A Bangkok City Trip
Bangkok - Urban Metropolis or Cultural Centre?
There are a lot of conflicting accounts online describing Bangkok. Some describe it as a cosmopolitan metropolis, others as a city set firmly in local traditions. Somehow, it feels as though both of those descriptions are accurate, no matter how contradictory they may seem.
We had heard a lot about Bangkok. However, we found it hard to imagine exactly how this city would look. Of course, we had seen pictures of the temples in travel guides, but to experience it in real life was very different. Bangkok is an incredibly charming place. In this post, we would love to share some of our experiences in the city with you!
Touch Down in Bangkok
It was already November, and utterly freezing in Germany. The Christmas markets had started and the icy chill had well and truly arrived. Therefore, our first task upon arrival into Bangkok was an outfit change. In all honesty, this was such a novel experience, slipping on some shorts, sun cream and a T-shirt just to leave the airport in flipping November!
The airport in Bangkok is very busy and we had to wait for quite a long time to get through border control. We grabbed our sim cards and headed out into the city on the Airport rail link. The airport rail link was a pretty nifty service and got us into Phaya Thai Station relatively quickly, with just a few stops. Public transport in Bangkok is very reliable and clean.
Bangkok City Centre... Here We Come!
Upon our arrival in the big city, we decided we could walk to our hotel despite the heat. Okay, on reflection maybe we didn’t have to do this. However, we got an excellent overview of where we were staying, and we spotted some street food stalls on the way. Next time, we would probably take this exploration without the bags and jet lag. Finally arriving at the hotel, we took a quick nap in the nice air-conditioned room and had a dip in the pool before we headed out into the busy streets for an evening stroll. We were on the hunt for some of that world-famous street food.
We had done some research on this beforehand and intended to head out to Pad Thai Thip Samai. After researching, we saw many different travel articles listed this as the best Pad Thai in Bangkok.
However, when we arrived there and saw the length of the queue, we quickly decided to keep walking around. We tried to find somewhere else nearby. Just on the corner of the same road, we found a lovely little stall called Tee Yentafo.
Although we didn’t eat that world-famous Pad Thai that evening, we did eat some delicious homemade soups, infused with lemongrass. This showed us that, even without the internet, it is easy to find amazing food in Bangkok. The food and hospitality we received gave us a warm welcome to this amazing city.
An Unexpected Delight
After the first of many delicious meals in Bangkok, we decided to take a wander through the side streets around where we had eaten.
We simply strolled around the area taking in the evening. The vibe and overall feeling of this part of the city were just perfect.
Locals were coming to do some exercise in the park now that the sun had set and the heat of the day had eased. A few tourists were milling around seeking out some tasty food, and there was us. We continued to wander until we stumbled across one of the most beautiful temples we had ever seen. We had managed to absentmindedly navigate ourselves to this wonderful temple, called Wat Suthat Thepwararam.
The Wat Suthat Thepwararam was holding a service when we first arrived. Not wanting to interrupt, we had a quick peek through the open gate and went to walk away.
Almost immediately, a local woman came to us. She told us that the service had just finished and that we could have a look around. This was our first glimpse at a Buddhist temple and we were completely in awe of what we saw in front of us. The architecture and ornate designs of this temple were truly a sight to behold. Later, we learned that the ashes of Rama VIII are kept at this beautiful temple.
The feeling of entering such a beautifully maintained place at such short notice was amazing. Our bare feet touching the floor, we could almost feel the importance of this place.
A Visit to Wat Pho
The next morning we awoke relatively early and, driven by the marvel at the temple we had witnessed the night before, we made our way over to Wat Pho.
Nervously jumping into our first taxi in Bangkok, we explained to the driver where we wanted to visit. After a few minutes of confusion and tricky translation, he eventually understood us and drove us through the busy streets of Bangkok. The taxi ride took about 40 minutes to cover a distance of about 8 kilometres, the traffic in Bangkok is insane. We watched in amazement from the window at the complicated and seemingly very chaotic traffic system.
Arriving at this temple nice and early allowed us to skip any crowds. We walked straight in and saw the reclining Buddha in all its glory! After this, we had a beautiful couple of hours exploring the stunning grounds of this temple and gazing at historic artefacts before the crowds arrived.
The grounds of this temple are truly magnificent. We spent a long time wandering around, watching the ongoing restoration work. The statues and figures alone are worth a visit. You will be amazed by the intricacy of the designs of the structures and gardens.
Best of the Boat Noodle
Following our visit to Wat Pho, we grabbed some delicious street food at the Victory Monument Station. After popping into a few smaller market stalls, we found quite literally the fastest food we had ever seen. This place was full of local people, so we decided it must be good!
The stall with the name ‘Best of Boat Noodle‘ served tasty noodles, served by waiters running from table to table beckoned by a demanding manager with a megaphone. The atmosphere in this stall was buzzing.
The staff were very friendly and clearly recognised some semi-lost, very hungry tourists when they saw us. They got us sitting down and ordering several delicious small bowls with noodles of all different flavours. It was all delivered at rocket speed. In all honesty, we don’t know for sure what was in those noodles… definitely some… fish… but they were super tasty and made a great lunch!
