What Is There To See In Bangkok

[Petert]

Hi everyone,

My work has many international visitors coming to Bangkok throughout the year....but when they ask what they should do on the weekend, I am at a loss (apart from suggesting that they check out the usual sites shown in the brochures at Hotels, etc.).

Since I too am only new here - I am wondering what else there may be to Bangkok? What and where do you recommend I and our visitors go look at? and how to get there?

Thanks for your help

Peter

[Totster]

Send 'em to soi cowboy... that'll clinch the deal !!

totster

[Petert]

Send 'em to soi cowboy... that'll clinch the deal !!

totster

Good grief

[toptuan]

And on a more serious note . . . (pardon our forum buddy's bad manners* )....

Due to hellish BKK traffic, I would think that the 5 or 6 tourist sites promoted in the hotel brochures would be enough to fill out 1 or 2 days. If they include some of the prominent temples, grounds of the Grand Palace, a river boat ride, Jim Thomposn's House etc., that should just about fill 'er up.

Here's Lonely Planet's short list which probably parallels most of the local hotel brochures:

Wat Phra Kaeo

Grand Palace

Wat Pho

Wat Traimit

Jim Thompson's House

Oriental Hotel

Wai Sai Floating Market in Thonburi

On the other hand, you might make some effort, as you have undoubtedly done, to find out what their interests are, as that can vary greatly; then tailor your suggestions accordingly.

Shopper-inclined visitors will love Chatuchak Market, Sam Luan Night Bazaar, and a couple of the big newer malls. Electronic-inclined shoppers should see Phantip Plaza, if not for just enjoying the wonder of many levels/floors selling hand phones, mp3 players, cameras, software, etc.

Off-the-beaten-track-inclined visitors might more enjoy an adventurous boat ride up some of the canals, trying out the food in the street-side stalls, Khao San Road (personally--UGH!), or Sirirat Hospital Museum of Forensic Medicine (across Chao Phyraya River in Thornburi; in the compound of hospital; all the surreal exhibits are related to crime, such as Si Oey, the chinese murderer of children; a pickled murderer, etc.). For an excellent bird's eye view of the city go to the Baiyoke Sky Hotel. For 100 Baht you can take the glass elevator up 77 floors to the museum, then climb a flight of stairs up to the open-air, rotating platform for great views of Bangkok. It's open daily and well worth it. (information on Baiyoke dated, 2001).

Historically-inclined visitors will certainly want to see sites mentioned in the above first paragraph, plus some of the museums: National Museum, Royal Elephant Museum (featuring the royal white elephant), etc. Ayuthaya or Bang Pa-In Palace are great 1-day tours, but each of them make a very long day with the round-trip travel.

Cultural buffs might enjoy...

- The English-language tours at the National Museum on Thursdays at 9:30 am (emphasis: art, religion, culture)

- Thai Kick Boxing at Lumphini Stadium

- Rama V's Vianmek Mansion tour offers a cultural show featuring traditional Thai dance at mid-afternoon.

- On the SE outskirts of Bangkok, a full day can be spent at Ancient City ("Muang Boran"). It's a wonderful park in the shape of the Country of Thailand. At the appropriate geographical spots, small replicas of Thailand's most famous landmarks have been built. It's a quick education and way to "tour" all of Thailand in a day. I would suggest renting bicycles (it's all flat and easy riding) along with eating a picnic lunch on the wide expanses of green lawns throughout the park. I think the bike method is a little more leisurely, and allows you to explore the park at your own pace. You can also ride Disneyland-type trams to see the sites in the park, but it's not as flexible of an option.

And a personal favorite to end the day: dessert and liquer or coffee on the river terrace at the Bangkok Oriental. Combine it with a self-tour of the hotel's "author's wing" where hang wonderful historical pictures.

P.S. As to how to get there, that's another three pages. I would suggest you "Google" it as well as check out the TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand). Either suggestion will probably provide plenty of information on reaching the tourist site.

*Sex tourists should just contact Totster directly. He's offering 1/2 price personally-guided itineraries .

Edited March 5, 2006 by toptuan

[Totster]

(pardon our forum buddy's bad manners)....

Whose bad manners ?

Who knows what his international visitors like ?

totster

[toptuan]

OK, OK! I went back and added a smiley face. Geez!

P.S. And I advertised your services in a footnote!

Edited March 5, 2006 by toptuan

[britmaveric]

Reclining Buddah

Floating Market

Flat Boat Canal Toure

Cobra Show

[Misplaced]

OK, OK! I went back and added a smiley face. Geez!

P.S. And I advertised your services in a footnote!

apprently you 2 are good pals!

I would suggest only showing them "1 temple only".. After the first it becomes such a bore

.. I am a devout buddist, and even I, am so tired of going to 10 temples during my stay in LOS.. My family is famous for taking me to temples for site seeing. They keep saying "sabai jai dee na " , and I keep saying "nha bue nha bue".

