Temples and Poverty in Bangkok

The opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand a few years ago has hugely improved the experience of travelling in and out of Bangkok – except when political protests close it down.

Today it’s an efficient airport – meaning that the environment is nice, the immigration process is efficient and your bags come through quickly.

Transportation to and from the Airport will be improved once the Skytrain actually reaches it, but you can get limos and taxis pretty easily. The limos will cost you around 1200 Baht (about US$36) and taxis are between 250 – 500 Baht depending on where you’re going.

Except at the morning and evening peak hours, the trip from the Airport to most of the major hotels in central Bangkok is between 30 and 45 minutes.

And, once you get there, you’ll be met with good, warm service and great facilities.

If you’re looking to hook up with resident ex-pats and experience the local ex-pat lifestyle then you need to head for Sukhumvit.

Famous for its shopping, restaurants, bars and night-life, Sukhumvit is the longest road in Bangkok and passes two major night-life areas: Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza.

Both places are on the go pretty much 24/7 and offer bars, bar snacks and meals (Thai), and a vibrant atmosphere.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for something more traditional, then you need to head towards the Grand Palace, with its spectacularly detailed temples and buildings, and the Wat Intraviharn temple, with its giant Buddha standing more than 30 metres high.

Close to the Grand Palace (about a 5 – 10 minute walk) is also the kicking off point for tours of the Bangkok waterways in one of the boats made famous in the James Bond film ‘The Man With the Golden Gun’.

So famous that they’re now simply referred to as James Bond boats.

If you want to see two extremes of Bangkok then take a tour of the Grand Palace (which is absolutely magnificent) and then a tour in a James Bond boat – which will take you past some of the poorest places along the river’s edge. Difficult to imagine unless you’ve seen them.

Here are some pictures – click on the thumbnail below and then click again on the picture that comes up to get a decent sized image:

I do like Bangkok. Not only do I love Thai food, but it really is a very warm and friendly city.

It’s also a major center for Medical Tourism – meaning that you can get elective surgery there for a fraction of what you pay in the US or Europe.

Prices in the major hotels are on a par with prices in Western cities, but get away to local restaurants and bars and you’ll find excellent food for next to nothing.

Tagged as: bangkok