the rest of your stay more comfortable and you will be treated very well by the staff. Again this could put you in a better bargaining position should you wish to negotiate a couple more nights’ stay.

Some words of advice…

If you have a problem with your room, dress up before you go to complain – if you are in scruffy clothes you may not be taken seriously. Thai people pride themselves on their appearance, so throwing on a shirt can help your cause.

Don’t get mad – no matter what the problem is, shouting will be considered ignorant and rude. Thai people try to stick to a philosophy of keeping calm or jai yen (cool heart), so to go in all guns blazing won’t get you very far.

If you’re sleeping somewhere a bit grubby, use your own sleeping bag or silk bag liner. It just feels nicer to have your own sheets sometimes.

If you are a male travelling alone or in a group of males, don’t be surprised if you are asked if you would like a girl sent to your room, or even one knocking on your door selling ‘services’.

Adhere to local customs – some locations may expect you to take your shoes off, especially in internet cafes or shops. This will be clearly signposted outside, so don’t ignore them. Also, learn the wai – a Thai greeting used to greet someone older, or just a sign of notable politeness.

Want to go backpacking around the world get tips, advice and travel articles from Happytimeblog.co.uk or Travel Asia - Travel Europe| Bangkok to Krakow.com

Photo from Flickr by josemanuelerre

When you decide to live abroad, you realise that you’re choosing some good things – sunshine, cheap living, a great lifestyle – at the cost of other equally important things, such as regularly seeing friends and family. In order to go back home for those can’t-miss festivals with your mates or a big family wedding, you have to rely on budget airlines to get you home for a reasonable price.

While the wages in Southeast Asia are enough to live on here, they don’t go far when your hand is in your pocket looking for money to buy return flights to the UK. Thank god for Air Asia, we’ve always said. Travel bloggers have written endless posts about ways to bag cheap flights, even how to get from London to Cambodia for £100.

So imagine the collective gasp of horror when last month when Air Asia announced that they were axing their long-haul routes to London and Paris. Expats across Southeast Asia shed a solitary tear as the last option for budget travel across the globe suddenly vanished overnight. Routes into Mumbai and Delhi were also cut, with the fleet being redeployed to more profitable Asian and Australian routes. CEO of AirAsia X, Azran Osman-Rani, explained:

“The implementation of the emissions trading scheme and the escalating air passenger duty taxes in UK, which will rise yet again in April 2012, forced our decision to withdraw our services to Europe.”

For the first time, their cheap flights to Australia now include KL to Sydney (as of April 1st). It’s bound to be a surefire moneymaker, as it seems more backpackers than ever are braving Australia’s leonine economy in the attempt to make their own fortune on the back of a working holiday visa. Flights to Australia are as popular as ever.

So where does this leave the rest of us? Pretty badly off, really. The cheapest deals for travel between Southeast Asia and Europe – say Bangkok to London – now lean heavily on Indian airlines such as Jet Airways, and the Taiwan-based EVA Air. Even their best deals and promotions are nearly twice the price of the best deals on Air Asia. The only option for the unfortunate Englishman abroad is to either find the money from somewhere or to miss out on going home. I’m currently scrabbling around for deals for this summer for my best friend’s wedding but unless I can find something for under £700 return, it looks like I’ll be witnessing another wedding from the wrong side of the globe. Sad face.

Want to go backpacking around the world get tips, advice and travel articles from Happytimeblog.co.uk or Travel Asia - Travel Europe| Bangkok to Krakow.com

Don’t be scared to get a little crazy in this country….it’s made to be mad!

A lot of adventurous types can still get put off by a very un-adventurous travel factor….money. This often means that getting to far-flung destinations such as Asia and Australia are a pipe-dream rather than anything else.

However, there are plenty of opportunities to find a cheap flight online, especially if you are willing to risk waiting to the last minute. Otherwise, try flight specialists such as DialAFlight who can source a cheap flight to Thailand for only £369 (to Bangkok including taxes).

But what can you do once you get there to make the most of this buzzing country? Full moon parties and tuk-tuks around Bangkok all sounding a bit…tame? Too many elephant treks and cocktails by the beach?

Well do not fear. There is still adventure galore to be found in the rich Thai landscape – and plenty of adrenaline-raising ways to experience the views and heritage of the country.

One activity which comes highly recommended is the Tree Top Adventure Park in the forest of Koh Chang and Pattaya. Located amdist the forest but with tree-line views of the ocean, the course has over 30 paths to choose from (…and extremely reliable instructors to trust with your safety….).

I had been tree-swinging before in Guatemala, but there were only two courses and it became pretty limiting. This tree top park is fantastic for real adventurer who want to experiment – or who have been before.

As well as beginner’s ropes and instructions, there are harder tree-line routes for more experienced participants – and once you start whizzing through the forest at top speed, you’ll only want more and more, so expect to get addicted.

For a different kind of rush, if you’re looking for a new thrill in Bangkok, then why not let someone else take the hits for you. I got sick and tired of the endless bars, partying and peddling hawkers – and found the Thai Boxing nights at Lumphini Stadium.

