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Thailand attracts travelers of all tastes and is known for its beach resorts, amazing food, muay thai, and numerous temple complexes. Getting here is easy by flying directly into the capital of Bangkok to Suvarnabhumi airport (BKK) and then taking the Airport Rail Link City Line (for 45 baht) which takes 25 minutes to get into downtown Bangkok (BKK). Map here.

If coming from Cambodia, take a bus from Siem Reap to Bangkok with Virak Buntham or Nattankan bus companies. The trip takes around 11 hours.

If you’re also keen to check out more of Thailand, look North to the cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. They offer a more lower key environment than Bangkok. You can check out my blog post on them here.

Getting around Bangkok is easy by public transport. The Bangkok metro system or MRT is a popular mode of transport, especially in the summer where most people look to escape the heat in the air conditioned passenger cars (Map here). The MRT runs 6am to midnight. 

If you want to see sights along the Chao Phraya river, you can take the Chao Phraya Express Boat (CPEB) which allows you to hop on and off at different piers along the river for the duration of your ticket. Here is a map of the stops.

Lastly, you can take a tuk-tuk around the city which is the most fun option. You can usually negotiate prices with the driver. Beware however that many drivers will promise a lower price but make a stop or two along the way to get you to buy something from a sponsor of theirs. If they do this, just find another driver.

As with many cities in Southeast Asia, there are many wats and temples around, each with their own signature and there are a few noteworthy ones in Bangkok. Perhaps most popular is Wat Pho (Wat Phra Chetuphon) (Map of complex here) (stop N8 - Tha Thien w/ CPEB) and from here you can take a ferry directly across the river to see Wat Arun. There are loads of restaurants at this stop by the Tha Tian Market to admire Wat Arun lit up at night.

A few notes before entering buddhist temples: 

1 - Be mindful of your surrounds in a temple and maintain calmness and be polite since it is a sacred place of worship

2 - Religious attire is required - no shorts above the knees, you must take off your shoes before entering.

3 - The Buddha image should be respected. Photos are usually permitted (depending on teh temple) but you should never step on an image of buddha.

4 - It is forbidden for women and monks to have physical contact. 

The Grand Palace used to house all the Kings of Thailand from the late 1700s to 1925 (Stop Tha Chang - N9 (CPEB)). It’s grounds are immaculately kept and is divided into many quarters. Here you will also find the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) considered the most sacred temple in all of Thailand.</h3>

Other notable stops in Bangkok include:

• Phra Athit Road for boutiques and cafes (Stop Phra Arthit - N13 (CPEB)

• Wat Rakhang Khositaram (Stop Wang Land - N10 (CPEB)

• Saphan Phut Night Market (Memorial Bridge/Saphan Phut (N6) (CPEB)

If you want to experience Bangkok from above, you can opt for two very different experiences:

1. Have a drink on the 61st Floor at the Banyan Tree Hotel.

2. Make your way up to the Sathorn Unique Tower.

The Moon bar at the Banyan Tree Hotel offers sweeping view of the city and is quite the classy nightlife experience, so dress to impress. The Sathorn Unique Tower on the other hand is an abandoned skyscraper whose construction was halted during the 1997 asian financial crisis. Apparently you can gain access to the tower by bribing the security guards there however there have been some recent crackdowns as more footage from the tower has been posted online, leaving city officials to take harsher measures against trespassers. Do so at your own risk!

A popular backpacker jaunt is Khao San road. If you want to get off the ‘beaten’ path and do some sightseeing away from tourists, then stay away from this area. It isn’t a bad place to go, there are plenty of bars and restaurants (in case thai food isn’t your thing) and it’s safe, but it’s just not an authentic area of Bangkok as you will only find foreigners. So great for socializing, not so much for culture.

If you’re looking for another destination that’s in the same part of the world, you’ve got some options within Southeast Asia. Cambodia is a short distance away and is mostly known for its collection of buddhist temples such as Angkor Wat. (Check out my posts on Tomb Raiding in Cambodia here). Other destinations include Shanghai and some cities in Japan (Kyoto), that are worth seeing.

My final piece of advice if you’re checking out Bangkok is eat ALL the street food. It costs practically nothing and it will be better than anything you’ve ever had at home (just watch out for how spicy it is). You can find many street food carts in all parts of the city, just go where the locals go. Also, stay away from Durian (an exotic fruit), I doubt you would like it. Speaking from experience here.

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