Things To Do

[MiG16]

A friend is planning to spend 6 days in Thailand (mainly Bangkok I suppose), and asked for suggestion. I suggested some places, and thought others might like to hear it too

so am posting it on the forum

please feel free to add yours.

My suggestion is based on using Bangkok as a base. You might add yours using other places as base, say Chiang Mai perhaps?

anyway, its lengthy, mainly cos my friend hasnt got much clue about Thailand.

In Bangkok, apart from the shopping some sights to see are:

The Grand Palace - with that ticket comes entry ticket to a teak mansion. Its worth a quick look at that mansion if you have time. perhaps grand palace morning, have lunch somewhere nearby then head out to the teak mansion (they usually have some kind of shows - thai dance, thai martial arts in the afternoon , I think 2pm. the show is not bad to get a glimpse of these arts)

another place of interest might be the Jim Thompson House musuem. its traditional thai style house - has some interesting artefacts there, but again I wouldnt spend too much time there. you could combine this with a shopping trip to MBK shopping centre, and the nearby SIam Square, Siam Discovery and Siam Paragon. the first 2 is probably the best, while the others sell mostly imported brand names and local designer products.

Wat Arun - the temple of Dawn. I think you can do this as a river trip, would be the best. its not all that far from the Grand Palace, do depending how early you start and how tired the family get, you may or may not be able to combine the day. (Both temples are in the old part of town, a fair way from sukhumvit, so if you can combine then would be good, as traffic can get horrendous)

The rest are a myriad of temples, musuems, art galleries - but none that are really that spectacular, so I wouldnt worry about missing them.

I suggest day trips, or weekend out of bangkok as follows:

Day trips:

Ayutthaya - ancient capital. ruins of temples. but you can take a tour that gives you the option of getting there by boat, and return by coach. It usually includes a stop at a Craft Centre - not a bad option

Floating Market

theres a few of them, btu the easiest to get to without a local guide is Damnoen Saduak. It may seem touristy, but I still enjoyed it the first time I went. ON the way they will stop at some palm sugar factory

(this could be half day, if so then you can combine this with a trip to the Temple of Dawn once you are back from the trip. Although the name is temple of dawn, it is best viewed at dusk).

Koh Kret

this is a small tiny island in the mid of Chao Phraya River. The island has little shops where the locals produce pottery are on display. The other specialty is the thai sweets available on the island. Its just a relaxing day away from the main bangkok city. TAkes perhaps an hour to get there, either by TAxi to Pak Kret, and then take the boat at the pier to cross over to the island. Alternatively, you can also take the boat to NOnthaburi and taxi it from there (a bit more complicated perhaps, and if you have done the other boat trips, you may skip this as a boat transfer). This is open only on the weekends.

WEekend away:

theres a few beaches not too far from bangkok, Pattaya and Bang Saen are the closest, about 2 hours drive. I recommend HuaHin though. This is 3 hours south, nicer beach, quieter (Although Dec and Jan are the peak holiday period to thailand, so most places get really full).

once in HuaHin, you can travel to nearby places such as Cha-am (another beach more populated by locals), Khao Sam Roi Yot - anohter beach area, but not so good for swimming, more just for the view, there maybe a cave or some hill top view point somewhere...I forget the details.

Another option is a homestay experience in Amphawa. do a google search, something should come up. Nothing exciting, they take you out on a boat in the early evening to watch dragon flies, and see the local lifestyle. an idyllic way to spend a couple of days. (all depends on how much time you have/need doing the city oriented stuff)

Hope this helps

[bino]

The Joe Louis puppet theater and dinner / stroll at the night market is a nice way to spend an evening in BKK with guests. Everyone I have ever taken to the show has enjoyed it, and they can pick up souvenirs / Thai handcrafts to take home.

[phetaroi]

A really nice day or overnight trip is by train out to Nakhon Pathom. Of course, there's the big chedi and the small palace. You can easily take a taxi to the huge Buddhist park at Buddhamonton. But I guess what I like about it is that you can get the feeling of a smaller Thai town there quite simply. Good night market near the chedi. Nice town to walk around with some good restaurants on the main street from the chedi to the palace. There are only a couple of decent hotels of which I am aware, though.

