Whoever believes that cheesy Nicholas Cage remake movie “Bangkok Dangerous” has never been to Manila. Despite that one particular scum of a taxi driver who managed to rip us off, we felt a lot safer in Bangkok and have not encountered anything close to being dangerous. Bangkok may be quite a tourist trap to be honest and the prices of tour groups may sometimes go off the roof – but which tourist spot isn’t? We just try to always keep in mind that the money we paid helped put square meals on their table or send their kids to school and we feel a lot better afterwards. But all those money spent are absolutely worth it. The richness of experience and adventure you will gain in this colourful city is priceless!
Wat Traimit Temple
Bangkok has so much to offer that you can never run out of things to see and discover. You may even find yourself wishing to stay longer in this exciting and interesting city. Here are some of the highlights of our little adventure in this city of smiles.
Chao Praya River Cruise
1.) River Star Princess Cruise. A sight-seeing boat cruise around the famous Chao Praya River in Bangkok highlighting the historic landmarks and vibrant sights while the cool evening breeze helps you feel more relaxed and refreshed after a hot and humid day’s stroll. This tour includes buffet dinner inside the luxurious boat with live bands and cultural performances. The boat cruise gives a high-roller feel that we somehow felt a bit under-dressed for the occasion. The vocalist of the band is a Filipina who is a total crowd-pleaser and cheerily gave in to our song requests from time to time. You can also leave your inhibitions at home as their stage is open for dancing and karaoke-style singing. So much fun!
Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)
2.) Temple Visits. This is definitely a must and one’s travel to Bangkok is not complete unless you’ve seen the subtle yet intricate beauty of Thai temples. We managed to soak in the elegance of Wat Trimit (Solid Golden Buddha), Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) and Wat Benchamabopit (Marble Temple).
3.) Siam Niramit Cultural Show. Another must-see in Bangkok! Siam Niramit is a state-of-the-art 2000-seat theatre and the largest stage production per Guiness Book of World Records. We had a buffet dinner before the show and a stroll through the authentic traditional Thai village just besides the theatre. The cultural show in itself will give you a brief insight on the colourful Thai history and its rich heritage which are presented through specially crafted dance and musical numbers. The stage’s lighting, visual effects, design, cirque-esque stunts and over-all production is such a grand spectacle that will leave you amazed for hours! There are hundreds of performers on stage, live animals, a small river and even rain showers and lightning. It doesn’t get much bigger that this. If you were not on this show, you haven’t seen anything special in Bangkok, I tell you.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
3.) Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. This maybe a tourist trap for some but for us it’s a once in a lifetime experience and didn’t mind paying a bit more. Floating market at Damnoen Saduak is the old traditional way of selling vegetables, fruits, etc. from a small boat. We hired a paddle boat to take us around the unique and bustling market situated in a river with wooden canoes filled with different produce, handicrafts, food specialties and whatnot. We didn’t buy much here except for some Thai spices and coconut ice cream as we know very well that their prices here are really very touristy.
4.) Chatuchak Weekend Market. If you’re a bargain hunter and love to haggle to save your life, you’re in for a real treat! This is one of the most famous weekend markets in all of South East Asia and for good reasons — some 5000 to 6000 stall open selling pretty much anything. It seems to meet with mixed review — you either love the crowds, the hear, the noise and the bargains, or you don’t. We managed to bought two pairs of flat shoes, some souvenir items and shirts, Thai snacks and 5 kilograms of Thai jasmine rice despite the heavy crowd and scorching sun but we never regretted it since all are such a steal! One day is not enough if you main purpose of visit in Bangkok is to shop.
Old temples in Ayutthaya
5.) Ayutthaya Historical Parks. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ayutthaya Historical Park incorporates over a dozen ancient temple sites and ruins which makes you feel you’re inside that once famous Temple Run mobile app game of Lady Lara Croft’s Tomb Raider. Ayutthaya is the old capital of Siam and a must-see if you have any interest in ruins or ancient culture as the temples are well-preserved and very fascinating.
Bangkok is a city that should be in everyone’s bucket list and for all good reasons. It’s a modern city by all means yet their traditions, cultures, architectural wonders and authentic Thai cuisine are still very much intact. Again, we can’t help but sigh in frustration at how the Philippines is being left out again by our Asian neighbour.