Smile and Wave Boys... Smile and Wave
We then relaxed back at our hotel for a while and had a quick dip in the pool. The pool at the hotel was on a terrace on the 7th floor. It was so amazing to swim and look over the busy city below at the same time. Although, and this is a big one. Many of the hotels in Bangkok have a lot of important business clients staying in them…
We had just had the most refreshing dip in the pool and we felt relaxed! We grabbed our towels and clothes, and soaking wet and still wearing swimwear, we headed back into the hotel. Walking to the elevator, we walked past the glass (highly transparent) walls of the conference room, where a seemingly highly important business conference was taking place. Ah yes, hello ladies and gentlemen, carry on, don’t mind us…
Wat Arun
After drying off, we pushed that “slight” faux pas to the back of our minds, and we stepped outside again. This time, we headed to the small ferry port on Thai Wang Alley, where we caught a boat over to Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn.
The boat trip itself was very busy but short and sweet. Crossing the choppy river and seeing the metropolis of the Bangkok skyline contrasting sharply with the traditional Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun was a spectacle in itself. We were lucky enough to arrive there just in time to watch the sun setting down over this beautiful temple. The sunset over Wat Arun, which holds such a cultural significance, was a powerful sight.
The temple area was immaculate, despite the number of tourists and local people who had gathered here to witness the beauty of this sunset. There was a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere.
Becoming Part of the Bangkok Skyline
After such a lovely day, we found ourselves in very high spirits. What better way to celebrate an amazing start to our city trip than some cocktails at a stylish sky-bar overlooking the city.
We travelled over to a sky bar called Above Eleven.
It was there that we sat and talked over our initial experiences in this city. We were most surprised by the sheer size of this incredible city. Bangkok has more skyscrapers in an 800m area than we have seen in the whole of Germany.
We walked home and, after a few cocktails, we were pretty hungry. On the way home, we grabbed some Pad Thai from a local street vendor. We absolutely loved the fact that you can grab a Pad Thai on the way home from a night out, made freshly, right in front of you- awesome!
The Khao San Road
When you mention Bangkok’s nightlife, it is impossible to skip the infamous Khao San Road. How to find the words to describe this place…
The Khao San Road has been described by many as the centre of the backpacker universe. It is certainly true that backpackers of all ages and nationalities seem to congregate here for a good time.
Walking down the street itself in the evening is quite the assault on the senses. Street vendors are selling food, from green curry to cockroaches on a skewer, and just about everything in between!
The vibrant bars pump their loud music and positive energy out into the street to tempt in eager passers-by. Bright neon lights reminding you of the various deals on drinks, tattoos and many many other things that you can acquire on this road.
Sitting and having a few beers in a bar on the Khao San road, it is impossible to not feel the party vibe which this road projects. This place is noisy, but it’s 100% worth a one-off visit. BBQ crocodile anyone?
The Great Flower Markets of Bangkok
A few days past in Bangkok. We had seen so much and tasted so many amazing flavours. Yet there was still so much more to discover! We decided to take ourselves off towards China Town. We had read a lot about the China town in Bangkok and we were eager to find it. However, on the way over to China Town, we became very distracted by something amazing.
Whilst strolling, admittedly a little lost, down a seemingly busy street, we entered this huge warehouse. This space was being used as a market stall, selling almost exclusively flowers, in all manner of vibrant colours. Interestingly, our visit to Bangkok coincided with the birthday of the late King. This meant that the city was honouring his memory with wonderful vibrant yellows on their clothes, fireworks in the Sanam Luang park and through the display of beautiful yellow flowers.
The sheer scale of this wonderful flower market was deeply impressive. It was a very special sight to see these exquisite flowers being prepared and displayed.
Our Eventual Arrival in Bangkok's China Town
We seemed to have been walking for a long time. Although we had been incredibly impressed by the beauty of the flower market, but now we were very hungry! We set out to find somewhere to eat in China Town, hoping to find some of the culinary treats we had read so much about. The brightest and loudest road in China town seemed like the best place to start.
We were rather mistaken. The first thirty minutes were spent peaking into seemingly average, very touristy looking restaurants with very high prices. We decided to walk down some of the tight alleyways.
It was there that was found a real hidden gem. This place served the most delicious food. We had the good fortune to meet a Malaysian lady who had been living in Bangkok for some time. She could understand the menu. She translated for us and gave us some incredible recommendations. This stall seemed very basic at first glance but the food and hospitality of the owners were second to none.
We later realised that the reason we couldn’t seem to find any of the amazing street food we had read so much about in China Town, was that we had walked down there on a Monday. Most of these marvellous street vendors stay home on Mondays. However, despite our mistake, we had some incredible food and conversation with people we would have otherwise never come into contact with. This was a lovely evening.
Venice of the East
Bangkok has come to be known as the Venice of the East as a result of the extensive canal system. Eager to see a bit more of this legendary canal system, we decided to hire a long tail boat and we were shown the system by the local guide.
The canal system is still relied upon for industry. It is not a romantic spectacle as it is so often pictured. It does, however, provide an excellent view of everyday life in Bangkok. We saw fishermen collecting fish and ships transporting goods.
We sailed back onto the choppy Chao Phraya river that runs through the centre of Bangkok. It was very apparent that the river current was much more fierce than that of the canals. Our fragile long boat creaked and groaned under the strength of this current. It is fair to say we were more than a little bit nervous about these sounds!
However, looking up from the struggling edges of the boat, we were lucky enough to witness yet another wonderful sunset over Bangkok. We sat in this rickety boat, watching the sun come down over this magnificent city. Beautiful. There aren’t many of these moments in life.
Final Thoughts of Bangkok
Overall, we were utterly charmed by Bangkok. The main tourist attractions are, of course, fascinating, but we were equally impressed with the everyday side of the city. We loved the flower markets, street food and the positive mentality of the local people we encountered. Bangkok is a wonderful city, full of colour and contrast. We truly enjoyed our remarkable time in this great metropolis.
