A little description of the 12 sights and things I have enjoyed in my new home. Here is the first half:
Ko Ratanakosin
A holy haven (Buddhist) right here in Bangkok with stunning temples. Although I have not yet seen all the sights that Ko Ratanakosin has to offer, I did get a chance to see Wat Phra Kaew with its Emerald Buddha and the Grand Palace which shares its grounds. Any visitor with uncovered shoulders has to wear clothing assigned to them by the temple. It is much better to be the first person to wear that assigned shirt, as you will really be wearing the sweat of your predecessor otherwise.
My favourite would have to be Wat Pho with its reclining Buddha. Actually, of all the Buddha poses that I have seen, reclining Buddha seems to be my favourite, so maybe this is why I liked Wat Pho best. The Buddha statue itself is massive (almost 50 meters long!) and gold plated.
The Chao Phraya River Express
I like boats. I like cheap methods of public transportation. So of course I enjoy the river taxi service provided on the Chao Phraya (near Saphan Taksi BTS Station). Everyone seems to use it: to get to school, work, tourist attractions and to transport goods. I found it all a little confusing since everything happens really fast, but in the end it is a quick, efficient and scenic way to get from point A to point B.
A weekend trip to Koh Samet
This will get its own entry later, but there are beautiful beaches just 3 hours away from Bangkok.
The Suan Lum Night Bazaar
Every night this area near the Lumpini MRT station comes to life with tons of very kitch and very useful things for sale. It attracts more foreigners than Thai for shopping, but everyone seems to like the market when it comes to food. It is also near the Lumpini Park and both visits combined make a good way to spend a half day.
The Siam Area
The mega malls. I think I love how busy it is here. I can’t afford anything, but I seem to gravitate towards the Siam area for a quick walk around just to look at what everyone else is buying. The street vendors of both food and accessories are amazing; really trendy things for under $10. Marina HK also deserves a shout out for its affordable food in an a/c setting.
Thanon Khao San
Why do I go back to this famous backpacker ghetto where rats and cockroaches co-own the streets with drunken belligerents? Because it’s fun, final answer. I can pretend to be a snob, and tilt my nose up at the idea of hanging out in a tourist ghetto, but Khao San is a packed, sweaty mess that is an experience not to be missed. “The Club” is the only place I can remember going to, due to the lack of originality/simplicity of its name… good marketing.
Ten years ago I set a goal to visit 30 countries by my 30th birthday. With no plan or country list to fulfill this goal, I decided to let life take me where it wished.
“See Simi Travel Blog | Adventures of a travel snob“, is just that. The account of an ex-20-something year exploring the world, usually solo, and on a very limited budget.
Every other week I try to tell you a story about the friends, food, fun and fails I’ve had along the way.
