Thailand
officially the Kingdom of Thailand, formerly known as Siam, is a country located at the
center of the Indochina peninsula in
Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by
Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to
the west by the Andaman Sea and the southern extremity of Burma. (Source: Wikipedia)
Like any other wanderer, Thailand is my country
of choice to start a solo backpacking trip for my Tra-Abel adventures. Based on
lonely planet and other trusted travel sites, Thailand is one of the most
backpacking friendly countries in the world. So after a month of planning, I
found myself mingling with other backpackers there in Bangkok, Thailand. Read my entry on First Time Solo Wandering in a Foreign Land here.
Although my 11 days backpacking trip to Thailand
and Cambodia was not enough to really experience what these countries has to
offer, the time I spent there was really a time well spent.
Let me share with you the adventures and misadventures I had when I was in Bangkok, Thailand.
Bangkok, Thailand is notorious for its traffic especially
during rush hours, but fear not because there are different modes of
transportation available that can help you get around and visit popular tourist
sites in Bangkok without getting stuck in middle of the traffic. You can ride a boat, the train (BTS/MRT), taxi, bus or tuktuk! It's your choice! Read the full entry on getting around Bangkok here.
Activities and Tour
You will never be bored! There are lots of activities to do and sights to see at Bangkok. You can also try the organized tours offered by the different agencies to various tourist sites outside Bangkok! Here are some of the places I went to when I was in Bangkok, click on the picture to learn more about them.
Wat Phra Kaew also known as the Temple of the
Emerald Buddha and the Grand Palace share the same grounds. These two are the
most visited sites in Bangkok. Read the full feature here!
The oldest and largest temple in Bangkok, it
houses the country’s largest reclining Buddha, and it has the biggest
collection of Buddha images in the country. Wat Pho is also the national
headquarters for the teaching and preservation of traditional Thai medicine,
including Thai massage. Read the full feature here!
Just a ferry ride across Wat Pho and the Grand
Palace is Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn. It is named after the Indian god of
dawn, Aruna.
Also known as the summer palace, a complex
formerly used by the Thai kings located on the Chao Phraya River bank. The
landscaping and structures on this complex is worth a visit!
The fabled city as well as the fallen city,
Ayutthaya is the ancient city of Thailand before re-establishing their center
at present-day Bangkok after they have fallen from the war with the Burmese.
This city is rich in Thai history and the temples are really beautiful!
One of the most famous floating markets in
Thailand is Damuern Saduak Floating Market. The souvenir items are a bit pricey
(maybe I just did not try haggling with the vendors), but the ambience was good
and the vendors on boat were fascinating!
The elephant show will really touch your heart
just by merely looking at the cute and adorable elephants while the crocodile
show will give you a heart attack for the stunts professionally prepared and practiced
by the zoo personnel.
Beware! Shopping in Bangkok can really drain and
empty your pockets, especially if you’re an impulsive buyer like me. So if you
are on a budget try to avoid the shopping districts of Bangkok! LOL.
If you are a foodie like me, Bangkok will be a heaven
for you! Most of my pocket money went to food expenses (aside from
shopping). The Thai food is a delight to the tongue, it is an explosion of
flavors! You can try these areas for the best food in town: Hualumpong(Chinatown), Khao San Road, Nana/Asok BTS Stations, Ta Chang/Ta Chien Pier
Stations.
Others
Exchanging money at Bangkok is easy and convenient. Thanks to the influx of tourist, money changers are accessible in most areas of the city. However, there are certain changers that charge higher exchange rate than its competitors. Read the full entry for tips on finding the best money changer at Bangkok here!
A few years ago, border crossing between Thailand
and Cambodia was a real nightmare for tourists! Thanks to the direct bus plying
Bangkok-Siem Reap, the border crossing got a lot easier and safer! Read my fullguide on land border crossing here.
Itineraries and Expenses
3 Day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival
City
Tour (Wat Pho, Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat Phra Kaew)
Night
at Khao San Road
Day 2 Floating Market + Crocodile Farm or Ayutthaya + Bang Pa-In Summer Palace
Night
at Chinatown + Chao Phraya River Tour at night
Day 3 Shopping
Chatuchak
(if weekend)
Siam
Area (Pratunam,
Back
to airport for departure
This itinerary requires a lot of energy since several activities are squeezed into 1 day. It can be really tiring, so you can let go of other activities and just choose those that you like the most.
5 Day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival
Day
tour using Chao Phraya River Boat/BTS & MRT (getting accustomed to Bangkok)
Food
Trip at Khao San Road
Booking
of tour at Canary Travel & Tours (located at Khao San Road)
Day 2 Floating
Market + Crocodile Farm
Food
trip at Chinatown
Day 3 Ayutthaya
+ Bang Pa-In Summer Palace
Nightlife
at Bangkok (Dinner Cruise, Khao San, Chinatown, Silom, Nana, etc)
Day 4 Temple
Hopping (Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, Wat Arun)
Day 5 Shopping
at Bangkok
Departure
This is the optimum number of days for you to
enjoy the major tourist site of Bangkok.
7
Day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival
Day
tour using Chao Phraya River Boat/BTS & MRT (getting accustomed to Bangkok)
Food
Trip at Khao San Road
Booking
of tour at Canary Travel & Tours (located at Khao San Road)
Day 2 Day
trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia (DIY)
Day 3 Angkor
Wat 1 day tour (DIY)
Day 4 Day
trip back to Bangkok (DIY)
Day 5 Temple
Hopping (Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, Wat Arun)
Day 6 Floating
Market + Crocodile Farm or Ayutthaya + Bang Pa-In Summer Palace
Day 7 Shopping
at Bangkok
Departure
For the tour to Siem Reap, Cambodia several
travel and tour agencies are offering tour services which will save you time
because the land trips are usually done in the evening. However there is a
minimum number of persons required. For the details of my own itinerary and expenses during my 11 days Thailand and Cambodia Trip, visit my blog entry here!
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