Car Hire Bangkok

Mini guide to Bangkok

One of the world’s busiest cities offers a lot more than its reputation for traffic congestion, noise and sleaze. It is a lively Asian metropolis featuring everything from exquisite temples and excellent shopping, to go go bars and spicy noodle shops.

The Grand Palace and its environs are located in a bend of the Chao Praya river known as the Ratanakosan isle and serves as the city’s premier attraction. The public are permitted to visit the much revered Wat Phra Kaew, with its divinely worshipped Emerald Buddha. Adjacent is Wat Po, distinguished by its multiple chedis, giant reclining Buddha and traditional massage school. The highly recommended national museum, also located nearby, has a fantastic selection of Thai artifacts dating back 1000 years.

In the greater Banglamphu area its realistic to walk to the art deco democracy monument, backpacker-infested Khao San road (good shopping) and Wat Saket with it’s elevated fortifications. Alternatively you can hop on a water taxi and enjoy a fine view of the sunset-silhouetted chedis of Wat Arun, on the western bank.

A stroll through Chinatown and Pahurat gives a fascinating glimpse into their traditional urban lifestyle of this ethnic group.

Modern Bangkok is found in the Siam square area, typified by huge, air conditioned shopping malls, endless tuk tuk taxis, the occasional Elephant with its mahout, and pavement markets. Jim Thompson’s house is a popular attraction. The teak residence of this well-known silk trader has been beautifully preserved and includes many Siamese artifacts and antiques.

Lumphini park, one of the city’s few green areas, is a few blocks away. By night many flock to the nearby Silom area, either to enjoy its fake-good market or Patpong red light district. There are also endless restaurants serving spicy but delicious Thai food, and many choose to ignore the cliché’d sleaze to simply enjoy the atmosphere and friendly Thai hospitality. The Sukhumvit road area is also a tourist magnet.

Across the river in Thonburi are endless canals, and a ride on a long-tailed boat offers the best way to see how urban Thais really live, be it slums or expensive mansions. If you get up early enough you can catch the floating market.

Bangkok’s Don Muang International Airport is a busy Asian hub with flights to cities all over the world. Taxis into the city are cheap and plentiful and the airport has frequent regional connections. A new Airport, southeast of the city is planned to open in 2005.

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