There’s huge atmosphere, pumping music and incredible physical feats – the colour and the taste of Thai culture is a real hit compared to the tourist-trap stuff you get in the city centre.

Want to go backpacking around the world get tips, advice and travel articles from Happytimeblog.co.uk or Travel Asia - Travel Europe| Bangkok to Krakow.com

photo from Flickr by: Dana Riza

From the bright lights and seedy underground of Bangkok to the lush rainforests and unspoiled islands of the South, it’s easy to see why so many people each year decide to book flights to Thailand. It’s a difficult country not to have an adventure in.

Let’s start with Bangkok. They say that “one night in Bangkok makes the hard man humble” and after spending some time there you’ll understand why. If you want to have an adventure in Bangkok, you don’t have to look far.

Some companies offer cycling tours: this is a great way to see the city, and also a good way to offset the carbon from your flights to Bangkok. It’s not simply a case of a gentle jaunt around the city, however. Bangkok is a very busy place, so you will have to keep your wits about you.

If you’re feeling very adventurous, you might want to step into Muay Thai ring and learn Thai boxing. Although there are professional companies that offer this as part of your holiday, there are some bars that will let you fight another amateur in exchange for a bucket of booze. You may end up with a few cuts and bruises here and there, but isn’t that what adventuring is all about?

Thai food is a culinary adventure too. Searingly hot, fragrant, and full of flavour; it’s probably best to order your food “mai pet” unless you’re the kind of person who orders vindaloo at home and thinks nothing of it. Bangkok has some excellent restaurants, but true adventurers order their food from street-side stalls. To find the best stalls, look at where the locals are eating and take your chances by pointing at whatever looks good.

An hour outside of Bangkok you’ll find the ‘Flight of the Gibbon’ zipline through the jungle canopy, where you get to spend three hours ziplining and abseiling through the rainforest.

Once you leave Bangkok, the temptation may be to visit Kho Phi Phi where “The Beach” was filmed. This is a bad idea, as the island is over-run with tourists. The good news is that Thailand’s coast is teeming with islands and wildlife: you can escape the beach goers by taking to the water and either renting a boat, or going snorkelling. The waters around Thailand are teeming with fish.

There is plenty to do in Thailand’s jungles: from trekking to rafting to kayaking to simply sightseeing. The adventure of a lifetime awaits.

James writes for Skyscanner.net, a Scottish flight comparison company. Skyscanner compare cheap flights to hundreds of destinations worldwide. You can now search for flights on Facebook, using the Skyscanner Flight Search app.

Want to go backpacking around the world get tips, advice and travel articles from Happytimeblog.co.uk or Travel Asia - Travel Europe| Bangkok to Krakow.com

**Guest post by David “Mr Big” Fysh**

Having spent the best part of a month (not long enough) travelling around India, I was looking forward to getting to SE Asia. Why I decided to ‘do’ India first is beyond me, but alas, it has set me up with the necessary experience, patience and *cough* constitution to see me right in any country SE Asia has to offer. I have never been to Thailand before and I was pretty excited at the prospect. Having batted off the barrage of ‘lady-boy’ this and ‘lady-boy’ that I was ready to experience Thailand for all its worth (Except lady-boys I hasten to add).

I entered the Jet Airways plane in my flip-flops, cut off jeans and scruffy t-shirt. This brought a few scowls from fellow passengers…maybe because I was holding their departure up or maybe it was because I looked like I had just spent 32 hours on a train and 2 hours been thrown around the back of a rickshaw in the bustling city of Delhi. The plight of me became apparent after I used a hot towel to give myself a quick scrub down. The once white towel was black. Actually black. Get me to Bangkok so I can have a shower!

The flights to Bangkok are pretty regular and wells serviced by budget airlines, during the flight I managed about an hours sleep, which was frustrating in itself. It was nothing to do with the comfort of the plane, or the fact that numerous infants decided to vent their spleen throughout the journey. It was more to do with the fact that I was going to be in Bangkok in a few hours and I had no idea at all where I was going. My initial impression of the airport was a good one: very clean, bright and well signposted. 30 minutes later I was reunited with my ‘life in a rucksack’ and I was queueing up to have my photo taken at the visa desk. With the formalities done I was wandering around the 4 levels of the airport terminal, probably looking a bit lost. I hadn’t seen familiar named shops for a while and after eating curry for breakfast, lunch and dinner for a month, a nice bakery didn’t go amiss!

I found myself on the bottom level of the terminal where there was a plethora of tourist buses coming and going. I figured this is where my next adventure would start. One issue to overcome….where to go!!? Not being totally devoid of all knowledge of Bangkok, I know that Kao San Road is ‘where it’s at’ so I head there. There are loads of people all doing the same as me; Backpacks, dreadlocks (not me!), flip flops, Southeast Asia on a shoestring (purchased from WHSmith in the airport) and hazy eyes from the last journey. The hustle and bustle of Bangkok’s roads didn’t surprise or annoy me. I had after all, been in Delhi and Mumbai previous.

