 |
|
Information on Bangkok
| Build
Your Trip To Bangkok! |
 
|
Bangkok
Most Thais refer to the capital as ‘Krung Thep’,
the shortened Thai name of a city that actually consists of
32 different words, a fittingly impressive number of monikers
for a capital that is one of the world’s most eclectic
and thrilling. Bangkok is to Thailand what
London is to England: the metropole, the hub of business, economic
and political affairs. The rapid pace of change and the increasing
prosperity that gives the city much of its vibrancy have also
caused some problems, with widely reported nightmare traffic
congestion and pollution. Over the last few years, the opening
of a slick new overland metropolitan railway that enables visitors
to glide over the chaotic scenes below, coupled with the cheap
and frequent river boats and the reasonably priced air-conditioned
taxis, have improved the situation markedly.
|
| Through the city flows the Chao
Phraya River on the banks of which can be found some
of the best hotels in Bangkok. It is also where visitors will
find the Grand Palace which, covering a huge
area, is one of the major sites. Here, also, is Wat
Phra Kaeo, a temple complex which houses the Emerald
Buddha. This Buddha statue is not covered in emeralds, as the
name might suggest, but is made of translucent green jade. Upriver
from the Grand Palace are the Royal Barges.
These richly ornamented barges are still used today for special
processions on the Chao Phraya. Within the city limits is a
wealth of over 300 Buddhist temples and shrines. Most famous
are Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple), Wat
Arun (Temple of Dawn) and Wat Trimit
(Temple of the Golden Buddha). One of the largest temple complexes
in the country is Wat Pho. Altogether, there
are over 30 individual temples scattered here, of which the
Temple of the Reclining Buddha is the largest.
The Buddha’s statue is enormous, an amazing 47.5m (156ft)
long and 15m (49ft) high. The gardens surrounding the temples
offer an escape from the hectic pace of the big city. The temple
also houses the national school for traditional Thai massage.
The Floating Market is an interesting place
to visit, although it has become more and more of a tourist
attraction rather than a genuine market for Thais. Other sights
include Lak Muang (the city stone), the
Erawan Shrine, where local offerings are made daily,
and the National Museum. Housed in the Suan
Pakkard Palace is a collection of precious antiques. Also interesting
is the former home of the American silk-dealer Jim Thompson
who vanished without a trace in 1967. Today, the house is a
craft museum with a shop selling high-quality silks at reasonable
prices. Bangkok’s burgeoning nightlife is also a major
attraction. The ubiquitous ‘girlie bars’ of Patpong
are notorious, though these days they are tourist friendly,
and, beyond these dens, there are new designer bars and slick
modern nightclubs, as well as some of the best restaurants in
Asia.
|
What To See
Sanam Luang This oval public ground in front of the
Grand Palace enclave is used for various royal ceremonies,
including the Royal Ploughing Ceremony each May, and is edged
by several noteworthy institutions. On the southeast corner
is the City Pillar Shrine or San Lak Muang placed there by
King Rama I as the foundation stone for the new capital of
Bangkok
Pak Khlong Talat
This is a wholesale market for all kinds of cut flowers and
vegetables. It is located on Maharat Road near the Memorial
Bridge. The colourful flowers and the bustling atmosphere
is the charm of this market, especially when the market is
crowded in the early morning and in the evening.
Democracy Monument
This monument, located in the middle of Ratchadamnoen Avenue,
was conceived and constructed to commemorate the peaceful
changeover from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy
on 24 June, 1932.
China Town
Bangkok's China Town is an old business center covering a
large area around Yaowarat and Charoen Krung Roads. There
are many small streets and alleys full of shops selling all
types of goods. The area is always lively and market stalls
abound. It has been the main center for trading by the Chinese
since they were moved from their old site some 200 years ago.
Nearby is Phahurat Market, one of the city's renowned cloth
centers
Princess Mother Memorial Park
Tel: 437-7799, 439-0902
This beautiful park is located on Soi 3 Somdet Chao Phraya
Road, Khiong San District. It was built near the Wat Anongkharam
community where Somdej Phra Srinaganndra Boromarajajonani,
Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother had resided during
her childhood. The park comprises a full scale model of the
Princess Mother's house and the old buildings renovated as
exhibition halls displaying the life story of Her Royal Highness
the Princess Mother as well as the history of the Wat Anongkharam
community.
King Rama IX Royal Park
Tel: 328-1385-7)
The 200-acre botanical garden-cum-public park is located deep
inside Sukhumvit Soi 103 (Udomsuki and was opened in 1987
to commemorate the 60th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol
Adulyadej.
The park is open daily from 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. Admission fee
is 10 Baht.
Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute
Tel: 252-0161-4
Located near Chulalongkorn Hospital, on the corner of Henri
Dunant Road and Rama IV Road, this institute contains a collection
of poisonous snakes which are "milked" daily for
their venom in order to produce invaluable anti-snakebite
serum.
Venom is extracted from the snakes everyday, at 11.00 a.m. and
2.30 p.m. on weekdays, and 11.00 a.m. on holidays. Admission
fee is 70 Baht per person.
Dusit Zoo
Tel: 281-2000, 281-1039 Located beside the Royal Plaza, Bangkok's
oldest zoo contains a collection of popular African and Asian
mammals and birds in an ornamental garden. It is open everyday
from 8.00 a.m.-6.00 p.m. Admission fee is 30 Baht for adults
and 10 Baht for children.
