Siam Square in Bangkok

Siam Square Bangkok

Over the last few years Siam Square has become the zenith of shopping experience in Bangkok. As the name suggests this is a square stretching out to Rama 1 Road, Chulalongkorn University grounds and Henri Dunant Road. It is packed with every variety of shop and predominantly caters to Bangkok’s young and beautiful. This is not a place for discount buys – the clothes and accessories here are likely to be full price, and you may be left wondering where these young people get their money from! Home to Bangkok’s addition to the Hard Rock Café franchise, Siam Square is also full of pubs, clubs (CM2 for one), hotels (such as the Novotel) and small cafes and fast-food outlets. Bangkok’s British Council is in Siam Square. This has a good library if you want to spend some quiet time. There’s also a couple of cinema’s playing the latest Hollywood blockbusters. To add to its convenience, the square is connected by walkways to surrounding shopping centres such as Mah Boon Krong (famous for sales of mobile telephones and related technologies). Siam Square is also famous for Centre Point – a meeting place for the young which offers music from live bands and a multitude of little cafes where you can buy your designer teas and coffees. A radio station pumps music out of loudspeakers at all hours during the day and evening. If you want to sit and watch TV, there’s a giant LCD screen right in the middle of the square! Although Centre Point is strictly for the young and trendy, Siam Square’s shopping experience is a must for everyone. Expect to spend at least half a day here. How to get there:  By far the quickest way to get to Siam Square is by BTS – Siam Square is the main interchange station. A taxi from the central Bangkok will cost 50-60 Baht depending on traffic. The following buses will get you there: Bus number: 15, 16, 21, 25, 29, 34, 36, 40, 45, 47, 48, 54, 73, 79, 113, 20, Air-conditioned bus number: 1, 2, 8, 28 CR.http://www.discoverythailand.com/Bangkok_Siam_Square.asp

Sanam Luang in Bangkok

Sanam Luang Bangkok

Sometimes known as the ‘Royal Park’ or ‘Royal Field’, Sanam Luang is right in the centre of the Rattanakosin (‘Old City’) part of Bangkok. A large oval-shaped park, Sanam Luang has a number of royal connections and is where the King appears during his annual 5 December birthday celebrations. Royal cremations are also held here and it is also the venue for the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony. From February to May you can see Kite Flying at the park. There are often competitions for the most ornate and most beautiful kites. It’s very interesting to walk around Sanam Luang in the early evening – you can see fortune tellers (‘Mor Doo’), people selling a variety of wares, and even masseurs offering traditional massage in the open! Details: Sanam Luang is right in the centre of Bangkok’s main tourist attractions and you can see many of them from the park. It is about 15 minutes walk to Khao San Road from the park. How to get there: There are no BTS or MRT stations in this area. Probably the fastest way to get there is Express Boat stopping at Banglampoo Pier. The following buses will get you there: Bus number: 3, 15, 30, 32, 43, 44, 59, 64, 70, 80, 123, 201 Air-conditioned bus number: 6, 7, 12, 39, 44 Cr.http://www.discoverythailand.com/Bangkok_Sanam_Luang.asp

Patpong in Bangkok

Patpong Bangkok

Patpong is a main nightlife attraction in Bangkok for tourists. The area is the street that connects Silom Road and Surawong Road. Along the street are shops, go-go bars and clubs. Patpong is famous for sex shows and a tourist-centric night market. A busy night market aimed at tourists is also located in Patpong. The street stalls alongside the road offer just about everything you want – a good place to pick up gifts for people back home. How to get there: The nearest BTS Station is Saladaeng and the nearest MRT station is Silom. From both Saladaeng and Silom you need to walk down Silom Road away from Lumpini Park. When you see a McDonald’s on your left, Patpong is on your right. Cr.http://www.discoverythailand.com/Bangkok_Patpong.asp