On arrival at Kao San I instantly understand why it has the reputation it does. Row upon row of t-shirt stalls…food vendors and pubs! There are a few ‘gap year’ students staggering around (probably still drunk form the night before) looking worse for wear. I pretend they are not there as I go about my business finding a place to wash and sleep! I knew I was going to be just fine….

Want to go backpacking around the world get tips, advice and travel articles from Happytimeblog.co.uk or Travel Asia - Travel Europe| Bangkok to Krakow.com

Well one week in Bangkok definitely humbled us. Our senses were stimulated and our awareness took a battering. It turned out to be one of those cheap holidays we’ll never forget! At times it was hard to keep up so we slowed right down with the relief of a fan, an iced coffee, a herbal juice and free baby sitting (Thais absolutely love babies!).

We saw a city of extremes, of street food culture, of tourism and of tuk tuks! I guess Bangkok is like most cities. You have your glamorous, glitzy super shopping complexes and your cultural heritage attracting tourism, and then around the corner you will find half finished developments, dust and grime, hyena type looking dogs (dead and alive) and parked street food vans! We were glad to see where the food vans were being stored before deciding to try the street food on the next street from us. The food looks so tempting (except for the fluro coloured condiments!) but I think our taste buds can hold out for now. Till then its your one million and one tourist restaurants and cafes.

The humidity, the danger tap water and the mosquitos were all new to our daily routine. Washing Zofia with bottled water (because she likes to have a taste of everything!) and keeping her from sucking the floor has been quite a task. She does seem to go after creepy crawlies so maybe she can team up with the geckoes. I on the other hand make a great mosquito repellant.. for others! Both Karon and Zofia got zero mosquito bites while I, despite lathering up with all the poisons I could find, have sustained at least 20 the week we were here.

Our accommodation was just perfect. Located on Sukhumvit Road (the commercial, entertainment and tourist centre of modern Bangkok), SUK 11 hostel was an oasis in the hectic surroundings. The staff were super helpful and friendly and ‘Sophie!’ became a SUK 11 mascot instantly. We got around using the Sky Train, taxis and Karon had the experience of a tuk tuk, although he couldn’t see anything as they are obviously designed for much smaller farang. The taxis are pink and purple and there are no baby seats, rare car seats and traffic is chaotic. Amazing how all your homely rules and regulations don’t seem to matter any more. Ironically everything flows really well.. organised chaos. You just trust that everyone else is keeping an eye out for you. We walked many stretches road side with motorbikes and 4W Drives zipping past. You just hold your breath, suck in your belly and hope those extra centimetres make a difference :)

People are always smiling and they love babies. Although, no matter how hard we try with the pink tops and the beads, Zofia just can’t seem to pass as a girl. The best comments were “Is it a man?”. When I said “no she’s a girl, but everyone thinks shes a boy, probably because she has little hair”, the response was “No, she look like man”. Funny. Although we learnt to say look sow (daughter) sometimes its just easier to smile and nod when they say “Oh, smiling boy”. She’s definitely a little lady to us.

With what felt like a month, a week was too little time to settle, get our bearings, see the temples and please our little lady. It felt like we did so much but we did it super slow. Our most authentic Bangkok experiences were when we decided to walk instead of catching a taxi. We discovered many a soi filled with people working and people feeding the workers and people making offerings to buddha. When we went searching for daily supplies of water and bananas we got to practice our Thai. We visited the Tropical Diseases Medical Clinic to finish up our vaccinations and we put our winter climate luggage into a Bangkok storage facility. We enjoyed doing the latter because we got to feel and see how the people here live day to day. The most confronting sight was the shanty towns right on the rail way line. At first I was astonished. “Babe how close are we to that house!”, then “Theres people right there!”, and then “Their cooking and their children are playing right there!”. They were all within a metre of the rail way line and they didn’t even notice us as we clickety clacked passed.

There are many wonderful activities, sites and sounds to be seen on the tourist trail and in themselves are an awesome spectacle but to some extent the authenticity diminishes when everyone around you treats you like a king. One thing we are sure to do on our return to pick our luggage is to visit with the King at the Grand Palace and see how true royalty is treated here.

Want to go backpacking around the world get tips, advice and travel articles from Happytimeblog.co.uk or Travel Asia - Travel Europe| Bangkok to Krakow.com

Security, Smiley, Steamy, Street Food…

When we walked through the doors at the Suvarnabhumi airport the reality of what we were doing finally hit home. Up to that point the romanticised version had played out in our minds preparing us for a major culture shock. Although there wasn’t an army of mosquitos waiting for me at the gate, neither Lonely Planet, personal accounts, nor all of the research and reading could have prepared us for the oppresive humidity, the inability to communicate and the crash course in being a fish out of water. The first hour in Bangkok will be imprinted in our memory for the rest of our lives.

Want to go backpacking around the world get tips, advice and travel articles from Happytimeblog.co.uk or

Bangkok to Krakow » Bangkok

A Day in Bangkok

Temples and Palaces

Markets

Evening Relaxation

Get away from the city centre

Negotiate!

Ask to see the room first

When are you staying?

Guesthouses

Tipping

Some words of advice…