Bangkok
Bangkok, with a population of over eleven
million inhabitants is a large city of high-rise
buildings, very heavy traffic congestion and intense heat. It is one of Asia's most
cosmopolitan cities with magnificent temples
and palaces, authentic canals, busy markets
and a vibrant nightlife that has something
for everyone.
For years, it was only a small trading post
at the banks of the Chao Phraya River, until
King Rama I, the first monarch of the present
Chakri dynasty, turned it into the capital
of Siam in 1782, after the burning of Ayutthaya
by Burmese invaders.
The Chao Phraya, called the River of the
Kings, flows through the heart of Bangkok
and bustles with activity from ferries, long-tail
speed boats, sightseeing cruises, tugs pulling heavy loads and night-time dinner
cruises. Unfortunately, the public ferries
stop at 8pm so if you are staying in a hotel
along the river, you need to make alternative
travel arrangements. Some of the klongs (canals)
have local passenger ferry services that
cease at 8pm too.
Thonburi Klongs
We took a long-tail boat ride across the
busy Chao Phraya River into the quieter klongs
of Thonburi. Many of Bangkok’s traditional
canals have been replaced by roads but in
the historic Thonburi area you can still
enjoy the passing scenery of weathered teak
houses, stilted shacks and colonial mansions
as you cruise by. There is a canal lock as
you enter and leave the klong of Thornburi
as the water level is below that of the Chao
Phraya River to prevent flooding the houses.
River Taxis
Besides the water taxis on the main river,
Chao Phraya, there are river taxis
operating on two klongs in the heart of Bangkok.
They are incredibly cheap and a quick way
to travel through Bangkok. The petrol tanks
are simply two exposed oil drums full of
petrol!
Ocean World and Siam Centre
This is one of the largest underground aquariums
in Southeast Asia, with over 30,000 curious
looking creatures from various depths and
aquatic regions across the globe. The displays
are excellent and there are many additional
activities. A Value Pack(Baht 1100) includes
Aquarium, Behind the scenes tour, Glass Bottom
Boat, 5D theatre, a Pepsi and popcorn (no
food/drink allowed in the 5D theatre). (Take
Exit 5 from the BTS Siam Station, which provides
direct access to Siam Paragon.)
Riva Surya Hotel
Excellent, well decorated large rooms with
excellent service and very friendly, helpful
staff. The restaurant food and service was
excellent. We ate there most nights. A great
location on the river - we enjoyed a river
view suite that overlooked the river and
we spent hours during the evenings sitting
on the balcony watching the boats go by -
it was so interesting and relaxing. It’s
a short walk to Khao San Road with its many
bars/restaurants/shops. Although it is close
to the ferry boat they stop at 8pm so its
not very central to get to other areas in
the evenings. However, it suited us much
better than the skyscraper ‘chain’
hotels in the south.
Moon Bar, Banyan Tree Hotel
59th floor, open air, rooftop bar and restaurant
with stunning views across Bangkok. It opens
at 5pm so you can enjoy a drink whilst watching
the sunset.
