🇹🇭 Thailand – Bangkok

A charming bustling city that needs to be explored.

Disclaimer

The information in this blog is accurate as of October 2019.

CONTENTS

• 🤔 – What to Expect
• 🌅 – Activities
• 🍛 – Food
• 🚇 – Transport
• 🛌 – Accomodation

🤔 What to Expect

• Clean – compared to other places we have previously visited.
• Great transport system that is relatively cheap.
• Majority of the sights are in one area.
• Bangkok can be explored in 3 days but we stayed for 4.
• Awesome food.
• China Town is a must do foodie experience.
• There are 2 airports – BKK and DMK
• Roughly 36-37 Baht to the £1.

🌅 Activities

Siam Museum

An awesome place to start when you arrive in Bangkok. It drops you straight into the history of Thailand and it’s culture. Discover what 3 key aspects make up ‘Thainess’.

• There are four floors to explore.
• Very interactive which is great for kids!
• 100 Baht – Adult. 50 Baht – Student, OAPs and Children.
• A special exhibition on the Ground Level that was included in our ticket price.

Wat Arun Ratchavararam

• Known as the ‘Temple of Dawn’
• Small entrance fee – only 50 baht per person.
• Best time to visit is early morning as it’s cooler and you beat the crowds.
• Unique floral decoration on the temple.
• Stands majestically over the bank of the river Chao Phraya. The prang (spire) stands 70 metres high.
• The prang is beautifully decorated with coloured glass and Chinese porcelain.
• Ensure you wear something that covers your shoulders and legs, both men and women.
• Its larger than meets the eye. Make sure you explore all the different parts!

Chatuchak Weekend Market

• Free entry – you just require spending money.
• Lots of bargains to be had.
• A variety of stalls including those selling artwork, natural products, pet products/accessories, vintage clothing, food, drinks, sandals, lights – you name it they’ve probably got it!
• It’s a huge place with indoor and outdoor stalls. You could easily spend a full day here.
• Restaurants, cafes and coffee shops can be found throughout.
• Across the road from the local bus station and a 8 minute walk from Chatuchak Park MRT station.

Khao San Road

• Quiet by day, lively by night.
• Backpackers paradise.
• A great place to eat, drink and socialise – but no sleep 😅
• Drinks are generally slightly more expensive than elsewhere in Bangkok.
• Plenty of market stalls to grab a souvenir – be prepared to barter, barter, barter.

Democracy Monument

• Built to commemorate the 1932 revolution that ended the absolute monarchy before becoming constitutional.
• The monument is in the middle of a busy roundabout so be careful!
• It was designed and built based on the key information regarding the event, e.g. the 4 wings stand 24 metres high as the constitution was signed on the 24th June.

Giant Swing

• Located in old city area of Bangkok, just outside Wat Suthat.
• The giant swing is an old Brahman structure.
• Originally used as part of the Brahman festival where men would swing themselves, using the teak poles as a slingshot, to reach gold coins hung at 50 metres. If they succeeded they could keep the treasure but many didn’t. It was later stopped due to accidents and deaths.
• We didn’t visit Wat Suthat however I believe it’s a 20 baht entrance fee and it is open 8.30am till 9pm.

MBK Center (American Spelling)

• A giant mall with lots of stores and goods.
• On the 5th/6th floor there is a food court.
• Lots of different choices from local food to Indian and Korean cuisine.
• Card required to pay at each food/drink station. Cash only at these tills. No deposit required and any money left on the card is given back.
• We’d advise having a look round first before putting money on your card.

The Grand Palace

Rachael and I were a bit miffed off with the cost of the Grand Palace. This meant we ended up sacking it off for another temple.

• Shoulders and legs need to be covered.
• T-shirt and long trousers should do the trick.
• If not you can buy items there but they’re expensive – 200 Baht for trousers.
• 500 Baht each Enterance fee – this is expensive.
• It looks amazing and they have the jade green statue of Budda.