[Petert]

OK, OK! I went back and added a smiley face. Geez!

P.S. And I advertised your services in a footnote!

apprently you 2 are good pals!

I would suggest only showing them "1 temple only".. After the first it becomes such a bore

.. I am a devout buddist, and even I, am so tired of going to 10 temples during my stay in LOS.. My family is famous for taking me to temples for site seeing. They keep saying "sabai jai dee na " , and I keep saying "nha bue nha bue".

so far thanks folks and thanks for taking it seriously - as I genuinely would like to help out not only the people we have coming here - but I am sure that lots of others who encounter similar problems ie: 'how do you let people see the real Thailand within the limits of Bangkok?' (ok...yes i know this is the eternal question and probably an impossible task....so no, we dont need more smartalec responses!)

Thanks for the suggestions - and of course they are on the list - but I guess to further define the question 'I guess I am looking for those unique 'off the beaten track' or 'road less travelled' sites to visit'! I am sure with all the people that spend time on this site that there is millions of ideas available? so dont worry about issues of travel....I really want to find those places that are not in the brochures! ( if they exist of course???)

I know from living overseas before and even in my home country, that most people gravitate to the usual 'sites to see'.....but to the greater extent these sites are either full of people doing the same thing or hahhah, boring the pants off the poor residents who have to go to them every time a new visitor hits town!

...of course if I come across some of my own discoveries - I will be sure to put them here too!

take care and thanks again

[Petert]

....by the way, if there is anyone who visits and can suggest even on new idea for a visit, please do so!

I dont expect you to plan out a whole day or two!

I am sure everyone would be interested in any out of the way...off the tourist map places (and yes smartalecs....I am aware that such a place may become 'on' the tourist maps if many people find out about it! so this comment should save you having to waste your time and mine and everyone else's time through you having to make some more smarta__e response!)

...please help with any suggestions on any interesting places to visit in or around Bangkok

Peter

[Khutan]

Muang Boran in Samut Prakhan.

Its a collection of about 50 Acres of different significant architectural features across Thailand.

Everyone I take there loves the place. There is a mini Bangkok Market Town, Temples, lots and Lots.

[toptuan]

OK, let me get this straight, Peter; you want WAY off the beaten track? (A little-known forensic museum with pickled murderers isn't offbeat enough? Hmmm.)

What kind of experiences are you looking for your friends/visitors to have? Cultural? Bizarre? Exotic? People-to-People contacts? Architectural wonders? Little special out-of-the way soi eateries? Places where they can buy unusual souvenirs?

OK, let me give it another try:

I just spent a day last week touring the King's agricultural/experimental projects on the grounds of the Chitlada Royal Palace in Bangkok. I also hooked up with a university class touring the inner workings of Thailand's most well-known English newspaper, rubbing shoulders with editors and news journalists who told what it was uniquely like to be a journalist in Thailand. Am I getting closer?

I feel like I need a little more to go on, here...

[skylar]

That funny Nang Nak shrine on Sukhumvit Soi 77 (On Nuch).

[Petert]

OK, let me get this straight, Peter; you want WAY off the beaten track? (A little-known forensic museum with pickled murderers isn't offbeat enough? Hmmm.)

What kind of experiences are you looking for your friends/visitors to have? Cultural? Bizarre? Exotic? People-to-People contacts? Architectural wonders? Little special out-of-the way soi eateries? Places where they can buy unusual souvenirs?

OK, let me give it another try:

I just spent a day last week touring the King's agricultural/experimental projects on the grounds of the Chitlada Royal Palace in Bangkok. I also hooked up with a university class touring the inner workings of Thailand's most well-known English newspaper, rubbing shoulders with editors and news journalists who told what it was uniquely like to be a journalist in Thailand. Am I getting closer?

I feel like I need a little more to go on, here...

Sorry for my bad typing a little earlier: I meant to say even ONE idea is better than trying to come up with a whole days worth of activity (I typed ON before, instead of ONE).

Any idea is gratfully considered....a place to see can be cultural or architectural or exotic, etc...OR it could be something that could be experienced (such as the kind person who mentioned the 'Thai Experience at Samut Prakan ).

...even the concept of Soi Cowboy was not really that bad [though the one time I actually had Cowboy pointed out to me as we drove past one day - left me with an overwhelming desire not to ever bother making a personal visit )....but then again, maybe some of our visitors would get a kick out of seeing both the cultural and the 'culturally void'

Some world examples of places 'off the beaten track' that I had been told about or discovered, have been:

- a small street in the old east Berlin, which has been abandoned since the end of World War II...so it still has the bullet holes and blast damage and architecture of the last days of the war...you can feel the fear and despair - and this was all just around the corner from the entrance to a nearby hugh museum with incredible displays - however that street has left me with a lasting memory that never leaves me - I could go on about Berlin for a long time...as there are just so many things to experince there...but enough for now;

- then there is a temple in Greece near Sparta (just on the edge of Athens) that has probably the worlds earliest version of the modern insanity of graffitti....where the poet Lord Byron carved his name in a block in the base stone of the temple;

