- Thailand Destination Guide - CBS Travel Asia

A HEADY CITY OF BRIGHT LIGHTS, ENDLESS ENTERTAINMENTS, RICH
CULTURE, INCREDIBLE HERITAGE AND A THRIVING TOURIST INDUSTRY
This, the capital of Thailand, is a huge,
sometimes overwhelming yet always
exciting city with a population of over
eleven million. This is one of Asia’s most
cosmopolitan cities, with modern high-rises
and glorious, ancient temples reaching for
the skies and many fascinating and diverse
districts to explore.
While some people may associate this city
with a rich cultural heritage of Buddhism,
Bangkok is rapidly establishing itself as
something of a luxury destination, with
world-class shopping, high-end dining,
ultra-luxury accommodation and exciting
tour around the city. This Thai city is
a hedonistic whirl of light, sound and
sensation, where everyone, no matter
what their age, tastes and budget, can find
something to love.
Bangkok is an extremely traveller friendly
city. The facilities and infrastructure are
second to none and you can expect a
cheerful welcome from the Thai people.
This is a global and yet quintessentially
Asian city. It fuses the ancient and the
ultra-modern in an interesting tropical
blend. Bougainvillia and frangipani bloom
all over this hot city, creating green, garden
oases amid the rush of heavy traffic.
Saffron robed monks walk past garish neon
lights and skyscrapers jostle with historical
architectural gems.
Bangkok is one of the hottest cities in the
world, with temperatures consistently over
30 degrees Celsius. It can be overpowering
for those not used to it, but water is readily
available and you can easily keep hydrated.
You can also find plenty of air-conditioned
hotels, malls and eateries in which to cool
down. The best time to visit is between
November and February, when the city is at
its coolest and driest.
Bangkok is known to locals as ‘Krung
thep’ – ‘City of Angels’, though this is only
part of the full, grandiose name which
was given to the city by Rama IV. Its full
name has entered the Guinness Book of
Records as the longest place name in the
world. It is only foreigners who persist in
calling the city by the name of the village
formerly found on the riverbank on this
site. Bangkok translates far more prosaically
as ‘Village of the Olive Plum’. Perhaps
this misnomer is symbolic of the fact that
Bangkok is a city that foreigners often seem
to see very differently to how it actually is.
CBS TRAVEL ASIA - THAILAND DESTINATION GUIDE
Perhaps it is the city’s air of exotic mystery
that has led to this dichotomy or perhaps
the world simply cannot keep up with the
pace of change in this fast-moving city.
Things certainly have moved very
quickly here, since the city first began
to experience its economic boom in the
second half of the 20th Century. While
it may have seemed at times during the
early stages of development that all logic
and all links to the past were in danger
of being lost, now Bangkok has by no
means turned its back on the past. Here
you can see a wide range of spiritual and
historical sites and tie this ultra-modern
city to its fascinating past. The Palace,
the many temples and several fascinating
museums and visitor attractions make
this city a must-see for history buffs and
the aesthetic beauty of these sites means
that this place is also much loved by
photographers and other visual artists,
who are drawn to the bright colours and
sparkling gems and gold. Bangkok truly is a
feast for the eyes.
Bangkok is also the place for the ordinary
sort of feast: a great culinary destination.
Food lovers will find a wide variety of
good quality Thai and international dining
experiences and can find fresh produce at
one of the city’s many traditional markets,
including some floating ones which also
make a diverting cultural experience. Here
you can dine on food prepared by topranked
international chefs or have a heady
food-heaven experience eating authentic
street food.
Bangkok’s nightlife is still a part of this
diverse city, now you will find a good
mix of night time entertainment, from
microbreweries to chic cocktail bars and
a range of high-end bars and restaurants
that tower above the bright lights of the
city, or line the banks of the Chao Phraya
River. Things have definitely gone more
up-market here in the last decade and you
can expect food and drink experiences of
exactly the same calibre that you would
expect in any other major global capital.
Many view Bangkok simply as a transport
hub through which they must pass to
reach more tranquil Thai destinations
but it is a mistake not to linger at least
a while to see a little bit of what this
continue on page 15...
GETTING THERE
Suvarnabhumi Airport is
the main point of entry for
foreign visitors to Bangkok,
though some airlines still
use the old Don Muang
Airport. Both airports are
around 30km from the city
centre. Connection to the
city is via the airport rail
link or by taxi. There are
also private airport express
buses or free shuttle buses.
Those looking for luxury
can hire a ‘limousine taxi’
from the airport to take
them straight to their hotel
in comfort and style.
PLACES TO VISIT
BANGKOK
Wat Pho
One of the most beautiful of
Bangkok’s large, landmark
temples, Wat Pho’s ornate and
gleaming religious compound
is the home of the reclining
Buddha, largest in Thailand. It
also has the country’s largest
collection of images of Buddha.
Wat Phra Kaew & Grand Palace
This is more than just Thailand’s
most sacred Buddhist temple, it
is also a potent symbol of Thai
culture and a key landmark ofa
the city. This religious site is
home to the ancient Emerald
Buddha. The fantastically
extravagant and dazzling
complex of buildings that has
been home to the Kings of
Siam and then Thailand since
1782. While it is still also a royal
palace, some of the complex is
now a museum and open to the
public.
Wat Arun
This temple is the temple of
the dawn. It is picturesquely
situated on the banks of the
Chao Phraya River. In spite of
the name, the views of and
from the temple are equally
beautiful at sunset.
Other places to visit:
Jim Thompson House, Suan
Pakkard Palace, Bangkok Sealife
Ocean World, Samphran
Elephant Ground & Zoo,
Evening Flower Market
13