Bangkok, Thailand
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
'We want holiday locations,' they said.
'Alright then, I've lived in Bangkok,' I said. 'I'll write an article on that.'
Where to begin, though? How about reeling off some facts: Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand. Thailand, otherwise known as Siam, is found in South-East Asia. If you look at a map of Thailand, Bangkok is that large city on the coast-ish area just before the 'tail' snakes down the map towards Malaysia.
Upon entering Bangkok Airport, perhaps the first thing you will notice is the apparent lack of humidity, which is rather abundant in most areas of Thailand, this is because the air conditioning is turned down (or up, depending on which way you look at it) to about minus 15 degrees C. The second thing you will notice, perhaps, is that all the Thai people seem to be smiling. Well - all the people apart from the airport staff that is. This struck me rather odd at first, coming from a country where if you are smiling people think you're either on drugs or have scored. In Thailand, however, smiling is just a way of life.
Stepping out into the sunny delight which is Thailand, you will need to get a taxi, probably, unless you are very organised and have organised a driver and car before. It is best to get one of those yellow and green taxis, because the drivers almost speak English, and most of them use those ticker-timer things which tell you if how far you've gone and how much, you owe. If you decide to take a taxi without this item, then be prepared to fork out a lot of money. There are no seat belts in any of the taxis, but at least 3 Buddah's to protectyou, so that's okay then.
When you enter the taxi of your choice, the driver will attempt to strike up a conversation in English with you, which, unless you're very unlucky, will consist of "Hello!" "How are you?" and then you will be forced to take out the ever-so-handy Thai-English phrase book. Be prepared, also, to wait in this taxi - which will almost definitely not have air conditioning - for a rather long time. Three - four hours to get down one particular road - Sukhumvit - not at rush hour- should convince you of the traffic problems Bangkok has.
Once settled down, and frequently bitten by mosquitoes, (some repellant is required at any time of day/night) there are many enlightening and beautiful sites you can visit; The Grand Palace, The Teak Palace, miscellaneous other Palaces, The Floating Market, China Town, One of the many shopping plazas found scattered about Bangkok, and, as the tourist books say, many, many, more! (with an exclamation mark on the end, because tourist books always go in for that kind of thing.) I would, however, skip all of these and go to the normal markets, which flourish with the smells and sights of real Bangkok - complete with live skinned toads, eels, and disgusting smelling papaya. After this delight, going for a meal would probably be in order. Don't, whatever you do, say "Oh, won't it be quaint to eat at that vender, darhling?" and go to the nearest street-vender, sit at a table next to one of the busy roads and get food poisoning. Go to a restaurant or pub, sit down and have a nice meal there. Much less hassle, and much better for your lungs.Air conditioning is a comfort and food from all over the world is available.You can eat fish and chips if thats your thing ,exotic arabic mezzas, french crepes, try the fantastic high tea at the Shangrila Hotel if you fancy the lush [under a tenner eat all you can and relax in total luxury! Afterwards, I suggest you go to the night-time markets of Bangkok, and find something to do, as Bangkok is definitely the city that never sleeps - well, the Thai's do sleep. All the time, during the day,at work, whilst on the bus,standing at the bus stop anywhere, any position, any time. This is not an uncommon sight, most Thais seem to live like Cats and sleep for short periods of time whenever they want to.
'Right,' say I, 'that ought to do the trick. What shall I end with?', I then wonder and then decide on the simple option.
If you do visit Bangkok, have a wonderful time and remember to :-)
'Alright then, I've lived in Bangkok,' I said. 'I'll write an article on that.'
Where to begin, though? How about reeling off some facts: Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand. Thailand, otherwise known as Siam, is found in South-East Asia. If you look at a map of Thailand, Bangkok is that large city on the coast-ish area just before the 'tail' snakes down the map towards Malaysia.
Upon entering Bangkok Airport, perhaps the first thing you will notice is the apparent lack of humidity, which is rather abundant in most areas of Thailand, this is because the air conditioning is turned down (or up, depending on which way you look at it) to about minus 15 degrees C. The second thing you will notice, perhaps, is that all the Thai people seem to be smiling. Well - all the people apart from the airport staff that is. This struck me rather odd at first, coming from a country where if you are smiling people think you're either on drugs or have scored. In Thailand, however, smiling is just a way of life.
Stepping out into the sunny delight which is Thailand, you will need to get a taxi, probably, unless you are very organised and have organised a driver and car before. It is best to get one of those yellow and green taxis, because the drivers almost speak English, and most of them use those ticker-timer things which tell you if how far you've gone and how much, you owe. If you decide to take a taxi without this item, then be prepared to fork out a lot of money. There are no seat belts in any of the taxis, but at least 3 Buddah's to protectyou, so that's okay then.
When you enter the taxi of your choice, the driver will attempt to strike up a conversation in English with you, which, unless you're very unlucky, will consist of "Hello!" "How are you?" and then you will be forced to take out the ever-so-handy Thai-English phrase book. Be prepared, also, to wait in this taxi - which will almost definitely not have air conditioning - for a rather long time. Three - four hours to get down one particular road - Sukhumvit - not at rush hour- should convince you of the traffic problems Bangkok has.
Once settled down, and frequently bitten by mosquitoes, (some repellant is required at any time of day/night) there are many enlightening and beautiful sites you can visit; The Grand Palace, The Teak Palace, miscellaneous other Palaces, The Floating Market, China Town, One of the many shopping plazas found scattered about Bangkok, and, as the tourist books say, many, many, more! (with an exclamation mark on the end, because tourist books always go in for that kind of thing.) I would, however, skip all of these and go to the normal markets, which flourish with the smells and sights of real Bangkok - complete with live skinned toads, eels, and disgusting smelling papaya. After this delight, going for a meal would probably be in order. Don't, whatever you do, say "Oh, won't it be quaint to eat at that vender, darhling?" and go to the nearest street-vender, sit at a table next to one of the busy roads and get food poisoning. Go to a restaurant or pub, sit down and have a nice meal there. Much less hassle, and much better for your lungs.Air conditioning is a comfort and food from all over the world is available.You can eat fish and chips if thats your thing ,exotic arabic mezzas, french crepes, try the fantastic high tea at the Shangrila Hotel if you fancy the lush [under a tenner eat all you can and relax in total luxury! Afterwards, I suggest you go to the night-time markets of Bangkok, and find something to do, as Bangkok is definitely the city that never sleeps - well, the Thai's do sleep. All the time, during the day,at work, whilst on the bus,standing at the bus stop anywhere, any position, any time. This is not an uncommon sight, most Thais seem to live like Cats and sleep for short periods of time whenever they want to.
'Right,' say I, 'that ought to do the trick. What shall I end with?', I then wonder and then decide on the simple option.
If you do visit Bangkok, have a wonderful time and remember to :-)