🍛 Food

Street Food

Compared to Indonesia you actually see people eating the street food.

• Rachael and I spent most of our time eating street food.
• Great way to explore the culture through the taste buds.
• Cheap – 50 Baht each for Mango Sticky Rice, Spring rolls or Gyozas.
• Look around because prices do vary.
• Go with friends get different dishes and share.

China Town – Food Experience

Food glorious food. Squid, Gyoza and Custard – filled steam buns.

• Crazy busy.
• Awesome place to start your street food experience.
• Street food prices ranged from 30 – 120 Baht.
• Pad Thai – 70 Baht – Delicious!
• Not much else to say – head down the main strip and explore the delights.

Chatuchak Weekend Market

Once again another great place for street food. With this I wanted to mention more of the restaurant esq street food – often just a vendor with a few tables.

• This type of street food often gives more options than your usual spring rolls, Thai sausage and Gayoza.
• Dishes are usually rice with something e.g. Rice with chicken and basil.
• Noodle dishes.
• Some do Thai curries.
• Usually cheaper than main restaurants.
• 70 – 100 Baht.

Baan Tha Tien

This was possibly the cheapest restaurant we dined at within Bangkok.

• Nice selection of dishes.
• Cheap – 70 – 150 Baht depending on order.
• Near to the Metro – Sanam Chai, Siam Museum and the Grand Palace.
• Lovely social eatery that places you on long benches and tables with other locals and travellers.
• Panang Curry was brilliant!

392/2 Maha Rat Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand

https://www.facebook.co/BaanThaTienCafe/

Supa Thai

• Across from Bangkok Station.
• There are a few restaurants on the road but this was the cheapest.
• 80 Baht for curry but 20B extra if you want rice.
• Photos online are old. The place is a little more tired.
• The curry was tasty!

Supa
512 Rong Mueang Rd, Rong Muang, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
+66 2 061 5645
https://maps.app.goo.gl/HWP5imbFoNUdXudJ8

🚇 Transport

Train

Rachael and I landed at DMK, which was further out of the city than BKK. This meant we had to either hail a taxi or catch the train. Despite it being late at night (22.00) we opted for the train.

• There seemed to be 3 kinds: Slow, Express and Express Fast.
• We caught the last one of the night – Express Fast, which ended up being the most expensive.
• Ticket – Economy 1 – £8.26 Per person.
• Journey was roughly 1 hour.
• Economy 1 was the cheapest of the classes yet comfortable.

Subway

• Cheap and effective way of getting around the city.
• Clean.
• Did not get squashed but can be busy.
• Price depends on distance.
• 16 Baht (£0.45) each for our shortest journey – one way.
• 32 Baht (£0.90) each for our longest journey – one way.
• Mainly used the MRT Line.
• Uses a coin ticket (picture above) – Scan on entry and insert on exit.

Bus

• Cheap – 20 Baht each.
• Plan your journey in advance to know which number bus you need.
• I think there was an expensive service and a cheaper service.
• I saw a shit heap of a bus for the #95 Route but we caught a modern version.

Coach from Bangkok to Sukhothai

• Cost: 365 Baht Each (£9.38)
• The price depended on time of departure.
• Earlier was cheaper.
• Journey Time: 8 Hours (Should have been 7) 😓
• Comfortable chairs and journey.
• Free food! – Unexpected but was a nice surprise – Basic Chicken and Rice.
• One, half way, stop off – use the bathroom then grab a tasty steam bun from the vendor outside for 10 Baht.

🛌 Accomodation

Chic Hostel

A great little hostel that was clean, quiet and close to the subway and China Town.

• Near Hua Lamphong subway.
• Near Bangkok Train Station.
• Cost – £15 per night for standard double room with shared bathroom.
• Discount for staying longer.
• Basic but everything you need.
• The rooms are big but a little vacant and would have benefited from a luggage table and clothing rail.