Top 5 Things We Did in Bangkok, Thailand
/1. Food
Anaïs is going to follow up in a few weeks with a food post for the entirety of Thailand, so look for more details then, but know that the majority of our time in Bangkok was spent eating. Staying where we did just off Silom Road, we were walking distance away from great food areas: Soi Convent, Bang Rak near Saphan Taksin BTS station, Silom Soi 20 for breakfast, and Lalai Sap for lunch. Short BTS rides would take us to Sukhumvit Soi 38 or any of the major mall food courts. We weren't pioneers, searching out the newest places, but we followed the great advice of others and visited many of Bangkok's institutions. There isn't a place in the world where it's easier to find cheap, delicious food no matter the time or day of the week.
2. Chatuchak
The largest market in SE Asia, this place is a madhouse on the weekend. Getting there early will give you a couple hours to enjoy it before the masses descend and snag a few deals before they disappear. The majority of stalls are dedicated to clothing and you can find anything you could imagine, from the cheapest shirts to the hip designer shops of the day. With tons of food vendors on offer, make sure to sample a few of the different things on offer and then head straight to one of the Bee Berry smoothie stalls. If they have it, you must try the marian plum as it is just incredible. The mango was delightful as well.
Easiest way to get here is via BTS and head to the Mo Chit station. If you can't follow the masses of people already heading there, tax Exit 3 to head to Chatuchak. Get there before 10 AM.
3. Movie
There are some very swanky movie theaters in Bangkok, including some filled with couches and foot massages, others that include food and drink, and our favorite: 4D movies. Can't imagine that? Well, start with a 3D movie, then add seats that toss and throw you around, blow air on you, and spray water in the air, all in coordination with what's happening in the movie. It was a blast and we enjoyed the splurge. Sometimes we need to do something "normal" to keep traveling fresh and if you find yourself in the same boat, this will fill that need perfectly.
4. Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market
There are many options to visit a floating market in Bangkok, some of them extremely touristy or far away. Instead of that, on the advice of Mark at Migrationology, we went to this market in the western outskirts of Bangkok. Although there is a tourist presence here - it is Bangkok, after all - mostly Thai people packed the market tasting the endless foods on offer. There aren't many boats plying the canal here, just a few fruit and fresh food vendors, but it's a great place to step outside the city and eat delicious food. Make sure to try the gac fruit juice, the banh xeo boat lady, the som tam with crab, and tons of fresh fruit.
Take the BTS to Bang Wa BTS station and then take a taxi to the market. We showed our taxi driver the Thai text that Mark linked to in his post and our driver knew exactly where to go. Taxi cost 80 baht one way and there were plenty around when we decided to leave the market - no need to ask a taxi to stick around.
5. Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun
We never got around to visiting the Grand Palace/Wat Pho/Wat Arun trio until after we returned from Burma. That's not to say they aren't worth visiting, it's just how our schedule worked out. Wat Po ranks as our favorite of the three, but experiencing them together enhances the experience. Seeing the massive reclining Buddha and massage inscriptions at Wat Pho wouldn't feel complete without also visiting Wat Phra Kaew and seeing the Emerald Buddha.
Entrance per person is 50 baht at Wat Arun, 100 baht at Wat Pho, and a very steep 500 baht for the Grand Palace. Make sure to dress appropriately with covered shoulders and knees.
Bonus:
There are plenty of bars you can try out for sunset. We visited the Pullman G Hotel and had a nice pair of cocktails overlooking western Bangkok. Why there? The drinks were much cheaper than the Hangover-famous Sky Bar that is towards the southern end of Silom Road, the area we were staying in.