Bangkok highlights
Most travellers to Thailand, or its surrounding countries, will fly into its capital city, Bangkok. Some holidaymakers will hop straight onto a coach, train or another plane to one of the many exotic islands, such as Koh Samui and Phuket, but it is well worth spending at least a few days in this incredibly vibrant city.
Bangkok is a mix of cosmopolitan, historic and traditional Thailand. It is a city where you can spend the day in a sprawling designer shopping mall and an evening in a trendy club, yet walk back to your hotel past ancient temples and enjoy some traditional food with locals at the roadside.
During your time in Bangkok it is worth venturing out to experience some interesting sights and experiences. A few days in this city will only give you a very small taste of what it has to offer, but might be enough to whet you appetite for more.
The most visited tourist attraction in Thailand is the Grand Palace on Rattanakosin Island in the Phra Nakhon district. Built in 1782, the palace was home to the kings of Thailand, the Royal Court and the administrative seat of government for 150 years. The palace grounds are full of beautiful architecture with incredibly intricate detailing. A popular sight is Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which is a temple within the palace grounds containing a very small but very famous and revered emerald Buddha statue.
The Grand Palace has a very strict dress code and you won’t be allowed entry without proper attire (although there are items of clothing available for a small deposit at the gate). Men must wear long trousers, shirts with sleeves and have no bare feet. Women must dress modestly and keep their shoulders covered.
The second most popular tourist attraction in Thailand is The Jim Thompson House. Thompson was a famous American businessman who revitalised the Thai silk industry in the 10950s and 60s. His life was varied and interesting to many and there is much speculation about his disappearance during a walk in Malaysia in 1967.
The house is made up of six traditional Thai-style houses and was one of the city’s most celebrated social centres during Thompson’s time there. Thompson’s house is now a museum and arts centre and is visited by many tourists and locals each year.
If you’ve had enough of temples, palaces and museums, take yourself along to Chatuchak Weekend Market. This is Thailand’s largest weekend market and you certainly get a feel for its size when you are trying to navigate yourself through the sea of stalls. Be prepared for a lot of hustle, bustle and bartering as around 300,000 shoppers a day try to get the best deals they can from the nearly 9,000 booths.
With so many different vendors the market pretty much sells anything you could think of. From food and clothing to pets and antiques, Chatuchak is a bargain hunter’s delight. The market is located right next to the Kamphaeng pPhet station of the MRT Bangkok Metro Blue Line or a short walk from the Mo Chit station of the BTS Skytrain Sukhumvit Line.
Thailand holidays usually conjure up images of white sandy beaches and infinity pools on tropical islands, but cities like Bangkok offer something different, but just as fulfilling. Next time you find yourself in this sprawling metropolis, take some time to see the sights for yourself.
About the Author
Paul Buchanan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
 |
 TOOL cd lgo INFINITY Official White BABYDOLL SHIRT LRG new  US $17.99
|
 INFINITY symbol occult mystery mathematics T shirt US $11.99
|
 Fox Racing Fox Girls Infinity s s Shirt White M NWT US $16.99
|
 Fox Racing Fox Girls Infinity s s Shirt White L NWT US $16.99
|
 Garden Spiders arachnid web weaving creation infinity medicine Totem T Shirt US $15.95
|
 TOOL cd lgo INFINITY Official White BABYDOLL SHIRT MED new US $17.99
|
 Infinity Asymmetrical Tee Shirt by Brokedown clothing US $64.99
|
 Dees T Necklaces scarf bikini t shirt infinity necklace US $9.99
|
 Infinity Fashions gray on white stripe giraffe elephant ls shirt L 48 EC US $11.99
|
 GOT INFINITY FUNNY T SHIRT 12 COLORS TO CHOOSE US $6.99
|
 Adam Lambert Infinity Rhinestone T Shirts Sm to 6X US $39.99
|
 Mens Pearl Izumi Infinity In R Cool Athletic Long Sleeve Shirt White Black US $49.49
|
 Mens Pearl Izumi Infinity In R Cool Short Sleeve Athletic Shirt White Black US $40.49
|
 Mens Pearl Izumi Infinity In R Cool Athletic Long Sleeve Shirt White US $49.49
|
 Womens Infinity Fashions S S White T Shirt Top XL NWOT US $14.99
|
 Mens Pearl Izumi Infinity In R Cool Short Sleeve Athletic Shirt White US $40.49
|
Bangkok Suites Sweet Deals
Bangkok Hotel Stay - Heaven on Earth
They stayed there from September 5th, 1993. It was a magical place to stay. Lined with timber, windows stretching to the heights of its cathedral ceiling and winding stairs leading off to different levels, the hotel looked more like an amphitheater. The floors of the foyer paved with marble and just as I had imagined, large white marble pillars towered above us to a seemingly never ending infinity to the executive suites separated in the center with the largest chandeliers you have ever seen.
To some extent they were living the ’90s dream life, eating food from five star hotel restaurants made by local chefs wearing hand-woven clothes, using only rainwater and local ingredients to achieve that Thai exquisite taste. Simon Smithen felt it would be the ideal place for him to write. He and his wife both felt that mixing the excitement of Bangkok bustle with the tranquil retreat of a luxurious hotel suite would further his writing inspirations. James and Felix lived with them full-time and Rebby and Matt came to stay on alternate months and often for a week during school holidays. They soon learnt the ways of Bangkok, bartering with the locals for a deal on the local merchandise then flattening themselves against the sidewalks when a mob of tuk-tuks passed by too close. Language was also part of the deal, learning new words and other gestures and even making new friends. They hired a servant they called Prince, he took care of just about everything in regards to the suite, the children and helped with deals on some of our purchasing needs. He was a great asset to them and they couldn’t have gone through this Bangkok adventure without him.
But the ’90s dream shouldn’t disguise the fact-as people often pretended it did –that the children found it difficult to adjust to these new ‘family’ arrangements. Matt was less than 15 when he began coming to stay with them in the Bangkok suite, and although he says he has no bad memories of the time, he remembers being bewildered at some of the goings-on not only in the suite but also outside in the streets.
Matt remembers one steaming hot Bangkok morning when the his parents had gone green for a day and had turned off all the hotel suite air-conditioners, Matt ran into one of the adjoining rooms to call for Prince and shouted “Come quickly. My dad’s gone mad.” He was standing on the veranda hurling cane chairs into the streets. Something had upset him -like his favorite shirt had not been returned from the hotel laundry service in time which I think, for him, was just the last straw.
Still, they began to learn to adjust to the little idiosyncrasies of Bangkok. And having the hotel suite modified to suit a writer’s needs helped a great deal. As the writing progressed so did the feeling of resolution and closure start to set in, it would be soon time to leave Bangkok. Their 45-day stay in this magical hotel suite would be one that sits in the heart of their fondest memories.
About the Author
Experience luxury at the Dusit Thani Hotel. Check out Bangkok suites or visit the Dusit Thani hotel homepage for more information on Bangkok hotel deals .
