Thailand - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 723

as the best and most comfortable in the city; also has a
dental department ( T 02 667 2300).
Immigration o ce North of the centre off Th Wiphawadi
Rangsit at Floor 2, B Building, Government Complex, Soi 7,
Th Chaengwattana (Mon-Fri 8.30am-noon & 1-4.30pm;
T 02 141 9889, W bangkok.immigration.go.th). Be very
wary of any Khao San tour agents who offer to organize a
visa extension for you: some are reportedly faking the
relevant stamps.
Internet There's a whole host of internet cafés dotted
all around Bangkok, especially on Th Khao San. Expect to
pay B30-40 an hour. To surf in style, head for True , housed
in an early twentieth-century villa in a courtyard off the
western end of Th Khao San, where you can also sip coffee
(daily 9.30am-8pm).
Laundry Nearly all guesthouses offer a one-day turnaround
laundry service for around B40/kg (including ironing).
Left luggage At Suvarnabhumi Airport (B100/day);
Don Muang Airport (B75/day); Hualamphong Station
(B30-100/day); the bus terminals, and at most hotels and
guesthouses.
Pharmacies There are English-speaking staff at most
pharmacies, including the citywide branches of Boots
the Chemist (most usefully on Th Khao San and in the
Mah Boon Krong Centre on Th Rama I), which are also the
easiest places to buy tampons.
Post o ce The GPO is at 1160 Th Charoen Krung, a few
hundred metres left of the exit for Wat Muang Kae express-
boat pier.
Telephones SIM cards can be bought at all 7-Elevens,
starting from around B100 for connection and credit. Inter-
national cardphones are dotted all over the city. Skype, with
headphones, is widely available at internet cafés.
Travel agents Banglamphu is a notorious centre of fly-by-
night operations, some of which have indeed been known
to flee with travellers' money overnight. Try Lampoo Travel,
Viengtai Hotel , 42 Th Rambuttri ( T 02 281 9303), or Olavi
Travel, opposite the west end of Th Khao San at 53 Th
Chakrabongse ( T 02 629 4710, W olavi.com). Recommended
agents elsewhere in the city include: New Road Guesthouse
(see p.722); and STA Travel, 14th Floor, Wall Street Tower,
33/70 Th Suriwong ( T 02 236 0262, W statravel.co.th), the
Bangkok branch of the worldwide travel agent.

Bangkok, is a great way to explore
hailand's history and architecture. here
are 116 immaculately reproduced or
restored traditional hai buildings dotted
around the hailand-shaped 320 acres of
landscaped grounds, ranging from a copy
of the Grand Palace and a reconstruction
of the lost palace of Ayutthaya to a rare
and original scripture library from Samut
Songkhram. he best way to do the site
justice is to rent a bike (B50).

10

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
To get here, take (a/c) bus #511 from Banglamphu or
Th Sukhumvit to Samut Prakan on the edge of Greater
Bangkok (about 1hr 30min), then change onto songthaew
(pick-up) #36 for Muang Boran.

Damnoen Saduak floating markets
To get an idea of what shopping in
Bangkok used to be like before all the
canals were tarmacked over, many people
take an early-morning trip to the floating
markets of Damnoen Saduak (daily
6-11am), 109km southwest. Vineyards
and orchards back onto a labyrinth of
narrow canals thick with paddle boats,
and floating farmers in traditional dress
sell fresh fruit and vegetables as well as
touristy souvenirs. It's picturesque but
feels increasingly manufactured; there
are hordes of tour groups and some
visitors have complained of seeing more
tourists than vendors. he target for most
groups is the main Talat Khlong Ton Kem ,
2km west of the tiny town centre at the
intersection of Khlong Damnoen Saduak
and Khlong hong Lang. However,
Talat Khlong Hia Kui (a little further south
down Khlong hong Lang) should be a
little less crowded. Touts congregate at
the Ton Kem pier to sell boat trips
(hourly rates from B300/person) or you
can explore on foot along the canalside
walkways and bridges.

DAY TRIPS FROM BANGKOK
here are a few day-trips out of Bangkok
that provide a happy respite from the
smog and mayhem.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By bus To make a trip worthwhile you'll need to catch an
early bus from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal (every
30min from 5am; 2hr). Frequent yellow songthaews will
carry you the 2km to Ton Kem.
On an organized tour Nearly all Bangkok travel agents
(see above) run half-day tours to Damnoen Saduak,
usually leaving at 7am (B350, B150 extra for a boat ride).

Muang Boran Ancient City
A day-trip out to the Muang Boran
Ancient City open-air museum (daily
8am-5pm; B500), 33km southeast of