Bangkok for Beginners: A 3 day guide for First Timers

Bangkok was my first destination in my Indochina excursion, and first impressions of the city did not disappoint. Bangkok is a city of extremes, with a landscape dotted by solemn & spiritual temples by day, and a city of sin and pleasure at night, where every vice & desire can be quenched.

Getting around in the city is quite easy given the various transportation methods available. If taxis & tuktuks aren’t your thing, the Skytrain (Metrorail system) is easy to navigate, not confusing & close to most tourist attractions. If this still sounds mundane to you, then the Chao Praya Express boat is a good option.

My first stop on day 1 was Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan or simply ‘Wat Arun’ for short. A Buddhist temple with distinctly Cambodian architecture that sets it apart from the other Wats in Bangkok, which can be easily accessed via boat ride on the Chao Praya river. I have heard other tourists say that if you have seen one temple, you have seen them all, but I beg to disagree. Each Wat or Stupa has a uniqueness of its own, in the same way each Cathedral or Church here in the Philippines is distinct with its own architecture, history & personality. After spending an hour there, I moved on to another temple, Wat Phra Kaew. The great thing about Wat Phra Kaew aside from the Emerald Buddha, which is a sight to behold unto itself, is that it is only a 5 minutes’ walk away from the ‘Grand Palace’. The Grand Palace in turn, is Thailand’s version of Malacanang, housing the kings of Siam since the 17^th century. There is something eerily familiar with the building compared to our old style houses here, but I guess that adds to the allure of the place. I ended my day with a visit to Patpong during the night. Bangkok literally transforms into a different animal once the sun goes down J. It is also much easier to travel when the sun isn’t bearing down on your back. Patpong is known as a red light district for horny GI’s some decades ago and it still is, but it also has surprisingly turned itself into a family tourist spot with its thriving night market & restos abound. The market is littered with souvenirs & knick knacks to content the hungry visitor & for those hungry for something else, there are the countless gogo bars in every direction you take.

I always make it a point to visit the national museum on every country I visit, & I fulfilled that promise on my 2^nd day in Bangkok. I was a bit disappointed that their museum wasn’t air-conditioned like other museums considering the sweltering heat in Thailand, but you cannot deny the amount of artifacts on display showing the rich culture of the Thais. The museum exhibits art & history of the country, but majority of the displays are about lord Buddha, & his life & times. Next was Wat Pho, or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. This was the climax of the trip for me as there is no other image as iconic or representative of Thailand, as the giant golden Buddha lying down on its side, adorned in gold. Upon closer inspection, the level of intricacy on the statue is undeniably complex, as the Buddha is adorned with religious symbols too complex to describe. Wat Traimit was my next destination, where the main attraction is the world’s largest solid gold statue of Buddha. Unlike other statues of Buddha wherein he is only gold plated, the figure here is made with solid gold, so it appeals to both devotees of Buddhism & admirers of the precious metal. To end the day, I visited ‘Wat Saket’ or to foreigners ‘The Golden Mount’. Prepare your cardio as there will be a lot of climbing involved as the structure resembles a hill so there will be a lot of stairs to reach the top. On top of the mount is a serene altar to Buddha & a gift shop for tourists to remember their visit by.

On my last day in Thailand, I was curious to see the much talked about floating market, so I took a local khlong tour (canal tour) to go there. Colorful does not give justice as a description of the market as it was rich in food, entertainment, musicians & merchants, capturing the heart & soul of old Siam. I spent most of my time binge eating on street food & buying food stuffs as gifts back home. I suggest you make time in your itinerary to visit this place, since your trip would be incomplete without it. Later in the afternoon, I left for the Hualamphong train station, heading to Nong Khai, on my way to Vientiane, Laos.

Some final words before I end this guide for those planning on visiting the city: (1) The Thais love their king so DO NOT say anything negative about the monarchy! (2) It gets very hot in Bangkok, even hotter here in manila by 2-3 degrees so bring light clothing & cold water on your journeys. (2) If you’re a woman, remember to dress appropriately when visiting temples. The monks will provide skirts if you forgot & are wearing short shorts, but to avoid the hassle, just come prepared. (4) The ping pong shows in Patpong are a scam, there are no two ways about it. The bouncer at the entrance will say it’s just 1000 Baht, but when you bill out it will be up to 10,000 Baht, so do not enter!!! The reason is that there are hidden fees everywhere so beware. (5) Thai food is super spicy, so prepare your palette & gastrointestinal tract for it.

Nothing is left for me to say except, enjoy the Las Vegas of Asia!