BANGKOK - Things To Do

Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (with the Emerald Buddha, most revered in Thailand) – Beautiful temples, palace buildings, and Buddhas. Go in the morning to beat the crowds and the heat. Wear ankle length pants or skirt and a long sleeved shirt or they will ask you to change clothes.

They provide appropriate clothing to borrow, but this means standing in line, which eats into your time. If you’re too hot to wear pants all day, take an ankle length sarong to wear there. The ticket also includes entry to Vimanmek Teakwood Palace, a huge gorgeous former royal residence in a different location to the Grand Palace and well worth visiting.
 

Chao Praya River – take a break from the bustle and heat and see Bangkok from the river boats. There are many options, from local ferry service to tour boats to private longtail hires to dinner cruises. Several large hotels line the river. They run their own handsome wooden boats from the dock near the BTS (skytrain) station at Saphan Taksin (the end of the line next to the river) to the hotel. At night, have a drink or dinner at one of these hotels and gaze at the boats with pretty lights as they skim along darkness of the river.

Afternoon tea at The Oriental Hotel – The Oriental is the original grande dame of the majestic old hotels. With a tea service worthy of a fine English manor, one can bask in the elegant atmosphere while imagining the adventures of the renowned people who stayed here in the last century.

Choose from one of several high-ceiling rooms, with bright natural light, sumptuous fresh flowers, and historic photographs of the Thai royal family. The tea menu offers a large selection of teas and excellent coffee as well. The full tea comes on a triple-decker tray filled with amazing cakes, scones and sandwiches.

Shopping Malls – There are a plethora of them in <city st="on"><place st="on" />Bangkok, and they all seem busy. Siam Emporium is one of the fanciest, with many upscale chain stores. The more casual MBK has large and small shops carrying everything from cell phones to luggage to allegedly brand name jeans. All have food courts where you can find a variety of food at reasonable prices. </city>

Also all have good coffee shops and restaurants. The movie theatres are ultra-comfortable and hyper air-conditioned (bring a sweater). Stand at the beginning when they pay tribute to the King with a short film that shows a lot of raindrops as background to photos of His Majesty. A Thai friend explains that the raindrops evoke fertile Thailand and the King’s concern with the environment and agriculture.

Chatuchak Weekend Market – take the BTS skytrain there and be prepared for sensory overload! A warren of stalls covers a huge area. Good shopping for anything from clothing to home decor to fuzzy dogs. Everything is open-air; go in the early morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the heat. Bargaining expected. Watch out for pickpockets. Fun but exhausting too.

Arab quarter Sukhumvit soi 3 – This area has restaurants with good Middle Eastern food and shisha (tobacco water pipes). Muslims from all over the world come through this 2 block radius. For local Muslim culture, the Haroon area near the Chao Praya river is an old Thai Muslim neighborhood in the middle of bustling Bangkok.

Food - Thais love to eat and good food is available day and night from street vendors on up to five star restaurants. Be adventurous and enjoy the bounty of Thai cuisine and the international offerings too.

If you are really into Thai food exploration, find a local source who can tell you their picks. Street stalls may look humble but they can also serve some of the most delicious food, often specializing in just a few dishes. Locals will seek out their favourites with the dedication of a disciple following the guru.

Massage - Massage is widely available in Thailand, and at very reasonable prices. Like food stalls, you can find massage chairs set up streetside at weekly markets as well as in massage shops, spas and hotels.

Thai massage is somewhat like a yoga class where someone else manoeuvres your body into various positions. It involves plenty of limb stretching and muscle kneading. I like it a lot, though some find oil massage more relaxing. Try both!

Photo Credits: Thai girls by Sarah Edelstein; Thai crafts by "© Ron Sumners | Dreamstime.com;" Thai Massage by "© Vangelis | Dreamstime.com."