Wat Arun in Bangkok
Wat Arun Rachawararam is also known as “The Temple of Dawn” or just Wat Arun. This beautiful temple on the bank of the Choa Praya is built in Thailand’s Ayutthaya period as “Wat Makok”. King Taksin renamed this Buddhist temple in Bangkok to “Wat Jeng” when Thonburi become the capital of Thailand. King Rama II let renovate Wat Arun and give it the name “Wat Ratchataram”. Under King Rama IV it becomes the present name “Wat Arun Rachawaram”. Many believers come here to this holy place in Bangkok to worship Buddha. The foreigners come to see the adorned holy stupa and the stone statures. Especially at sunset is the Wat Arun a magnificent model for beautiful holiday pictures. After a visit at this temple on the west bank I will recommend a visit at Wat Pho which is just on the other side of the Chao Praya River in Bangkok and good to reach by ferry.
Wat Phra Kaew Temple
The full name is actually Wat Phra Sri Rattana Sasdaram but this temple in Bangkok is better known as Wat Phra Kaew temple. This imposing temple in Thailand’s Capital is on the same compound as the Royal Grand Palace. King Rama the first gave the mandate to build this holy Buddhist monument. Many tourists come here to see the Emerald Buddha, Golden Buddha statues, Golden stupas, the impressive statures of all eight Kings of the Chakri dynasty and many other beautiful and impressive monuments and holy places. Worshippers come to pay their respect of “Phra Kaew Morakot” (The Emerald Buddha) and to the most hallowed compound in Thailand where the ashes of many former Monarchs are enshrined. The Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok is a great destination for all who like to see a grandiose temple and learn something about Thai culture. The River Express is the cheapest possibility to reach the Phra Kaew Temple. Taxis and Tuk Tuks are a bit more expansive and mostly slower because of the traffic in central Bangkok.
Paintings at Wat Pho
The Wat Pho is the most magnificent Buddhist Temple of Bangkok in Thailand. Many believers, tourists and backpacker come every day to see the beautiful temple architecture, Buddha images and of course the biggest reclining Buddha of Thailand. The reclining Buddha at Wat Phra Chetuphon (Wat Pho) is 16 meter high and 46 meter long. Phra Chetuphon temple has as well the biggest collection of Buddha images. The ample area of this beautiful and impressive temple housed many beautiful corners and gives a great guideline for good pictures of your visit in Thailand. The nice Buddhist and historical mural paintings was my highlight of this temple. Wat Po is as well famous for the Thai Massage school/university which teaches the technician of the traditional Thai Massage. The Tripitaka Library which contains holy Buddhist writings is also located at the most visited temple in Bangkok. Wat Pho in Bangkok is direct in the center of Thailand’s capital. You can easy arrive by Tuk Tuk, Taxi or River Express which is the cheapest possibility. If you stay in Bangkok don’t miss a visit at the famous Wat Pho.
Wat Pho, Bangkok
Lumphini Park in Bangkok
The Lumphini Park in central Bangkok is a good possibility to flee from the pollution of this city in Thailand. The Park has a lake and good cultivated grassland which invite tourists and locals to relax, take a nap or read a good book. Lumphini Park is also for jogger a worthwhile destination. The asphalted course is perfect for a run through Thailand’s capital Bangkok. At long the lakes are picnic tables and shops who sell drinks and food. The best time for a visit at Lumphini is in the morning because than the air is fresh (compared to other places here) and there are less people. If you want to come here than you can take the Sky train to Sala Deang or the Metro direct to Lumphini Park. The ride with a Tuk Tuk need mostly more time and is a bit more expansive. There is no admission fee at this quiet place in BKK.
Lounge on the International Airport in BKK
The Airline Bangkok Airways is famous for many domestic connections in Thailand. The hub of Asia’s boutique airline is Thailand’s Capital Bangkok. From here you get nearly everywhere in Thailand: Phuket, Koh Samui, Sukhothai and much more destinations. Bangkok Airways flight as well to some international destinations like Phnom Penh in Cambodia. I was flying from Bangkok to Trat to travel to Koh Chang with this Airline. Is a nice option to the bus if you come from Europe or elsewhere in world. For the brake on the international Airport in Bangkok there is a lounge as well for economy passengers with some food, hot and cold drinks and good service. A nice place to relax from your intercontinental flight before. The service on board of this airline is friendly like everywhere if you fly with an Asian Airline. I can recommend to travel with Bangkok Airways for domestic flights in Thailand and international flights in South East Asia.
