Bangkok! This pulsating city with its throbbing sea of humanity is Asia’s most cosmopolitan cities. We have more than filled our 4-days here & have walked until we dropped. We have seen & experienced magnificent temples & palaces, taken the river boats on the canals, visited busy markets & have had a little glimpse of the vibrant nightlife. Spending a day or two does not do it justice, so here we are back to see the sights we didn’t have time for last year.
Although the city has two distinct areas, the old & new city, it is split into 50 districts. Our hotel is very central & we have also been using the skytrain to maneuver our way throughout the city.
Points of interest have included Jim Thompson House. This historically significant house, assembled from six traditional Thai-style houses, was built by the infamous CIA operative Jim Thompson who revived the Thai silk industry after World War II. It is beautifully maintained with stunning Thai artwork & jungle-like gardens.
What would a city be without a China Town! Cramped & crowded, the main thoroughfare is lined with towering neon signs, shops of every kind & description spilling out into the sidewalks. After dark is comes alive & has some of the best street food in Bangkok. Getting there was half the fun as we maneuvered our way through back lanes with ramshackle housing only to stumble upon beautiful temples.
The Grand Palace, former residence of the King, is not just a palace, but also includes Wat Phra Kaew, the most sacred temple of Thailand.
It feels like we have walked a thousand miles & have seen most of the sights that were on our list. Needless to say a visit to the biggest market in Bangkok, Chatuchak Weekend Market, an incredibly vast, 35-acre indoor and outdoor market with more than 8,000 vendors selling anything and everything under the sun. To put that number in perspective, if you browsed every stall one minute each, non-stop for eight hours on every Saturday and Sunday, it would take you around two months to visit them all!
We are headed to Kanchanaburi, about 2-3 hours west of Bangkok next.
NOTE: double click on the pictures to get the caption.
Great post! Keep them coming. Your pictures are fantastic.
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Super photos and nice commentary. Looks great. Enjoy the trip…..
Ah— good to hear from you! Brings back great memories! Wish we could meet you – we are just leaving the door for San Diego in an hour or so. Yours looks SO much more exciting! Looking forward to pictures from Kanchanaburi.
So happy to hear from you, love to travel this trip through your blog, thanks.
Hi Theresa,
Thanks for including me. Great pictures!
Lyndaâs daughter was in Bangkok since New Yearâs and just went back to Phuket.
Dave
Hi Dave – We are heading to Phuket on Feb. 10. I’ll be revisiting your post from your travels last year 😄 to get some ideas of what to do & see.
Beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing! Looks & sounds like you are having a “wanderful time”!
Looks amazing, what an adventure! I look forward to more….. 🙂
Wow, such gorgeous colour and sun!! I envy you both and hope you have a great time…thanks for sharing about your journeys.
Paddy
I love enjoying your adventures vicariously through your blog — love the colourful pix and your very interesting commentary.
Happy birthday Bob. Hope you have a great day celebrating your day!
Bonne Fête Bob! Wishing you to continue on your wonderful journey for ever.
Sounds wonderful and great pictures.
Enjoy
Karen Bright, Reg. CASLPO
Professional Practice Leader, Allied Health
Hotel Dieu Hospital
Kingston ON K7L 5G2
613 544-3400 ext., 3197
brightk@hdh.kari.net