The chaotic, frenetic, charming city of Bangkok is a must-see for any visitor to the Far East. Nowhere else quite sums up the Far East like Bangkok, where morning meditation takes place underneath a 6 lane highway, fresh vegetables are loaded on to the back of a motorbike and the visitor is welcomed whether they're from the North of England or the North of Thailand.
Bangkok is the kind of city you could visit a dozen times and still see something new or have a different experience each time, while going back to your favourite places too. The first time visitor should take in the Grand Palace, a complex of temples, palaces and buildings that encompass Thai Royal history of the last 200 years. Nearby Wat Po is the oldest and largest temple in Bangkok and houses the longest reclining Buddha in the Country - drop a small coin in each of the collection pots that run the length of this magnificent image.
To get an orientation of the city, take the Skytrain to Taksin Bridge, close to the Shangri-La Hotel, and walk down to the river. Here, catch a local boat that zips up and down the river, acting like a bus service. This microcosm of local life is as fascinating as the views, where monks have a specially reserved area and local schoolchildren and shoppers go about their everyday activities. Get off at one of the stops on the west bank for a taste of local life, or a Tha Phra Chan to visit the Grand Palace and Wat Po.
For a more modern side to Bangkok head to the Siam Square area of the City, where new shopping centres and glitzy hotels tower over the Skytrain. Visit the MBK Shopping Centre, which mixes department stores and food courts with market-style shopping for real bargains - if you don't like haggling and prefer to avoid night markets, get a fixed-price bargain at MBK!
Spend at least three nights in Bangkok to take in the different sides of this diverse city - if you don't give it enough time it will become a blur, while stay too long and it may all just get a bit much! |
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