
The Grand
Palace and Wat Prakaew
command respect from all who have walked in their sacred grounds. Built in 1782,
and for 150 years the home of Thai Kings and the Royal court, the Grand Palace
continues to have visitors in awe with its beautiful architecture and intricate
detail. Wat
Pra Kaew enshrines Phra Kaew Morakot (the Emerald Buddha), the secred Buddha
image meticulously carved from a single block of emerald. Read
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Chinatown (Yaowarat)
Chinatown
Chinatown is a colourful, exotic and pleasingly chaotic area, packed with
market stalls and probably the highest concentration of gold shops in the city.
During major festivities like Chinese New Year and the Vegetarian Festival, the
dynamism and spirit of celebration spreads across town like wildfire, and if you
happen to be around, don’t miss an opportunity to witness Bangkok Chinatown at
its best. Read More…
Floating
Market Damnoen SaduakThe pioneer of all floating
markets, Damnoen Saduak continues to offer an authentic experience despite its
increasingly touristy atmosphere. Imagine dozens of wooden row boats floating
by, each laden to the brim with farm-fresh fruits, vegetables or flowers. Food
vendors fill their vessels with cauldrons and charcoal grills, ready to whip up
a bowl of ‘boat noodle’ or seafood skewers upon request.
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The impressive silhouette of Wat Arun’s towering spires is one of the most
recognised in Southeast Asia. Constructed during the first half of the 19th
century in the ancient Khmer style, the stupa showcasing ornate floral pattern
decked out in glazed porcelain is stunning up close. Apart from its beauty, Wat
Arun symbolises the birth of the Rattanakosin Period and the founding of the new
capital after Ayutthaya fell. Read More…
There’s more to Wat Pho than the gigantic reclining Buddha and traditional
Thai massage. Wat Pho harbours a fascinating collection of murals, inscriptions
and sculptures that delve into various subjects, from warfare to astronomy to
archaeology. The vast temple complex contains a landscaped garden with stone
sculptures, stupas adorned with glazed porcelain, a souvenir shop and the
College of Traditional Medicine. Read More…
Chao
Phraya River & Waterways Riverside
One of the most scenic areas, the riverside reflects a constantly changing
scene day and night: water-taxis and heavily laden rice barges chugging
upstream, set against a backdrop of glittering temples and luxury hotels. The
areas from Wat Arun to Phra Sumeru Fortress are home to some of the oldest
settlements in Bangkok, particularly Bangkok Noi and its charming ambience of
stilt houses flanking the complex waterways. Read More…
Chatuchak
Weekend Market Chatuchak
Once only popular among wholesalers and traders, Chatuchak Weekend Market has
reached a landmark status as a must-visit place for tourists. Its sheer size and
diverse collections of merchandise will bring any seasoned shoppers to their
knees. The market is home to more than 8,000 market stalls. On a typical
weekend, more than 200,000 visitors come here to sift through the goods on
offer. Read
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Khao
San Road Old City
If Bangkok is a city where East greets West, then Khao San Road is the scene
of their collision, the place where they jostle for superiority and poke one
another in the eye. With travellers from every corner of the modern world, sleek
clubs playing sophisticated sounds, eclectic market stalls, converted VW
cocktail bars, and foods tamed to suit the Western palate, it may seem clear who
won the fight. Read More…
Soi Cowboy
Sukhumvit (Asoke)
Soi Cowboy was named after the cowboy hat-wearing African-American who opened
the first bar here in the early 1970s. This red-light district has a more
laid-back, carnival-like feel to it than Patpong or Nana Plaza. Flashing neon
lights up a colourful streetscape comprised mainly of middle-aged expats,
Japanese and western tourists, and of course a lot of sex girls with cries of
‘helloooa, welcome!’ Read
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Jim
Thompson’s House Siam
Jim Thompson’s three decades of dedication to the revival of Thai silk, then
a dying art, changed the the industry forever. After he mysteriously disappeared
into the jungles of Malaysia, he left a legacy behind, which is reflected
through his vast collections of Thai art and antiques now on display at the Jim
Thompson’s House and Museum, itself a lovely complex of six Thai-style teakwood
houses preserved to their original glory. Read
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