From In-Portal Developers Guide

Bangkok: A Traveller's Guide

Bangkok can be an exotic, friendly, and beautiful city in southern Thailand. It's the capital of Thailand, it's over eight million people and it's also the cultural center of the country. It is a host to outrageous nightlife and delightful temples, of delicious food and sweltering heat, of crowded streets and big markets. There is absolutely no deficiency of items to do and see inside the city, but there are also many travel tricks to take into account while travelling through Bangkok too.

Some Basics

Thai will be the main language spoken in Bangkok, but because of the booming tourist industry, many people speak English (study a few Thai phrases, though- the trouble is going to be appreciated).

The unit of currency will be the Baht (THB), often misspelled "Bath" on the street. One US dollar is approximately 31 Baht. Price is very inexpensive in Thailand making Thailand a major hotspot for Western tourists. You don't have to tip for services or at restaurants similar to many other countries, yet it's certainly appreciated.

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

When going to a Buddhist temple, dress conservatively and take your shoes upon entering. Do not take photographs if someone is meditating or during ritual, without prior permission.

Touching someone else's head (a good child's head) is really a religious affront and should not be practiced. Touching somebody else's foot is consider an impure act and should not be prevented. Pointing to something with your foot is also not done.

Females shouldn't touch a Theravada monk, but monks often touch lay men, as well as females when the lay female is incredibly ill.

Never embark on public displays of love.

The King of Thailand is locked in reverence through the Thais. The King is legally "inviolable" in fact it is a legitimate offense to say or do anything that could in any way be interpreted as "disrespectful." This can be a serious matter. An infringement gets you arrested and put into prison. This is no joke. Water and food

Water and food safety factors another significant problem here. Don't drink the plain tap water within your hotel or perhaps restaurants, and not use ice cubes. Drink only water in bottles. Do not eat street food that could spoil within the heat. Although Thai cuisine is delicious and there are street vendors all over the place, you dont want to spend time in Bangkok sick because of this food.

The Streets

The traffic in Bangkok is overwhelming- it's very congested, and also crossing the path is dangerous! Due to the large population, there are numerous selections for transportation: the Metro, the SkyTrain, the boat network, the buses, taxis, and tuk-tuks.

Although the three-wheeled, motorized tuk-tuks aren't essentially the most cost-effective supply of around the city (acknowledge an amount prior to getting in-sometimes you can go for inexpensive!), they are this kind of huge portion of Bangkok it is worth just traveling in one at least once!

Sex on the market

Bangkok carries a flourishing and over-active Click here, both straight and gay. Many female and male prostitutes are HIV positive. A specific area of visitors arrive at Thailand in order to meet their sexual desires and fantasies. So, be aware that especially male website visitors to Thailand will probably be propositioned rather aggressively as you land at the airport, along with the red districts in Bangkok. You should be firm in saying "no", and guys, try not to look interested or perhaps the sales pitches can become more aggressive and demanding.

Temples and Palaces

Bangkok is recognized for its abundance of temples and palaces. For instance ,:

The Grand Palace is probably probably the most spectacular. This massive residence with the King consists of many buildings-each more beautiful compared to next. It can take hours to understand more about, and it is well worth the 400 Baht (about $13 US) admission fee.

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Phra Kaew, can be a national monument and a must-see here-it was the most memorable sights from my time in Bangkok. You must dress very conservatively to be able to enter, so prepare yourself.

The Temple in the Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho, located near the Grand Palace, is an additional temple that's extremely memorable. It's home to beautiful gardens, sculptures, along with a golden statue of Buddha that's over 150 feet long. Entrance is affordable (20 Baht, about 60 US cents), and located this is a famous Thai massage school that could allow you to get an hour-long massage for just 200 Baht (about $6.50)!

The Temple of Dawn, Wat Arun, is an additional incredible temple to view. It is on the Chao Phraya River in fact it is famous for its high colorful spires and Ordinance Hall. For 50 Baht ($1.60 US), this attraction provides beautiful views in the river and provide great insight into Buddhism.

Markets

Bangkok comes with a impressive quantity of markets, and they are an ideal places to purchase Thai clothing, food, and crafts. You will discover some amazing prices, but anticipate to haggle- it is possible to almost always bargain to get a lower price! But don't forget to walk away if you believe you're getting ripped off.

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

In case you are in the city with a weekend, navigate to the Chatuchak Weekend Market, which has 1000s of stalls that supply everything you might imagine. Although it's crowded (try pointed in the morning before it gets too hot), it's worth a trip to just experience something so large in size therefore abundant in Thai culture.

Another interesting companies are the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Vendors are common in small boats and they primarily sell vegetables and fruit. There is a choice of located on land or renting a tiny boat as well. Even though this is rather touristy, there are few other places on earth that have floating markets!

Museums

If you prefer somewhere less crowded, Bangkok has numerous museums which can be intriguing, notable and attractive. There's two which i particularly recommend:

The nation's Museum is a stunning building using a huge number of Thai art and architecture.

The Jim Thompson House is a fairly large compound that houses art, antiques, with an interesting blend of both Thai and European interior design.

Nightlife

If you are seeking some really unique nightlife, there are two spots in Bangkok that may leave an extremely lasting impression.

Soi Cowboy is the city's very tourist-heavy sex district- it's a street full of fluorescent lights and go-go bars.

Khao San Road, meanwhile, was the coolest place I went to in Bangkok. While there are numerous clubs and cheap bars (mobile bars are very popular here too), there are also Thai restaurants, Western fast-food chains, cafes, street vendors and performers, the ones from all over the planet having a good time and experiencing the city. It's really a place where Thailand meets the West, this also mix of numerous cultures makes Khao San Road an appealing place.