Sunset at the Rama bridge
The small Thai Restaurant “Khao-Tha” is on the Thewes pier of the Chao Praya River Express. From here are a exelent view to the Rama 8 bridge over Bangkok’s big river. On the menue are many delicious traditional Thai dishes and beverages like softdrinks, beer and whiskey. The Khao Tha Restaurant in Thailand’s Capital open the doors in the late afternoon for dinner. From the wooden floor you can feed the fishes here at Thewes Pier. Many times here playing Thai Solo artists live music in the evening, they play pop and love songs from Thailand and some slow international songs. The atmosphare is the right for a romantic dinner for couples or people who like to drink a beer in a quiet and relaxed atmosphare here In Bangkok. The good and friendly service will make your dinner here at Khao Tha to a highlight of your Thailand holiday or your Southeast Asia Travel Tour. If you need Accomendation at Thewet the Sri Ayuttaya Guest House is just a five minutes walk away. The right choice for all who don’t like the busy and loud Restaurants and Bars on the Khoa Sarn Road a bit south from here.
Accommodation in Bangkok. Booking system.
Khao Sarn Road
The most important Street for Backpackers and Travelers is the Khao Sarn Road, here in this busy part of Thailand’s capital are a lot of guest houses, souvenir and t-shirt shops, massage studio’s, restaurants, bars and pubs. The main reasons to stay here should be the bright offer for low budget accommodations and the good possibilities to go out and meet other people on travel tour. To Bangkok’s river express which connect Khao San with the sky train and many sights are just a short walk away and it’s perfect to explore this croudy city in South East Asia. Here in this street you can buy nearly everything: driving licenses, suits, shirts, souvenirs… but actually everything what you buy here is a fake or a copy. If you want to buy originals, better you go in one of Thailand’s super shopping malls around “Siam” sky train station. But still you can find here some nice souvenirs or other cheap thinks if you don’t will use it for a long time. The suits witch you can find are actually high quality products, and the t-shirts are a excellent choice for your trips on Thailand’s beaches and for traveling on the mainland of this beautiful Southeast Asian country. All in all I can say that the Khao Sarn Road is a good choice for all Backpackers in Bangkok who don’t know where to stay and like cheap shopping. Many Travel agencies will help to find a travel connection to your next destination in Thailand, book activities like climbing in Krabi or Scuba Diving on Koh Chang and help you to find a guest house in this metropolis in Asia. My choice here in Bangkok is always the Sri Ayuttaya Hostel which is around one kilometer away from Kao Sarn.
Siam Ocean World
On our short trip to Bangkok in April 2009 we went to the Aquarium at Siam Paragon. At the basement floor of the Paragon shopping mall is the Siam Ocean World located, the best way to reach this sight in Thailand’s capital is by Sky train or taxi. You will see the huge center from the “Siam” Skytrain station. The entry fee was 850 Thai Baht for one person, the fee for kids and locals are less. For a scuba dive at the aquarium with the shark starts at 5300 Baht for one dive including a guide if you have a scuba licence. Without it is a bit more expansive. The Ocean World has many different tropical and colourful fishes, crabs and jelly fisches from many regions of the world but the main attraction are for sure the shark tank with a lot of eagle rays and of course many different sharks. The underwater mermaid shows are the highlight for the kids, and the dive with the sharks is the right choice for dad. If you decide to visit this sight of Bangkok you and especially your kids will enjoy this attraction. After the visit at Siam Ocean World you can go shopping at the big shopping mall Siam Paragon, one of Thailand’s big luxury malls at Bangkok. The Aquarium is a nice option to forget the bad air and the busy roads of Bangkok. Take a stop here and dive into the deep ocean direct in the center of thease Southeast Asian capital without getting wet. Siam Ocean World are a good option for families to spent a great day here at this Asia metropole.
Sri Ayuttaya Guest House
This good address offer wooden simple rooms in the capital of Thailand. Here I check always in when I stay in Bangkok. The Sri Ayuttaya Guest House is in the heart of Thewet. The rooms were always clean when I checked in here. At this accommodation you have the choice between simple rooms with fan and share bathroom or a room with air-condition and own toilet. On the ground floor is a small restaurant with Farang and Western food for a good price. If this hostel fully booked you have the choice to check in the Tavee Guest House just behind the Sri Ayuttaya. Both Hostels are owned by the same friendly family. From the hostel it’s just a 5 minutes walk over the Thewet Flower Market to the river Express Boats witch connect you with many sights and central Bangkok. The backpacker street Khoa San Road is about 1 km away and offer many options to go out at night. The booking office on the reception offer Bus, Train and Plane tickets to many destinations worldwide. For small money you can leave your heavy things here while you traveling. Next door there is a Massage studio and an Internet Café. Just opposite is a 7eleven supermarket witch offer everything what you need on your Thailand traveling tour. If you have any more questions look in your Thailand Lonely Planet or ask the friendly staff on the reception in one of southeast Asia best guest houses. I can recommend this small but good accommodation with a nice atmosphere to all travelers and backpackers who stay in this southeast Asian metropolis named Bangkok.
