Bangkok - Temples, Buddha’s and Markets invite you to the ‘Land of Smiles’
Bangkok photo credit- Swami Stream
Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand is considered to be one of the most exciting cities in Asia. This city which lies in the midst of a fertile delta and which has the Chao Praya River flowing through it is a overcrowded, chaotic metropolis whose busy streets are often blocked with grid locked traffic. In spite of all these aspects, Bangkok is a city that is extremely welcoming of tourists and this pulsating city which is filled with glitzy malls and many traditional markets is a favorite with young backpackers who often use it as a gateway to the other areas of Thailand.
Most people agree that the best time to travel to Bangkok is between the months of November to February when the weather in Bangkok is not oppressively and humid. No matter when you choose to go to Bangkok you have smorgasbord of vacation rental options available to you. If you thrive on the hustle and bustle of a big city, then you can choose to have your vacation rental bang in the heart of the city so that you can easily explore the city’s myriad attractions like the Floating Market, Grand Palace and the Temple of Reclining Buddha - Wat Pho.
Your vacation rental in the heart of Bangkok
Many visitors come to Bangkok or the ‘City of Angels’ as it is often called solely to indulge in their favorite past time of shopping. Bangkok is a fabulous locale for reasonable shopping and its retail landscape is dotted with several multi-storey malls like Ma Boon Krong, Siam Discovery, Emporium, Centralworld, the upscale Siam Paragon as well as animated markets like Indira Market and the weekend Chatuchak market all of which are easily accessible with Bangkok’s convenient elevated monorail system known as the Skytrain. If shopping is the main agenda for your visit to Bangkok, then you also have a choice of a vacation rental that is located at the end of Silom road which is a main commercial and shopping district of Bangkok and thus provides you with easy access to all the shopping delights of Bangkok.
Your vacation rental at Silom Road
No matter what your plan is for your vacation in Bangkok there is much to see and do in this exhilarating city which has many fascinating and interesting attractions like :-
The Royal Grand Palace
This ornate Thai palace dates back to the late eighteenth century. It consists of an elaborate network of smaller buildings the most famous of which are Wat Mahatat which is the Palace temple and the Wat Phra Keow which is the royal chapel which has within its folds the famous emerald Buddha which has been fashioned out a single piece of transluscent jade and is one of the most venerated statues of Buddha in the nation.
The Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho)
Located cheek by jowl to the Royal Grand Palace is Wat Pho which is Bangkok’s largest and oldest temple which contains more than a thousand statues of Buddha. Wat Pho is however famous for its Reclining Buddha. This resting Buddha is a spectacular sight as it measures 157 feet in length and is 49 feet in height .The body of the Buddha is plated in gold while the soles of its feet are inlaid with Mother of Pearl. Wat Pho was transformed into a center of learning by King Rama III and until today there is a working monastery located on its premises.
The magnificent Wat Po Buddha photo credit Photocatcher
Dannoen Saduak Floating Market
This floating market is unique to Bangkok whose rivers and waterways are teeming with life as they are populated with split houses which are located on these canals themselves and these constitute Bangkok’s famous floating villages. The floating market is filled with vendors who use paddle boats to transport and sell their wares like prepared foods and fresh produce to the residents of these villages and visitors to the market. This market which is located at an hour’s drive from Bangkok operates daily from 6 am until noon.
Jim Thompson House
This beautiful home which is adorned with many Thai antiques, oriental art and exquisite silk furnishings belonged to an American silk entrepreneur who was perhaps once the most well known westerner in South East Asia, Jim Thompson. Jim Thompson’s fame further increased when he suddenly disappeared while he was on a holiday with friends in the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia in 1967. His utterly charming Thai style home which is located at Soi Kasemsan opposite the National Stadium on Rama I Road is now a museum which attracts hordes of visitors daily.
Chatuchak Market
This weekend market is one of the most well known markets of Bangkok as it is perhaps the biggest weekend market in the world which is made up of more than 9000 stalls. The vendors of this market sell a wide array of goods that range from small nails, to foods, trendy apparel, antiques, wood carving, masks and live animals and birds.
The many hedonistic delights of Patpong Photo specialkrb
Patpong
For some people a trip to Bangkok is associated with shopping and sightseeing while for others it is associated with the hedonistic delights of Patpong. Patpong is one of the world’s most infamous red light districts, which is located on two parallel side streets of Bangkok between Silom and Surawongse Roads. This notorious area is a hub of activity at night where its neon lit strip bars and cabaret joints offer risqué live sex shows, lady boys and more. Patpong also hosts a night market which is full of stalls that sell prepared foods and touristy souvenirs.
