One night in Bangkok? Never Enough!
The “City of Angels” is undeniably a lively, vibrant and colourful city, but its little pockets of culture, calm and peacefulness, make it an unmissable destination. Most flights will take you in to the capital city as your first point of entry and, in my opinion, it is well worth a 2 or 3 day stay before your beach time, or perhaps a stop on the return leg to fill your case with bargains galore.
As you leave the confines of the airport you will be hit by the heat and humidity. Don’t worry though, the official taxis and very modern transport system are all air-conditioned. For this reason, I would recommend staying at one of the fantastic hotels situated by the Chao Phraya river, where the air feels a little fresher. You’ll immediately experience the legendary Thai hospitality. The Thais have a natural friendliness, happiness and sense of fun. Language is rarely a problem as English is generally spoken in the tourist areas, but it is worth learning a few phrases – a “sawadee kha” (hello), or “koop kun khrap” (thank you) and a smile will get you everywhere.
Once unpacked go out and explore the local area. Bangkok is a melting pot for Asian cultures. The streets are filled with clothing stalls, flower markets, and hawker stands, offering all kinds of exotic fare, from a delicious Pad Thai or spicy curry, to coconut ice-cream and the ubiquitous banana pancakes. Lovely!
An advantage of staying by the river, is that you can easily use my favourite way to get around – the Chao Phraya Express boats. It looks chaotic watching these colourful boats come flying in to the piers, shouting and whistling at you, but it’s a safe, cheap and convenient way to visit some of the major sites and areas of the capital. We have spent a day hopping on and off, visiting floating markets, historic monuments and, of course, the numerous stunning temples that lie on or near the river.
The most visited attraction in the city is the Grand Palace and Wat Pra Keow, with its revered Temple of the Emerald Bhudda. The Palace is a serene complex of beautiful buildings, temples and gardens and is best visited early in the morning or late afternoon hopefully avoiding the hordes of tourist buses that arrive and rather spoiling the peace. Nearby is the Wat Pho temple with its famous reclining Buddha, again set in beautiful landscaped gardens. Finally, jump on a shuttle ferry to the other side of the river and visit the distinctive Wat Arun. For all the temple visits remember to respect the dress code, and there will always be a stall offering stylish ‘elephant trousers’ to cover up.
In the late afternoon it is well worth crossing back over the river to watch a spectacular sunset behind Wat Arun, which then lights up for the evening, the drop into one of the many riverside bars and restaurants to quench your thirst.
Finish your day high above the hustle and bustle of the streets of Bangkok at one of the many “sky bars” and restaurants scattered around the city, with their 360-degree panoramic views? Enjoy delicious cocktails and canapes before settling in to food prepared by some of the best chefs in the country. Do a bit of research and you should always be able to find a Happy Hour, but make sure you book a table in advance. My personal favourites are Red Sky at the Centara Grand, Vertigo and Moon Bar at the Banyan Tree, and Sky Bar at the Lebua, that took a starring role in the film Hangover 2.
And so to bed…..
If you have another full day in the city, spend the next morning visiting the Jim Thompson House, to learn about the history of Thai silk, or perhaps the spectacular Vimanmek Mansion, the world’s largest teak building, and once a royal residence. To get there, and for a bit of adventure, flag down a tuk-tuk in the street, driven at speed by real local characters. It’s essentially a rikshaw with a small engine, and although not the most practical way of getting around, offers a great experience. Just make sure you haggle a good fare before getting aboard.
And then there is the shopping. From traditional markets like the weekend market at Chatuchak to the gleaming, glitzy modern high-end shopping at Siam Paragon, you will find anything you desire in this shopper’s paradise
Finally, if you still have the energy, grab some dinner at one of the numerous eateries in Chinatown and then explore Bangkok’s famous (and notorious) nightlife. It can be very ‘adult-themed’ in places like Soi Cowboy and Patpong, and may not suit everyone’s taste, but it is yet another fascinating string to the Bangkok bow.
To me, this great city offers a little bit of everything, and I have some great ideas to put together for your perfect city and beach holiday, get in touch so I arrange a holiday to remember
Bangkok? Well worth more than one night