A room example at Sri Ayuttaya in BKK
More Bangkok accommodation
Click here for Hotels in Bangkok
Wat Pho
My first time in Bangkok was in 2006 when I did my Thailand travel-tour. Since then I spent allot time in this southeast Asian metropolis. Actually I don’t like the capital of Thailand because of the fumes and the mass of peoples who walk around. But when you live there is no way around to avoid BKK. For nearly every destination where I want to travel I have to go first to Ekkamai (the eastern bus terminal of Bangkok) to get a connection. It’s totally different than Koh Chang, the island of the Trad province where i’m living in the moment. In the biggest Thai city it’s hard to find a lonely place to relax, one option is the Lumpini Park in the center near to the Lumphini metro station on the Th Rama IV road. Since 06 Bkk have a new airport. The Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok is the new hub of southeast Asia.
Suvarnabhumi Airport
If you want to traveling Bangkok I can recommend the Lonely Planet Thailand for this trip. Here you find many Hotels, Resorts and guest houses for backpacker. I always go to the Sri Ayuttaya Guest House in the Thewet district. When this guest house is fully booked behind the Sri Ayuttaya is the Tavee Guesthouse Thewet which is ass well a good address to stay in Bangkok. Thewet is about 1km north of the traveler street Khao Sarn Road and offer nice and quiet Restaurants like the Khao Tha on the river. Here are many more options to stay. Many Bars, Massage studios and street shops dominate this street at Bangkoks Banglamphu quarter. The rooms at Sri Ayuttaya Guesthouse are clean and the staff helps for bookings and visas. From here it’s just a five minutes walk to the river express. This boots are the most comfortable way to travel in Bangkok. From the Central pier you have connections to the skytrain. The public transport in Bangkok have ass well a Metro with some stations in the center. From the sky train stations Sala Daeng, Mo Chit and Asoke you can switch to the metro.
The Skyline from Bangkok
On the river there breeze a “fresh” wind compared to the busy streets and you have a nice view to the temples in the capital of Thailand. There are three “must see” wat’s: the Wat Pho or Wat Po (contains the relying Buddha), Wat Arun and the Wat Phra Kaew witch homes the Emerald Buddha. This statue is the most important of the Kingdom of Thailand. The admission fee of about 2 USD for the Royal Grand Palace include the fee for the Wat Phra Kaew. Inside Wat Pho is a really famous university for Thai massage courses. All these temples are easy to reach by the river express boats, by a typical Tuk Tuk or by air condition Taxi, they are all perfect to do some nice temple pictures. If you choose the Taxi option ask before for a price or take care that the taxi driver took on the taximeter.
A Buddha Statue at Wat Po
The boats drive till around seven pm on the “Mae nahm Chao Phraya” river. If you are on Wat Po it’s not far to the for me most interesting district of Bangkok. From here it’s not far to Chinatown witch invite for shopping and catch some yummy street Thai food. A bit north from Chinatown near the Tha Saphan boat station you will see a beautiful bridge. The Rama 8th bridge you can watch from a riverside restaurant.
Sunset at the Rama bridge
The biggest shopping malls in Bkk you find at Siam station. Here you will find everything what you need for holiday or traveling. The shopping in Bangkok can be expansive at the biggest malls like: MBK, Siam square, Siam center, Siam discovery center, Emporium Shopping Center or the Pantip Plaza. If you looking for a cheap alternative you will be right at the Chatuchak Weekend market which open on Saturday and Sunday. On Khao San Road you find as well alot of shops with t-shirts, souvenirs and used Lonely Planet travel books for every countries in southeast Asia and nearly every Lonely Planet destination worldwide.
A flower in Bangkok
If you stay in Bangkok don’t miss a Ping Pong show at Patpong! It’s a funny but actually not sexy pussy show and couples are welcome. We paid 200 Thai Baht admission include one drink. If you don’t like entertainment like this there are many clubs, bars and good pubs in central bangkok and around Khao San. More sights of Bangkok are the Dusit Zoo, Lumphini Park, many cinemas, the aquarium where you can scuba diving with sharks, and and and… For more information contact your guesthouse, hotel or resort or just take a look into the travelbook. the Bangkok is a extreme city and i can recoment to stay here to all people who want to see something new, for shure the capital of Thailand offer something intersting for you. I don’t like but i don’t want to miss the visits in this city of extremes!
