What to see in the Great Bangkok Area ?

If it is your first time Thailand, there is a lot to see :
First some must-see temples:
Attention: the sacred temples in Thailand follow a dress code. Men must wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts and shoes; women must wear long skirts. Visitors who arrive dressed otherwise may rent appropriate clothing items at the entry area of some of the most important temples. It is compulsory to remove the shoes before entering the temple, as a sign of respect to the Buddha, as is the practice in all other temples in Thailand. While offering prayers before the Buddha image, the sitting posture should avoid any offensive stretching of feet towards the deity; the feet should be tucked in towards the back.
1) Wat Phra Kaew (The Temple of the Emerald Buddha), the admission fee for foreigners is rather expensive,฿250 but the price includes Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, the Coin Pavilion & Vimanmek Palace in Dusit Park. Vimanmek was the biggest wooden building in Asia , in the time it was build.
The Grand Palace  has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam (and later Thailand) since 1782. The king, his court and his royal government were based on the grounds of the palace until 1925. The present monarch, H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), currently resides at Chitralada Palace, but the Grand Palace is still used for official events. Several royal ceremonies and state functions are held within the walls of the palace every year.
2) Next to Wat Phra Kaew, is the Wat Po, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, and also one of the oldest medical schools in the world: it was here that was taught  Traditional Thai Medicine, and they still teach Royal Thai Massage. Also as foreigner you can attend the training; you start the first week with Traditional Thai Massage, and afterwards you can attend all the other trainings, Aromatherapy (oil massage) , foot massage, children massage etc...Count about 8000 thb for one week training. The training is just between the Wat Po and the river. The entry for Wat Po is 100 thb, the price of the massage is reasonable, they give Traditional Thai Massage and Herbal Massage.
3) At the opposite side of the river you have the Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn (Entry 50 thb, when you want to climb all the way up) There are boot shuttles from one side of the river to the other side, and they cost only 3 thb.
4) Enough temples for now: not far from aforementioned temples, you have Kao San Road, the back packers paradise from the 60-70 : it is only one street, but is very animated in day time: you have a lot of shops, you can buy fake student cards or drivers licences :), if you want a rastafari cut, it is here you will find the right people, and there are also a lot of small travel agencies, as some minivans only leave from KSR, like the ones for Ko Tao, Cambodia, etc...And of course, a lot of guesthouses here (I slept here once for 80 thb per night, but now, some are charging more than the hotels on Sukumvit, but I am sure there is still good value for money to find (100 thb /night for a mixed dorm).
And at night, it turns into Party Town :).
 KSR is far from the BTS and MRT, but from Sukumvit you can take bus Nr 2 till Democracy Monument, and that is close to KSR. Or, in daytime, you can take the river taxi from Sapan Taksin BTS station.
Ok later, I will write about the Chao Praya River cruises,about Ancient City and about Chatuchack Weekend market and much more :)

No comments:

Post a Comment