From In-Portal Developers Guide

Bangkok: A new Traveller's Guide

Bangkok can be an exotic, friendly, and beautiful city in southern Thailand. It's the capital of Thailand, it has over eight million people and it is the cultural core country. It's actually a place of outrageous nightlife and beautiful temples, of delicious food and sweltering heat, of crowded streets and big markets. There is no lack of circumstances to see and do within the city, but there's also many travel ideas to remember while travelling through Bangkok too.

Some Basics

Thai will be the main language spoken in Bangkok, but because of the booming tourist industry, many individuals speak English (study a few Thai phrases, though- the effort will likely be appreciated).

The unit of currency will be the Baht (THB), often misspelled "Bath" all the time. One US dollar is about 31 Baht. Prices are very inexpensive in Thailand making Thailand a serious hotspot for Western tourists. It's not necessary to tip for services or at restaurants such as a number of other countries, but it is certainly appreciated.

There are a few cultural taboos and laws that you should take seriously while travelling anywhere in Thailand:

When visiting a Buddhist temple, dress conservatively and take your shoes upon entering. Don't take photographs if anyone is meditating or during ritual, without prior permission.

Touching somebody else's head (a child's head) is really a religious affront and cannot be done. Touching another person's feet are consider an impure act and cannot be ignored. Pointing to something along with your feet are also not done.

Females shouldn't touch a Theravada monk, but monks often touch lay men, and in many cases females when the lay female is extremely ill.

Never take part in public displays of love.

The King of Thailand is held in reverence from the Thais. The King is legally "inviolable" which is a legitimate offense to state or a single thing that may at all be interpreted as "disrespectful." It is a serious matter. An infringement may get you arrested and placed in prison. This can be serious. Food and Water

Food and water aspects another significant problem here. Don't drink the tap water with your hotel or in restaurants, and never use ice cubes. Drink only bottled water. Do not eat street food that might spoil from the heat. Although Thai cuisine is delicious high are street vendors all over the place, you won't want to hang around in Bangkok sick from this food.

The Streets

The traffic in Bangkok is overwhelming- it's extremely congested, as well as crossing the road is dangerous! Due to large population, there are lots of options for transportation: the Metro, the SkyTrain, the boat network, the buses, taxis, and tuk-tuks.

Even though three-wheeled, motorized tuk-tuks aren't one of the most cost-effective supply of around the city (agree with an expense before getting in-sometimes you can go for inexpensive!), they're this kind of huge a part of Bangkok that it's worth just operating one at least once!

Sex available for sale

Bangkok features a flourishing and over-active Read More, both straight and gay. Many female and male prostitutes are HIV positive. A particular amount of visitors arrived at Thailand to fulfill their sexual desires and fantasies. So, remember that especially male website visitors to Thailand will probably be propositioned rather aggressively when you land on the airport, plus the red districts in Bangkok. Try to be firm in saying "no", and guys, never look interested or perhaps the sales pitches can become more aggressive and demanding.

Temples and Palaces

Bangkok is renowned for its abundance of temples and palaces. Included in this are:

The Grand Palace is probably essentially the most spectacular. This massive residence from the King comprises of many buildings-each more beautiful as opposed to next. It will take hours to explore, and it's definitely worth the 400 Baht (about $13 US) admission fee.

The Temple in the Emerald Buddha, Wat Phra Kaew, is often a national monument as well as a must-see here-it was just about the most memorable sights from my own time in Bangkok. You must dress very conservatively to be able to enter, so plan in advance.

The Temple in the Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho, located near the Grand Palace, is yet another temple that's extremely memorable. It's the place to find beautiful gardens, sculptures, as well as a golden statue of Buddha that's over 150 feet long. Entrance is reasonable (20 Baht, about 60 US cents), and located here's a famous Thai massage school that could allow you to get an hour-long massage for only 200 Baht (about $6.50)!

The Temple of Dawn, Wat Arun, is another incredible temple to view. It is found on the Chao Phraya River and it's also noted for its high colorful spires and Ordinance Hall. Just for 50 Baht ($1.60 US), this attraction provides beautiful views in the river and provide great comprehension of Buddhism.

Markets

Bangkok posseses an impressive variety of markets, and they're the ideal places to purchase Thai clothing, food, and crafts. You'll find some pretty amazing prices, but be prepared to haggle- you'll be able to typically bargain for any cheaper price! Try not to be worried just to walk away if you think you're getting ripped off.

Be cautious about personal belongings inside the markets. You can find lurking pickpockets.

If you are in the city with a weekend, go to the Chatuchak Weekend Market, that has a huge number of stalls that provide all you could possibly imagine. Although it's crowded (try got going in the morning before it gets too hot), it's worth a vacation in just experience something so large in proportions and so rich in Thai culture.

Another really interesting companies are the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Vendors are in small boats plus they primarily sell fruits and vegetables. There is an choice of located on land or renting a little boat as well. Even though this is rather touristy, there are not many other areas on the planet that have floating markets!

Museums

If you prefer somewhere less crowded, Bangkok has numerous museums which might be intriguing and attractive. There are 2 that I particularly recommend:

The National Museum is really a stunning building with a huge assortment of Thai art and architecture.

The Jim Thompson Home is a fairly large compound that houses art, antiques, as well as an interesting mixture of both Thai and European home design.

Nightlife

If you're looking for some really unique nightlife, there are two spots in Bangkok that will leave a really lasting impression.

Soi Cowboy could be the city's very tourist-heavy sex district- it's actually a street brimming with fluorescent lights and go-go bars.

Khao San Road, meanwhile, was the good place I visited in Bangkok. While there are several clubs and economical bars (mobile bars are actually popular here too), in addition there are Thai restaurants, Western fast-food chains, cafes, street vendors and performers, the ones from all over the entire world having a great time and experiencing the city. It's actually a place where Thailand meets the West, this also mixture of a lot of cultures makes Khao San Road a unique place.