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| One of many temple complexes sprinkled throughout Bangkok |
Most backpackers seem to treat Bangkok as an arrival and departure point and little more. A typical Bangkok tourist visit, will almost always include the Grand Palace. After this Kao San road, MBK mall in Siam Square, maybe Chatuchak weekend market or floating market and if travelling without kids, probably a walk around Chinatown and Patpong. 2 or 3 days tops. For repeat visitors, usually a direct flight to where they really want to be and you skip Bangkok altogether.
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| Old vs New. Immaculate vs decrepit. Give yourself time to explore. |
I used to do the same. Kind of like "well we are in Bangkok, might as well see somethings while we organize our travel to get out of here." But this attitude is a shame. When you go to France you look forward to Paris, and Bangkok should be viewed the same way, a great place to be. It has so much to offer and if you let it, it will blow you away.
Bangkok is an interesting city. It has 2 very contrasting sides. The one is the ultra modern side. Complete with Rapid transit trains, skyscrapers and very posh malls. A place where you rub elbows with the ultra rich. It is a multi cultural wonderland, with temptations in all flavors.
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| Ever been to the mall to buy a scarf and and have the urge to add a Maserati or Rolls Royce to your basket? Come shop at Paragon Mall in Bangkok and you can. |
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| Musical stairs in Siam Center mall |
But Bangkok has another side as well. Bangkok is a hot, humid, festering, urban sprawl of a city. Wherever you look there is evidence of the harshness of its climate as it constantly rots away the cement of its crumbling constructions. It is a city where you can be whisked into the future with its blasting aircon and musical touch screen stairs, or get lost in the past with its winding alleyways and narrow canals.
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| One of the many canals to lose yourself on in Bangkok. Just hop on a boat and you are off! |
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