Two nights in Bangkok
Famous as a world-class shopping centre for designer names, it also has a reputation for having one of the world's seediest and most explicit sex industries. It was very hot, sticky and congested but that is part of the fun travelling in Bangkok. Don’t be put off, the ordered chaos definitely keeps you on your toes, it is essentially a safe and welcoming city!
The Sky-train monorail and metro underground provide an easy and traffic free way to get around parts of the city with metered taxis and tuk tuks giving you an experience you will never forget! Tuk tuks are relatively cheap as long as you agree a price before getting in and make sure you hold on!
We stayed at the Rembrandt Hotel in a Superior room which overlooked Bangkok’s stunning cityscape. With just a short stroll to the monorail and taxis and tuk-tuks parked all around the street outside the hotel, transport was easy to find. Our room was clean and spacious with an enormous bed, a beautiful marbled bathroom and a traditional Thai wooden floor. Complete with the usual mini-bar, cable and satellite TV, LCD flat screen television and free high-speed Wi-Fi with the added bonus of a phone that you could take out with you. I phoned home and sent messages via Facebook completely free of charge.
I had been to Bangkok in 2003 so had already been to numerous temples and excursions. This time we decided to take in some nightlife and went by tuk tuk to Soi Rambuttri which had been recommended to me by my friend Lyndsey, we weren’t disappointed.
Part of Rambuttri runs parallel to the famous Khao San Road and is the total opposite with leafy Banyan trees shading the pavements. It is a well-known place for backpackers and a lot more peaceful with guesthouses, restaurants (ranging from fish and chips to authentic Thai food), bars (with bands playing in every other bar), street food (ranging from corn on the cob to insects on sticks) and street entertainers. The road was used mainly for the street vendors, entertainers and tourists strolling along taking in the atmosphere. The road curved around in a horseshoe shape and as we strolled along stopping for drinks at various bars and listening to the bands playing, it really was a party atmosphere. The bars closed in the early hours and we had had such a great time we decided to walk over to the Khao San Road which had a totally different atmosphere with packed bars full of tourists and young Thai girls “trading for affection”. We sat outside again watching the world go by it was a lot busier than Soi Rambuttri but no less entertaining, we had a couple more drinks before heading back on a hair-raising journey by tuk-tuk to our hotel at 4am!
Vertigo Restaurant and Moon Bar at the Banyan Tree, Bangkok was recommended to us by my friend and fellow Travel Counsellor Rebecca and it didn’t disappoint! Vertigo offers an al fresco dining experience set atop a roof terrace 61 floors up in the popular Banyan Tree Hotel. With 360-degree views of Bangkok, it really is the most amazing view and a visit is a must. I have a terrible fear of heights and was extremely anxious as we started our ascent in the lift to the 59th floor (thereafter you must walk up the stairs to the 61st!) Although it is all open I felt extremely safe and was able to enjoy the magnificent views, service and a delicious meal with champagne on a beautiful warm night. If you don’t want to eat there you can still enjoy the views from the Moon Bar adjacent to the restaurant.
Bangkok’s evening entertainment didn’t disappoint, and I would recommend visiting both Soi Rambruttri and the Vertigo Restaurant and Moon Bar at the Banyan Tree in Bangkok.