Safari World in Bangkok

Safari World Bangkok

Located in Min Buri, just north of Bangkok, Safari World is an 800,000 square metre complex comprising a Safari Park and a Marine Park. The drive-though Safari Park is inhabited by a range of African and Asian animals living in a natural habitat on show to visitors. The Marine Park offers visitors regular dolphin and seal performances that are extremely entertaining for children. This is an all day event – it’s out of Bangkok so however you decide to get there, it’s going to take you a while. There’s also a lot for children to see and do so don’t expect to get off lightly – the kids will drag you round this place all day! Details: Safari World is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00. Admission for an adult (Thai) is 530 Baht and 380 Baht for a child. Admission for an adult (Foreigner) is 900 Baht and 600 Baht for a child. How to get there: Given the distance involved, and that fact that you are probably taking a child, a taxi is recommended. Although expensive, the savings in convenience entirely outweigh the cost.  However, if you are adamant, a number 26 bus from Victory Monument will take you to Kilometre 9 of Ram Indra Road. From there you can take a mini-bus service to Safari World. Contact: Safari World 99 Ram Inthra 1 Road Kilometer 9, Minburi District Bangkok, 10510 Thailand Tel: 0-2914-4100-19; 0-2518-1000-19 Email: info@safariworld.com Website: www.safariworld.com Safari World boasts both Asia's largest open-air zoo and whale-and-dolphin show. Children will find the Safari World to be a fun and exciting place as it offers many animal shows. Orangutans, birds, sea lions, and elephants also perform tricks. Central to Safari World is a slow car cruise through Savanna populated by lions, tigers, giraffes, rhinoceros, zebras, cheetahs, and ostriches. Safari World is located on Ramintra Road, Km.9, Min Buri, Bangkok For more info please call 0-2518-1000 Cr.http://www.discoverythailand.com/Bangkok_Safari_World.asp

The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok

The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew Bangkok

The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew really are places you must visit while you are in Bangkok. Both have considerable historical significance and are extremely beautiful places to see. The Grand Palace was built in 1782 by King Rama I who established Bangkok as Thailand’s new capital. The palace was to be bigger and grander than palaces built in the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya eras to underscore the significance of the change of capital. The result was a palace of jewels and gold and splendor like never seen before in Thailand. The Grand Palace remained the Royal Family’s official residence from 1782 to 1946. The last king to live there was King Chulalongkorn. Wat Pra Kaew was built to house the Emerald Buddha which was returned to Thailand after Thailand’s the capture of Vientiane in 1778. The Emerald Buddha is the most important representation of the Buddha in Thai Buddhism. To pray before the Emerald Buddha is to make merit, and although this is an important place on any visitor’s itinerary, it is important to recognise that this is a place of worship and should be respected as such. You must dress appropriately before guards will permit you to enter the Palace. If you do not have long sleeved shirts/blouses or long trousers or dresses/skirts with you, it is possible to hire cloth at the gates of the Palace. This cloth can be wrapped around you and worn as a 'Sarong' or across your shoulders. Under no circumstances must you point your feet at the Emerald Buddha – to do so is sacrilege. If you can not cross you legs, avoid sitting down. If you do point your feet at the Buddha image, you could be ejected. Photography inside the Emerald Buddha Chapel is strictly forbidden. This is not just a requirement of the chapel; taking pictures of Buddha images is against the law. Details: Admission fee is 400 Baht. The fee also includes tickets to the Coin Pavillion, Vimanmek Mansion and Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall, all of which are worth seeing in their own right. The site is open 08:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 01:00 p.m. - 03:30 p.m. Tel: +66 2224 3328, +66 2226 0255 Fax: +66 2225 9158 How to get there: The Grand Palace and Wat Pra Kaew are in the Banglamphu area of Bangkok – the ‘Old City’. You can take a taxi or Tuk Tuk. The following buses will get you there: Bus Number: 1, 35, 44,47, 123, 201 Air-conditioned Bus Number: 2, 3, 7, 8, 12, 25, 39, 44, 82