And, if one wants, one can go on for another day or two to Kanchanaburi

[Birdman]

Buddhamonton is a very good suggestion as is Wat Phai Rong Wua in Suphanburi

Thais visit this huge temple in record numbers but few Westerners find their way to this crude complex. It houses the largest metal cast Buddha image of the world called "Phra Phutta Khodom" which has a lap width of 10 meters and a height of 26 meters.

More impressive still, is the terrifying representation of the Buddhist conception of hel_l. The contrast of these primitive, gruesome figures suffering agonising tortures is appalling to the Western mind. Loudspeakers blare in the sing song Thai language, describing the horrors of the hideous figures. However, the Thais hold this as a place of reverence and bring their children to teach them to pray for their souls.

Buses go there, but a bit complicated or take a boat trip from Tha Chang Landing, Bangkok, every Sunday at 07.00 hours.

Easiest of course by taxi or hire a driver. Don't be surprised if you don't see another Westerner in sight.

[seabear]

I enjoy a longtail boat ride through the klongs.

[johnnort]

The Royal Barges, About 100m up a small klong off The Chao Phraya. Get a boat from the pier opp. The Grand Palace. It will take one and half to two hours [go, look around, return to pier].

[MiG16]

The Joe Louis puppet theater and dinner / stroll at the night market is a nice way to spend an evening in BKK with guests. Everyone I have ever taken to the show has enjoyed it, and they can pick up souvenirs / Thai handcrafts to take home.

are they still about Bino?

I keep hearing that they might not be able to sustain themselves

(and not sure whats happening timewise about the removal of vendors from the Suan Lum Night market?) sorry a bit side tracked

[tonititan]

Another good day trip is to combine Ayutthaya with Lopburi. All of my visitors have loved seeing the monkeys. I've done it by train and by private taxi...the taxi is a much easier, more efficient method, although you miss out on the experience of the train.

In Bangkok, I'd head to the Night Bazaar (Lumphini). Yes, it might not be as "authentic" as some of the others, but it's a great place for souvenirs, and it makes a fun nighttime activity.

[Chung noi]

I love to take a dinner boat ride everytime I have a chance.

It's always fun having a few beers on the river, while my wife orders her favorite dishes. It's amazing to me how much the city and it's lights seem to change everytime we go. Chinatown is also a good time. (Go at Night).

*j*

[Birdman]

...reminds me of Tha Nam Non Pier and all the small eateries there next to the river. One of the best places in Bangkok next to the river for an inexpensive open air dinner.

[Kan Win]

A really nice day <snip> to Nakhon Pathom.

<snip>

One Kan go on for another day or two to Kanchanaburi

Where else after Banger and Mash (BKK) to spend some time in Nakhon Pathom and it is on the way to Kanchanaburi not too far btw

Yours truly,

Kan Win

[bino]

are they still about Bino?

As far as I know, they are. Their website is still online - easy to find in a search. The last time I saw the show was January, and planning to go again in October when more visitors arrive. I was at the night market about 3 weeks ago, and it seems like business as usual. Theater looked to be open also.

[Lancashirelad]

MiG16. Your suggestions are good, however something you should tell him if he heads for the Grand Palace is to ignore Tuktuk/taxi drivers who will say it's closed. (in order to get the business of a site seeing tour).

Erawan Elephant museum at Samut Prakan is well worth a look.

[lioness]

You didn't say what age your friend was or what their interests are.

I mention this because some friends of mine had 4 days in Bangkok 5 years ago and hated the place, said they would never come to Thailand again. I pointed out that their thoughts of Thailand shouldn't be based on Bangkok and have since talked them in coming to Kanchanaburi, they absolutely loved every minute of their 2 week holiday in Feb this year and are coming again in December.

So does your friend like shopping and busy places, temples etc or maybe prefer beautiful scenery and a laid back look at rural Thailand and a glimpse of history. Then again they may prefer a beach area. Hard to make suggestions without any info.