Bangkok for Beginners

It had always been a dream of mine to visit the islands of southern Thailand, and I was so happy that I was finally able to do so a couple of weeks ago.

I traveled to the south of Thailand with a friend who had to be back after two weeks because of a commitment. I decided to stay on for another couple of weeks and leisurely travel north, eventually heading home from Bangkok.

After a long bus ride, I arrived in Bangkok in the early morning hours. I took a bus rather than fly because I had the time and I wanted to see more of the countryside. This mode of travel may not be for everyone as there was not that much to see travelling through largely undeveloped areas and it was at night.

To be honest, the hustle and bustle of Bangkok was a bit of a jolt to my system after the comparative tranquility of the very touristy towns of Krabi, Phuket and the Phi Phi Islands and must admit to wondering why I had left.

It was September and the heat reflecting off the pavements was almost unbearable. As soon as I stepped out of the hotel, I was covered in a balmy full-body sweat. There were no ocean breezes here, and I found myself often exhausted and dehydrated.

Here are several tricks and tips for travelers:

The Grand Palace

The Grand Palace is easy to get to and really not to be missed. You could walk around here for hours marveling at the splendor and the architecture. Built in 1782, the Grand Palace is the most popular tourist attraction in Bangkok. It is a walled city within a city and consists of glittering mosaics, elaborate buildings and temples.

One of the highlights was the Emerald Buddha, a carving of green stone dating back centuries, perched high in Wat Phra Kaew. Bangkok has hundreds of temples and amazing sights around every corner. This was my favorite.

Bangkok Old Town

My hotel was in the Old Town, and I spent many happy hours wandering the streets and buying food at the night market around Khao San Road. As a solo traveler, it was a great place to rest and people-watch. There are many bars and restaurants lining the street, but don’t forget the street vendors selling everything from Thai pancakes to Pad Thai for under $3.

The market really comes to life at night and is a magnet for young tourists. It can get quite loud, with music blaring from the clubs. I enjoyed it earlier in the evening especially when I brought food treats to enjoy in the quiet of my hotel room after a long day of sightseeing.

ICONSIAM

If you like malls, ICONSIAM is not to be missed. It’s a huge, bright mall with the most amazing food court and market at the base, selling all sorts of delicious foods and drinks at a very reasonable price.

I arrived there by ferry from the Old Town pier and was amazed to pay under $1 for the ride. Be careful because the last boat back was unexpectedly early at 5:00 p.m. which I almost missed because I forgot to check on the way in.

The top of the mall has one of the best night views in the whole of Bangkok. You can have a cup of coffee at Starbucks or walk out onto the terrace and spend some quiet time surveying the city.

If you love to shop, there are the usual high-end brands as well as some wonderful eateries and specialty stores. You can easily spend a whole day here wandering around in the air conditioning.

Chinatown

I changed hotels to Chinatown from the Old Town after about three days as I thought it would be a good base for wandering around. Chinatown was hot, noisy and congested, and I found that the food sold there was more “authentic” than I was used to. Think bird’s nest and shark fin soup which, adventurous as I like to think I am, was not for me.

I wandered the busy streets, but the combination of cooking smells and exhaust fumes made me a little nauseous. That’s when I realized that I was getting sick and spent most of my time recovering in my hotel room or foraging the streets for broth and white rice.

If you want an authentic experience, Chinatown is not to be missed. However, for me, I found it much too congested and moved again after two days, this time to the quiet coastal city of Ao Nang.

Tuk-Tuks (Scooter Taxis)

Tuk-tuks are a fun way to travel short distances around the city and are perfect for getting from one attraction to the next. Make sure you tell the driver exactly where you are going and, if possible, show them a screenshot of the address in Thai. Use an app to get an idea of the approximate price and then ask the driver exactly how much the ride will cost before you get in. They will sometimes try to change the price once you arrive. The prices can also be negotiated. If they are firm, smile politely and try someone else. Haggling is expected.

Also note that they will often try to engage you in conversation about your plans in order to sell you some kind of excursion. Once, a driver even took me to an excursion office to try to get me to book a daylong trip outside the city.

Grab Taxi

This is an invaluable service and was often cheaper than a tuk-tuk. Grab taxis were usually only a few minutes away and often cost just a dollar or two.

They are invaluable when the heat gets to you and you just can’t walk another step. The app tells you how long the ride should take and how much it will cost.

Grab was also great for airport and railway station trips, as it was much cheaper than the car service that hotels usually organize for you.

Overall, my time in Bangkok was very positive. Next time I go there, I will go north and explore the City of Chiang Mai.

In future articles, I will write about where to go in the South of Thailand to see some of the most beautiful scenery you can imagine.

Let’s Talk:

Have you researched Bangkok as a possible travel destination? How adventurous are you in terms of exploring the streets and trying local food? What are your best – and worst! – experiences! Do share!