Samphran Elephant Ground & Zoo
Tel: 284-1873, 284-0273
Just only 1 kilometer before the Rose Garden, this 60-acre
farm is another interesting attraction housing many different
wild animals and thousands of crocodiles. Fascinating performances
such as Crocodile Wrestling, Magic Show, and Elephant Theme
Show commence everyday at 12.45 p.m. and 2,20 p.m. with additional
shows on holidays at 10.30 a.m.
This farm is open daily from 8.00 a.m.-5.30 p.m. Admission
fee is 300 Baht for adults and 200 Baht for children.
Crocodile Farm
Tel: 703-4891-5, 703-5144-8
This large farm with over 60,000 fresh and saltwater crocodiles
is some 30 kilometers from Bangkok in Samut Prakan Province.
Other creatures including trained elephants, gibbons, lions,
and snakes are also found here. The exciting crocodile wrestling
show is performed every hour. There is also a Dinosaur Museum
where various species of life-size dinosaurs and their skeletons
are on display.
The compound is open daily from 7.00 a.m.-6.00 p.m. Admission
fee is 300 Baht for adults and 200 Baht for children
Snake Farm
35 minutes from Wat Sai Floating Market, is another stop for
sightseeing and watching a snake show.
The farm is open daily from 8.30 a.m.- 5.00 p.m
Build Your Trip to
Bangkok now! |
Activities
Watersports: Thailand’s 2710km (1694
miles) of coastline, on both the Indian and the Pacific Oceans,
as well as its many offshore islands make it a popular destination
for watersports, particularly diving and snorkelling. Two of
the largest diving centres are at Pattaya, a two-hour drive
from Bangkok, and Phuket, both of which offer access to numerous
offshore islands and coral reefs. The Andaman Sea is particularly
good for reef diving, the famous Similan and Surin islands being
the most visited areas. In the Gulf of Thailand, the islands
of Ko Pha-Ngan, Koh Samui and Koh Tao also attract many divers,
while Ko Chang and the Trat area are amongst the most recent
locations to have opened up to sports tourism. The Burma Banks
and the islands off Trang Province have also recently been hailed
as new diving destinations. Live-aboard dive cruises, equipment
rental and certified diving courses are widely available. Several
beaches are particularly well-suited for windsurfing, particularly
Kata and Karon (on Phuket island), Jomtien (south of Pattaya),
Chaweng and Lamai (on Koh Samui), and Hua Hin. In the Gulf of
Thailand, the windiest months are mid-February to April; in
the Andaman Sea, the period from September to December has the
strongest winds (for further information on beaches, see also
the Resorts & Excursions section). Sea canoeing and kayaking
have become increasingly popular in recent years, the coastal
limestone islands in Phang Nga Bay, north of Phuket, being the
favourite destination, also offering the chance to explore the
half-submerged cave systems known as hongs. Sailing is a popular
way to access Thailand’s many islands and the main base
for sailing trips in the Andaman Sea is Phuket, which also hosts
the annual Kings Cup Regatta in December. Sailing cruises in
the Gulf of Thailand usually start from Pattaya. Yachts can
be chartered either with or without a crew. The presence of
big game fish, such as barracuda, tuna, wahoo, swordfish or
marlin, attracts many game fishing enthusiasts, who can charter
fully crewed boats from most major coastal resorts. Inland raft
trips can be arranged on several rivers.
Trekking: The best trails are in northern Thailand,
particularly the remote provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai
and Mae Hong Son. This is also the region of the infamous Golden
Triangle, where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet and from where
much of the world’s opium originates. Treks usually run
for three or four days through a scenery consisting of forested
mountains inhabited by hill tribes whose small villages offer
basic overnight accommodation for trekkers. Guides are widely
available, but visitors should ensure that, besides English,
they speak some of the hill tribe languages and have good contacts
with the tribal communities. Although the people are reported
to be extremely friendly, trekkers should also be aware that
the area is mostly unpoliced and hold ups and robberies have
been reported during the last few years.
Meditation: Thailand has dozens of temples
and meditation centres specialising in vipassana (insight) meditation.
Instruction and accommodation is usually free, though donations
are expected. Different meditation techniques and dress codes
apply to different centres. Upmarket resorts offering mind,
body and spirit holidays are also available, with various alternative
therapies included in the package. Larger retreats are for the
serious minded only. Male and female English speakers are welcome,
but strict segregation of the sexes is enforced and many places
observe a vow of silence.
Thai kick-boxing: Also known as muay thai,
this traditional sport can be seen every day of the year at
the major stadiums in Bangkok and in the provinces. Thai boxing
matches are preceded by elaborate ceremonies and accompanied
by lively music. Thailand has over 60,000 full-time boxers.
Foreigners may enrol at a traditional muay training camp, some
of which specialise in training westerners. There is a strong
spiritual and ritualistic dimension to muay Thai, adding grace
to an otherwise brutal sport.
Spectator sports: Horse races are held every two weeks
at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club on Saturday and at the Royal
Turf Club on Sunday. Another spectator sport is Takraw, also
sometimes called Siamese football, in which a small woven rattan
ball is kicked around by players standing in a circle and often
performing spectacular moves. The aim of the game is to keep
the ball off the ground, to do this any part of the body can
be used except for the hands Build
Your Trip to Bangkok now! |
| Review originally published
at http://bkk.sawadee.com
and Expedia.co.uk |
|
Build Your Trip To
Bangkok:
Or Learn What Other People Say About
Bangkok:
© Travel All Directions, 2003
Travel All Directions is responsible for services rendered within
this site only.
Questions? Comments? Give us your feedback
|
|
|
|
 |
