This post has been almost two months late! Woah, I’ve been caught up with a lot of things since I came home from Thailand last November 2016.
So here it is! Shout out to my ever crazy travel buddies who endure the long hours of being in the sun! Walking and Scorching together! hahaha, Cheers to more travel Rovi and Bill! Love you guys!
Here are 16 things you can enjoy in Bangkok (In No Particular order). We stayed there for 5 days. I know there are still a lot of things and places that we haven’t visited yet, but we will save that for later as we know it’s not definitely our last time to visit Thailand.
1. Experience Khaosan Road
Khaosan Road is known to be the tourist area in Bangkok. It’s a street where a lot of tourist flocks day and night. What you can do there is eat and drink, window shop, or might as well shop for items (but items are pricey, and are meant for a tourist price), get a tattoo, or you can just simply be there enjoying the sight and the busy crowd doing all kinds of fun!
2. Visit Grand Palace
This is one of the famous landmarks at the heart of Bangkok. From Khaosan Road you can just walk two or three blocks I think. That is if you’re game for a walk! But if not, you can take a taxi or Tuk-tuk.
3. Visit Wat Pho Temple – the temple of the Reclining Buddha
From the Grand Palace, you can also walk from there, going to Wat Pho Temple, it’s one of the temples nearest to it. Entrance to the temple is at 200 Baht.
4. Cross the River
From Wat Pho temple, you can cross the river via boat to reach another temple on the other side, which is the Wat Arun Temple. The river dock is within the area from Wat Pho temple. You will pay 3.00 Bhat to cross the river to and from the other side.
5. Visit Wat Arun Temple
During our visit, the temple was under construction, but you can still see the beauty of the temple.
6. Try their delicious Juices
This is Momordica juice, one of the many kinds of fruit juices you can find at the entrance on your way to the dock when you decide to ride a boat going to Wat Arun temple. It’s delicious and our first time to even try this kind of fruits. It was what we needed after a long walk from Khaosan Road to Grand Palace to Wat Pho temple.
7. Experience their BTS Skytrain
When you visit Thailand, choose a hotel or hostel that is near the BTS Skytrain for easier navigation. And if you ever get lost? Just find the nearest BTS station and you’ll be good. 🙂
8. Malling
We are quite amazed at the Shopping Malls. Thailand might be a third world country but no, they’re fast climbing to the first world. Their transportation for one is very effective and efficient, and their Shopping malls are of luxury. Make sure to visit the Siam area. A lot of big malls are located there, the Siam Paragon, Central World, Siam Center, Siam Square, Siam Discovery to name a few. They are within the area.
9. Shop at their Fashion Capital Mall
The Platinum Fashion mall and the Pratunam Market area is a must visit if you love fashion. But do make sure you bring with you a lot of cash because you really are in for a shopping experience at a wholesale rate.
10. Visit one of their Floating Market
Their floating market usually opens weekends as early as 6 am to 12noon. The Damnoen Saduak floating market are the ones that are open during weekdays. Make sure to negotiate with the taxi driver about the prices in going there. And make sure to visit early. In our case, we visited a different floating market and since it’s a weekday the market is close but there are local still that will let you experience the ride within the canal area.
11. Follow the crowd at Chinatown
Next stop is Chinatown! Just follow the crowd and enjoy the food! Also if you want to buy Thailand gold jewelry, this is the best place to buy one.
12. Visit Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya is a city of Thailand and was the capital of the Kingdom of Siam. It is about 80 kilometers north of Bangkok. Have you been to Cambodia? It’s a lot like that, you will see ruins of the temples, except that the surroundings there is a bit modernized now compared that of Cambodia. But still, when you’re in an ancient place, you will feel the vibe of the place too. It’s rich with Thai and Buddhist culture.
13. Experience the Siam rush hour
It’s a lot like the rush hour here in our country. Except that people are quite disciplined. No pushing. People fall in line and wait for their turn.
14. Visit Bangkok Art and Culture Centre
If you are interested to know more about the arts and culture of the Thai’s. This should be on your list of places to visit when you’re in Bangkok.
15. Visit Jim Thompson House Museum
Garden at Jim Thompson House Museum
From Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, you can just walk ahead and visit Jim Thompson House Museum. In our case, we visited first the Jim Thompson House Museum and then the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre after. Sir Jim Thompson is an American businessman who is very much part of the Thai silk industry in the 1950s and 1960s. See for yourself and be amazed by his story.
16. Eat local!
If there’s one thing we three can agree to is this; We LOVE Thai food! The food is affordable and speaks a lot about Thai’s culture. Don’t ever miss that chance to spend just a day to try their food! Oh and we love the Thai soup!
MORE TIPS!
1. Bring with you a dollar, preferably USD as it has a higher exchange rate. You can buy Thailand Baht at the airport but just a few bucks, enough for your need for a day or two. But if you want a higher exchange rate, go to Pratunam area.
2. Choose a hostel that is near any BTS Skytrain. Somewhere in Sukhumvit area. Try The Little Pig Hostel. The place is cozy and clean and they provide a complimentary coffee and cookies which every coffee lover would love.
3. Buy a map or make sure Google Map is installed on your smartphones.
4. At the airport, you can buy a prepaid data sim card. You will need it.
5. Don’t rely on Google Map when it shows the places are just near. They’re not! Well, most of the time! Hahaha, We end up walking a lot but that experienced was fun. Tiring but fun!
6. Don’t be afraid to get lost! Just remember, when you’re lost…find the nearest BTS station! and you’ll be good. 😀
7. A presence of mind is a must! You are in a foreign land, so make sure you are present at the moment.
8. And the most important thing! HAVE FUN! There will be few mishaps or you’ll get lost, or some circumstances that you can’t avoid. then be it! Just enjoy and embrace the culture. Be observant and respectful of their culture.
We know that there’s more to Thailand than the 16 I’ve listed above. But again as I have said, that would not be the last time that we will visit Thailand! Phuket is still on the list!
Book that flight now to Thailand and enjoy the homey feels!
#MsXysaRhea | #Wanderlust | #Wanderlust: 16 things to do in Bangkok Thailand