Muay Thai in Thailand

Muay Thai Fight Bangkok

Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) is a true martial art. If you love boxing and fighting, an experience to see a real fight in the stadium will make up your trip in Bangkok. The leading Muay Thai stadiums and the biggest fights are in Bangkok. Bangkok’s two leading Muay Thai stadiums are Lumpini Stadium and Ratchadamnoen Stadium. Lumpini Stadium Fights at Lumpini are regarded as being slightly better than those at Ratchadamnoen, although for the novice it would be extremely difficult to tell the difference. It is also probably the more famous of the two stadiums. The stadium opened in 1956 to promote Thai boxing both in Thailand and abroad. Many non-Thai fighters compete here, and as the interest in the sport continues to explode, the stadium these days has much more of an international feel about it. It is one of the few places in Thailand where betting is permitted. Details: Tickets are priced from 500 Baht to 1,500 Baht depending on the fight, the fighters, and whether you sit ringside. Fights take place Tuesday and Friday from 06:30 p.m., Saturday afternoons 05:00 p.m. - 08:00 p.m., and Saturday nights from 08:30 p.m. Address: Lumpini Stadium Rama IV Road, Bangkok Tel: +66 2252 8765, +66 2251 4303, +66 2253 7702, +66 2253 7940 How to get there: The nearest BTS to Lumpini Stadium is Sala Daeng station and the nearest MRT is Lumpini station. From both it will cost around 50 Baht to get a taxi down Rama IV Road to the stadium. Ratchadamnoen Stadium In 1941 Ratchadamnoen became the first Muay Thai stadium in Bangkok, although construction of the site was not completed until after the Second World War (the first match taking place in 1945). The rules and regulations used in the modern sport were established at this stadium. Like Lumpini, Ratchadamnoen stadium now sees a lot of western fighters involved in the sport and westerners consistently make up reasonable numbers in the audience. Details: Ratchadamnoen Stadium is open Monday and Wednesday at 06:00 p.m., Thursday at 05:00 p.m. and 09:00 p.m., and Sunday at 04:00 p.m. and 08:00 p.m. Admission is 1,000 Baht to 2,000 Baht depending on the fight, the fighters, and whether you sit ringside. Tel: +66 2281 4205, +66 2280 1084 How to get there: Ratchadamnoen Stadium is on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue. The most convenient way to get there is to use Tuk Tuk or Taxi. Cr.http://www.discoverythailand.com/

Bangkok in Central Thailand 2014

For many, Bangkok, Thailand is the ultimate travel destination. A heady blend of modernity and tradition, Bangkok has something to offer everyone. Modern Bangkok is a large, bustling city of some 6 million people. The capital of Thailand, it is the administrative centre and the heart of the country. It is a city where skyscrapers and modern buildings jostle for space against the Bangkok skyline. It is also very much a city of entertainment and fun. Above all, Bangkok is a city of extremes.

Despite its modern trappings, Bangkok is firmly embedded in tradition. All aspects of Thai culture are revered here, as they are in any rural or less urban part of the country. Rituals are carried out on a daily basis. Like elsewhere in the country, Monks accept their daily alms and people of all ages pray and make merit at one of countless temples. In Bangkok you can at one moment be in the 21st century, the next walking through antiquity.

Thailand’s capital has everything the modern traveller enjoys. The city has a wide range of world-class accommodation, from ‘6-star’ hotels, to moderately priced guesthouses for those on a more limited budget. Bangkok also offers some of the best food on the planet – authentic Thai cuisine alongside the very best dishes from almost every part of the world. Of course, Bangkok’s nightlife is legendary and offers an unparalleled range of entertainment - bars and go-go, shows, concerts, and cinema – almost everything you could possibly want is available here.

As Thailand is a regional hub, Bangkok has become one of the most important cities in the region. As with the rest of the country, banking services are efficient and reliable, and telecommunications services are equally good. An international standard telephone network and high speed Internet facilities help you keep in touch, whether you are here on holiday or in Bangkok on business. With the introduction of the BTS ‘Sky Train’ elevated railway (and the more recent introduction of the MRT ‘Subway’ underground railway) alongside development of expressways and elevated toll ways, travelling around Bangkok is now as convenient as travelling in any major city.

Bangkok is not just a city to visit briefly on your way to somewhere else. It is a place so rich in experience you will want to visit it time and time again. To help you get the most out of your trip to Bangkok, ThailTravelInfo gives you the information you need to have the best time you can!

Cr.http://www.discoverythailand.com/bangkok.asp