- In Wellington, New Zealand, one of the best ways to learn ALL about (and maybe even understand) that lovely country, is to goto the modern museum called Te Papa;

- dotted around Malta is many many examples in the different towns of so many cultures, that it is hard to pinpoint the most wonderful things to do...but a couple stuck in my mind: such as a solid silver church altar in Valetta which was painted grey before the the war - so that the invaders would think it cheap metal and not steal it .....and the church at a town just outside Valetta, at which a hugh bomb (on display at the church) that came through the roof of the church during a bombing raid that occured during a sunday service...all the other nearby bombs exploded except this one...which rolled to a stop near the altar. You can even see the repaired hole in the roof where the bomb came through.

The above is the kind of 'discovery' that I mean - it ends up leaving such a profound impression that it helps us to try and make sense of who and what we are as humans and as peoples of different and fascinating cultures.

In Bangkok for example, I was taken one night by some Thai friends down a mangle of Soi's off Ratchadapisek (near Huay Kwang MRT) that has a night market along the roads without the press of people who inhabit BKK markets - but apart from the small crowds, it was the stalls of so many insects for sales as food, the spice stalls and the home made amulates and trinket stalls that fascinated me.

....so any ideas may be the perfect idea ...it could even be what you find as, in your opinion, the most perfect place to get great Thai food (but this could be anywhere from the riverside at the Oriental OR a place run by a lovely grandmother in a Soi hiding behind the Emporium)...or it could be a monument or temple or building or experience (as a few people have already kindly offered)or a Soi visit? or? or? or? or?

.....really nothing is out of the scope....as we all have opinions and ideas that may or may'nt suit everyone - but that is why I wanted to open this question 'What is there to see in Bangkok?'

thanks again for all the ideas

Peter

[Kan Win]

If you really want to see all of Bangkok in one shot so to squeek, try this place for Lunch “The Dome” State Tower Building, at the near end of Silom.

It is the one with the Golden Dome on top, 200 meters high approx.

Bon Appetite

Yours truly,

Kan Win

[TBWG]

Hi Petert

Must not miss Jim Thompson House/Museum

TBWG

[think_too_mut]

Let's face it...Bangkok is the biggest small place on the planet.

3 days and everything worth seeing is done, with a professional guide.

Providing skyscrapers and shopping malls are what they have at home.

The list posted in one of the longer posts above sums it up.

Or, Soi Cowboy or Nana Plaza and guests' requirements may be reduced down to only that...even for possible future visits.

[Guest endure]

Are the Royal Barges available for public viewing?

[toptuan]

Are the Royal Barges available for public viewing?

Yes, there are public viewing hours.

Open: Daily. 9am-5pm

Location: Khlong Bangkok Noi near Thonburi side, not far from Phra Pin Klao Bridge

How to Get there...... By boat. Take a longtail boat from the pier by the Temple of the Emerald Buddha for a tour of Thonburi's canals and include a stop here.

Admission 30 Baht Adults, Children free:

Note: Photography charge 100 Baht for ordinary camera, 200 Baht for video.

Quoting from a web-site...

"Uniquely Thai and quite spectacular. Eight of the Royal barges are on display. These magnificent boats are hand carved from huge pieces of teak with prows carved into mythical creatures, gilded in gold and intricately decorated with tiny shimmering pieces of glass.

"Used for ceremonial and state occasions and rowed by up to 50 specially trained oarsmen, the boats leave their their dry dock annually at festival times, for a procession along the Chao Phraya river. The boats are also brought out on important state occasions."

http://www.bangkok.com/attraction/museum.html

Edited March 6, 2006 by toptuan

[malcolminthemiddle]

Lots and lots of great recommendations in this thread.

The secret is time management, so make a plan and stick to it, start early and try not to do too much in one day.

Include a nice lunch time stop off during the day, like the wonderful noodle duck restaurant on Thonglor.

The OP mentioned the weekend, so getting around by taxi may be the most convenient choice of transport.

[jdinasia]

the flower market at night ... chinatown earlier in the evening .... the massage parlors on petchaburi .... a walk down Ramkamhaeng 24 in the evening (fun funky foods) followed by a stop in some dive karaoke place filled with upcountry students singing songs of life .... The gold class c=theater at Seacon square followed by food in the basement of seri center and a walk throu a park that rarely sees a tourist (Rama 9 park behind seri ctr)

the Ban Phu recreation area for dinner after muang boran .. just a little but down the road ... hard to find but worth it. retaurant is over the gulf ...

the Aug Sila to Koh Loi drive (described in the Thai food section)

the night safari at khao kiow open zoo ... (100 baht ... ride a tram ... not too much to see but there are local mountain deer etc that flood into the park at night ... and it's a calm night .. pretty views from the hills ...

the khao kioh open zoo during the day ... feed some hippos ....

sorry ... lots of this stuff requires having a car :-)