One night in Bangkok

[Massagegirl]

And the worlds my oyster? I certainly hope so!

I'll be flying there this friday and I'd like to know what you guys recommend I not miss on my first trip??

I only have 3 initial nights, 2 already full of Thai Kickboxing and Katoey cabarets, but I'd like to know what else to see? Ayuthara?? At the end of my months vacation I do have another 2 or 3 nights in Bangkok to focus on shopping.

I like the girly bar idea, but with at least a few token straight guys, where I can dance all night. Any recommendations? No trance/rave music btw!

I also heard there is an elephant park near Bangkok where you can pet the baby elephants, but I couldn't find it on the internet, anyone have any idea? I love petting the wildlife.

I am heading first thing to Wat Po for a massage, then the next day will try the blind masseurs.

The rest of my month I will be touring the beach scene on the Samui Archipelago and the Andaman sea islands. Any nude beaches there? Besides the one on Koh Phangan, as I'm already going there. Also great beaches with snorkling right off the beach is a plus, especially if there are sharks to pet!

Take care everyone, this may be my last post for awhile! Will check this thread though!

PS What's the hell's this statue doing ?

 

[zlmmm]

Of all the countries I have visited Thailand is still my favourite and I have been back a few times now. Amazing culture, food, friendly people, beautiful beaches, amazing diving, sexy women, interesting history/archeology, wild parties and great exchange rates! What more could you ask for?

Ayuttaya is interesting but not spectacular. If you have time, check out Erwin Falls (the most spectacular jade green pool waterfalls) outside of Kanchanaburi (also the Bridge over the River Kwai of WWII fame). It's about 2.5 hours by train from the 'Kok (as my ex-pat friend calls it).

Also take a ferry ride on the Chao Praya river and hire a long tail boat through the canals. There's lots of amusement to be had on the ferry as they tend to stop for maybe 20-30 seconds and many tourists flail and get separated or miss the boat.

I much prefer the islands on the West side of the Penninsula for more spectacular beaches, better diving, and some less tracked locales (Lanta is more remote than Pi-Pi and there are several even more removed).

Enjoy.

P.S. I've noticed that many of the kickboxers often tend to be quite the gigolos with western women...

 

[BushPilot]

Try checking out the floating market. There isn't much to buy that isn't junk, other than the fresh produce, that is, but it is a cool, relaxing experience floating in your gondola and watching the frantic pace of the market. You can take a bus from Bangkok in about an hour and a half. You should start out quite early, though. I think the bus leaves from the east bus station.

 

[kevster]

Floating Markets are touristy but different, worth it i think.

For zoos, try this site:

http://www.zoothailand.org/dusit/

No matter what, make sure you take plenty of insect repellant with DEET in the ingrediants and use it always!

Swa-dee-ka!

 

[Maury Beniowski]

If you haven't bought your hotels yet, don't. When you arrive at Bangkok International, go to the hotel information area, next to the currency exchange traders - currency exchange is very competitive at the airport, so don't hesitate purchasing Thai Bahts there. There are a number of hotel brokers at the airport who are quite helpful, and can assist you in your stay within close proximity of the Grand Palace and the Wat Po (Temple) next door. You can purchase groups of nights for a variety of class hotels at very reasonable prices. I recommend staying at four or five star properties. AP breakfasts are usually included, as is a choice of city or river tours.

You may want to consider staying near the shopping districts, as your visits to the above popular sites are easily accessible by reasonably priced taxis or public transit. The Patpong district, Patunam or Sukhumvit road areas are the best. A property situated close to a Skytrain transit system station is also a good idea.

If you have time, try to make time to visit other areas of Thailand. My favourite is Issan province in the Northeast part of Thailand. Although the poorest part, it is very charming, culturally diverse and rich in music and dancing, and the people are also very friendly. It is also very safe, as Thais are for the most part, deeply religious and respectful of others and their property.

Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai are also popular destinations in the North. Alternatively, you might also like to go south to the tourist hotspots like Phiphi Island, Koh Samui or Phuket. The prices at hotels there are still reasonable, but some of the name brand properties will charge international prices.

As for baby elephants, there are a few that roam the tourist areas in downtown Bangkok, and you can buy a treat from the owner to feed them. That will save you going to the elephant parks that are more expensive anyway.

Many girlie and katoey bars are right in the night markets. Be choosy about which ones you go to. There are pickpockets in or near them, so keep an eye on your belongings.

If you can, take a massage training course at Wat Po. Some other massage places worth considering would be the multitude foot massage shops on Sukhumvit Road - the main drag. After a day of shopping, it will invigorate you and prepare you for a night of additional shopping. The best buys are probably Thai silks and wood carvings. There are many levels of quality, so look around and don't buy the first offerings.

