Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
feeding them will only continue the cycle of mahouts mistreating the animals so please res-
ist to keep from supporting the practice.
Once you have found your accommodation head on down to Rattanakosin to see the Grand
Palace and Wat Pho. Since the grounds of the Grand Palace are so big it is worth spending
the afternoon there, you can easily pass half the day. Rattanakosin is often referred to as the
"Old City" and is a fun place to wander through. If you need a break from the heat you can
visit the National Museum and the Museum of Siam to learn about the history of Thailand.
The National Gallery is also a great spot to check out if you have the time.
Next stop is Thoburi, a quieter neighborhood on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River.
Since it used to be known as the Venice of the east it is well worth taking the time to search
through the waterways and see what treasures you find. From a canal tour you can ex-
plore Wat Arun. Another popular stop is Jim Thompson's house, an American businessman
whose house was made from combining seven Thai houses, quite the large museum of silk
weaving and art.
To find the best deals and the commercial centers of Bangkok look no further than Siam
Square, the mall shopper's paradise of Thailand. This is a prime place to shop until you
drop filled with western fashion at eastern prices. Many tourists like to buy suits while they
visit which you can find for a fraction of the price for the same threads elsewhere. However
you should carefully choose the shop to make sure that they use proper materials and are
experienced with the fittings so you get a worthwhile product. You can also check out the
MBK Center if you haven't had enough of big malls and on Wednesdays you can watch
some thai boxing or you can find a class and try it yourself. For more upscale areas check
out Sukhumvit Road that attracts expats and well-off locals to many hotels in the area.
Another fun pastime in Bangkok is people watching the other locals and foreigners. You
can spot the older male expats who are accompanied by a younger Thai woman and you'll
know why they came to Thailand. There are the other expats who are there for work,
dressedintheirlightlinenclothes andrushingtoandfro.Youwillalsospotanarrangement
of yuppies, bar girls and vagabonds with a few baht to their name. There are clubs and bars
in the city that cater to transexuals so you may see the "ladyboys" walking around during
the day and at night. For cooler days when you want to get out of the city you can go for
a bike ride in Bang Kachao, a safe destination to bike in. You can cycle past farms, paddy
fields and into the jungle.
Everyone eventually finds themselves at Khao San Road, once a hidden a backpacker
mecca years ago that has turned into a present day tourist attraction of its own. This is still
