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Bangkok won't captivate you at first sight. In fact, 'you like it or you hate it'. And to sharpen the picture even more, Bangkok stinks, is polluted, dilapidated, noisy, cramped, chaotic and busy. Very busy even.
A human ant's nest where everyone is crawling around looking for a destination. A daily 'struggle for live'. Which almost literally applies to the many thousands of Thai people who have left home and hearth in the countryside to seek their fortune in the capital of Siam.
The indelible impression of Bangkok
But if you have recovered from the initial shock and are prepared to open up to a metropolis that is one of the most important and exotic cities in the East, you will also see a lot of special things. Because Bangkok is a mix of emotions that will stimulate all your senses. The smells, sounds, colors and the hectic pace will leave an indelible impression on you. Both positive and negative. But only when you have seen it yourself can you judge it. Are you in the occasion? Grab that chance! And stay for a few days, because you will first have to acclimatize to be able to contain it. You must see Bangkok, even if only once in your life!
Suvarnabhumi Airport
Arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport
If you fly directly from Amsterdam with KLM or EVA Air, you will arrive after about 11 hours at Suvarnabhumi Airport, about 30 kilometers east of Bangkok. The fastest way to reach the center of Bangkok is to take an official taxi (bus). A taxi ride to central Bangkok takes about 50 minutes (depending on traffic) and costs about 400 baht including toll road charges. If you want to spend less money, you can consider public transport.
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Sukhumvit Road: shops, hotels and nightlife
Sukhumvit road is a busy main road from East to West Bangkok and contains many side roads (Soi's). Although you will not find many tourist attractions, it is a huge collection of food stalls, trendy restaurants, shops, bars and luxury hotels. The extremes and contrasts where Thailand known for is found in this district. Exclusive hotels and chic shopping malls stand between budget hotels and market stalls.
Personally, I prefer to book a hotel near Sukhumvit Road, for the practical reason that you can quickly reach the Skytrain (BTS). Traffic in Bangkok is chaotic and dangerous (especially the moped taxis, don't start or you must be tired of life). A great alternative is the Skytrain. The Skytrain is a kind of subway, but above the ground. Fast, convenient, safe and cheap.
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Soi Nana and Soi Cowboy
A famous and also infamous side road of Sukhumvit Road is Soi Nana (Soi 4) and Soi Cowboy (Soi 23). You will find a concentration of GoGo bars and Beerbars at both Nana Entertainment Plaza and Soi Cowboy. Both Sois are popular with expats and sex tourists. Incidentally, there is no reason to avoid these Soi's, there are plenty of excellent hotels and it is a cozy place with many bars and other entertainment venues. It is just as safe as the rest of Bangkok for female tourists. The more experienced tourists in particular avoid Patpong and opt for Soi Nana for the great atmosphere and nightly entertainment.
What must you see in Bangkok?
There are plenty of travel guides, books and websites with information about attractions in Bangkok, so I won't bore you with that. In addition, the question “what is fun in Bangkok” has to do with taste and personal interests. If you do anything tips want? Here they come:
- The Chinese Quarter (Chinatown).
- Royal Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo.
- Siam Discovery Center and Siam Paragon (shopping).
- Cruise the Khlongs in a long-tail boat.
- Wat Pho, with the largest reclining Buddha in the world and famous for the massage school.
- Nightlife: Patpong, Nana Entertainment Plaza or Soi Cowboy.
- A day trip to the famous River Kwai.
- Cycling in Bangkok.
Let yourself be pampered
As you know, Thailand is dirt cheap by Western standards. Take advantage of that and let yourself be pampered. And I'm not talking about the scantily clad ladies in Patpong or Nana Plaza, but about a relaxed one Thai massage, beauty treatment, pedicure, manicure, Spa, hairdresser, etc. After a long day in bustling Bangkok, it is a blessing to have a foot massage to take. Your feet and lower legs are massaged for an hour and all fatigue disappears like snow in the sun. You are almost ashamed when you have to pay 200 baht afterwards (about 6 euros).
Koh Samet
seen Bangkok and then?
After a few days in Bangkok you would like some rest and perhaps also enjoy the sun, sea and beach or the beautiful nature. Well then you have plenty of choice. A few suggestions:
- Only 4 hours by bus and from Ban Phe by boat you will soon be on the beautiful island of Koh Samet, with white beaches and swaying palms.
- If you want to go all out and indulge in all kinds of excesses, you can reach Pattaya in 2,5 hours, famous for its extreme nightlife.
- Via a domestic flight you can go to Chang Mai in the north, Thailand's second city but much more authentic than Bangkok.
- You can also go south by plane: Phuket or Koh Samui are excellent options. Ideal for beach lovers. From Phuket you can go to the wonderful Phi Phi Island where the movie 'The Beach' with Leonardo di Caprio was shot.
- If you want to see the real non-touristy Thailand, visit for example Isaan. Take the bus from Bangkok in a northeasterly direction, after about 1½ hours by bus you will arrive in Saraburi. You won't see any tourists there and it's dirt cheap. Also visit the Buddhist temple Wat Phra Phutthabat (with a sacred footprint of Buddha). From Saraburi you can continue your journey in Isaan. You have to take into account that hardly anyone speaks English in that area, so it's make do.