While on the streets, try the Thai iced teas and coffee, and take advantage of the cheap priced tropical fruits like durian, mangosteens, mangos, soursops, dragonfruits, and many others. Before you turn in for the night, buy some jasmine flower arrangements for your room for about 10 Bahts each - it will give it a nice fragrance. I usually purchase a bag of unstrung jasmine flowers and spread them on our bed at the hotel. It makes for a nice touch for my lady...

Enjoy your stay!

 

[zlmmm]

Always remember this one word, farang

Also this phrase: "same, same" (which is not really always the same).

And: "same, same - but different" (meaning not at all the same)



Don't trust the tuk-tuk (3-wheeler) taxi drivers in Bangkok (they will more than likely try to drive you to some shopping or massage place with ripoff prices where they get a cut...or worse).

 

[Gwapo]

Thailand

You might want to try this http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/categories.cfm?catid=51 before you go as it very informative and while in Bangkok a very good map of the city is Nancy Chandlers... it is in full colour and has alot of tips for shopping and recreation etc. Also, Lonely Planet guide books are awesome and not just for the backpacker.

Have Fun... and while in Thailand remember 'Mai Pen Rai' which basically translates as - it's OK don't worry about it relax--and above all else while visiting SMILE!!!!!!!

 

[Pat 1]

What about clothes; great prices on silk and cotton and really good tailors; you should take pictures of styles you like and they will make them up; bargain hard.

 

[Commander Chode]

On Muay Thai. When I went I headed to Lumpini Stadium. I got the cheapest seats, because back when real people could afford to go to a NHL game the place to sit was the nose bleeders, where the real fans were, and I wanted to sit with the real Muay Thai fans. When you first enter the bleachers are cement for about 1/3 of the way then wood for the rest. The wood bleachers look unstable so you might be tempted to take the cement. To choose between the cement or the wood, ask yourself, do you want to view the action or be in it? You may believe the best action is in the ring, but it is not. Watching Muay Thai is over rated. You don't get the advertised high kicks and punches. The boxers approach, throw some probing punches or kicks then grapple and knee each other in the ribs for the rest of the round. Effective I'm sure, but not entertaining. The real action is watching the betting. The men betting on the fights and the guys taking the bets is a feeding frenzy equal to anything on a National Geographic shark special. This betting happens on the cement. The wood bleachers could not hold it. Do you want to be in the middle of the action or to relax and view it from a distance?

Enjoy Thailand. There is a lot of exotic beauty and the people are great if you get away from the touristy areas. I found Bangkok too busy for me. Chang Mai is more my speed.

 

[Cock Throppled]

Please avoid the baby elephants. The "training" that is used on elephants is unbelivably cruel and barbaric. Frankly, I'm boycotting all Thai products until changes are made to the torture of baby elephants. They are tied to a tree and beaten, starved and stabbed with sticks constantly for days until their spirit is broken. It is almost beyond comprehension and only exists because of corruption of officials and tourism.

 

[Hennesy]

This thread is a great ad for Thailand tourism. I'm tempted.

How easy is it to get around if all you know is English? Are you somewhat forced to stay to areas catering to the west?

 

[Pat 1]

I have travelled all over Thailand. You can usually find someone with a smattering of english or get by with the lonely planet phrase book.

 

[Hennesy]

Thanks Pat 1. Good Advice. Lonely Planet Thai Phrasebook

 

[zlmmm]

Hennesy, like most of the world these days, Thailand caters very well to English-speakng tourists (they know where the money is) and most tourism related businesses speak English at least passably or better (the most competitive ones will speak some of 1 or more other European languages as well).

I have only experienced true language problems in areas off the beaten track (like when crossing overland into Laos at Udon Thani).

 

[Massagegirl]

Wow, where can I start??

Thanks for all the advice everyone!

Bangkok was wonderful, in particular the Calypso Cabaret which is made up of katoeys and I agree that they are very beautiful... The comedy act was pretty funny too, and I'll never forget the asian Michael Jackson, Tina Turner and Maralyn Monroe impersonators.

I also got some great stuff at Pat Pong where the girly bars are. The girly bars are hilarious, can I say? There must be law against dancing well and pretending it's fun, cuz they looked soooo bored! I tell ya, they would get a 4 for attitude, and thats only cuz it looks pretty boring, so who can blame them. The women are beautiful though, and it was fun watching the westerners put moves on the girls.

I didn't see one elephant so they must be succeeding in their wish to rid bangkok of them, for their own good of course. I will ride one in Pukhet.

Right now I am on the southern tip of Koh Tao, looking into which scuba place to get my open water ticket at. Yesterday we snorkled from the beach and saw a riot of colourful fish, including 2 black tip reef sharks. So I am heading back now to do it again, after some more cold drinks that is, it must be 30 degrees in this internet cafe!

Anyway, keep well, and thanks again, the advice really was worthwhile! When I get home I will write more on it!

Sawat de kaa farangs, lol.