@RyanInSiam asked me about my experience in Bangkok. I gave a brief summary on the top of my head the places I have been to while we were in Bangkok. I had to dig up my old blogs from other site so I can share it here with you (click here). Most of the photos were taken from my video clips. Here is a peek of Bangkok.
It was November 2014 when we went to Bangkok, Thailand. After coming from Myanmar, we decided to visit some places in Bangkok. We were blessed that the weather is not that hot during that time. My experience there is good and bad.
Upon arrival, we checked in at Holiday Inn Express.
Click on this link to see some photos and a view of the National Stadium.
The building on the left is the Baiyoke Tower. It is an 85-storey skyscraper hotel. One of the shopping destinations in Bangkok is Siam. Malls and hotels there are left and right of each other. It's a jungle of concrete out there.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
We then decided to visit their Floating Market located at Damnoen Saduak. Click the link for the video. We passed by houses on stilts along the way.
I find it busy as what every market should be. The price for a boat to tour you around the market is a bit pricey. It would be cheaper if you have companions. Better go their with a group.
There were lots of things you can see there like souvenir shops and spices. There was a store selling drums and other musical instruments.
You can buy food from floating shops. Just like the lady on the phot above who sells soups and noodles. We ordered from her and we liked it. It was simply delicious. She was kind enough to pose for a photo when I asked for it.
Damnoen Saduak Tiger Zoo
After visiting the Floating Market, we then stopped by Damnoen Saduak Tiger Zoo. Here you get to feed and play with baby tigers or take pictures together with the adult tigers. With the adults, they have to drug them before you can have photos so we didn't to for it. We met Dala who was only four months old at that time. Even for a four-month-old, she is big and quite a handful. She actually scratched my back with her teeth. I was quick enough to avoid her before she could totally bit me. The place have different price ranges as to what you would want to do with the cat. Mind you though that the place stinks. There were monkeys in the zoo as well.
Jim Thompson House Museum
Of interest is our visit to the Jim Thompson House Museum. You can learn more about this museum here. Jim is known for his success in Thai silk business. Unfortunately, he disappeared in Malaysia in one of his walks and was never found. During his stay in Bangkok, he was able to collect antiques and other Thai art. Those collections can also be seen in his house museum. Aside from his collections, you will also see learn a little bit about his Thai silk business. There is also a shop within the compound where you can buy silks. You can also check out the cafe there too. It is a relaxing place for the garden complete with a pond gives off a jungle vibe, not a concrete one, within the city.
This is just walking distance from the Siam Center. I love how Jim Thompson created a nice place within the city. Take note however that this is beside a murky and foul-smelling canal and you will get a whiff of that odor once in a while.
Wat Pho
We also took a cab from our hotel to Wat Pho. Click on that and it will take you to a video of some still photos taken at Wat Pho and other places that have been mentioned in this post.
Wat Pho is just behind the Royal Palace. We were unable to go to the Royal Palace because it was raining hard that time. By the time we arrived there, the place is closed for visitors. We were drenched from the rain. It was probably from the rain that my right foot wound got infected. It was just a small wound caused by my slipper. However, it did not get worse until we got home. Unfortunately, I have to suffer for weeks from that. It could have been a combination of exhaustion from travel. I suspect it was from dengue even for I did develop rashes later on but it was never diagnosed.
In addition, we also took an afternoon walk to Lumphini Park and Benjasiri Park.
It was a gastronomic experience too for it was my first time to try Tom Yum and I instantly love it! Every time I eat Tom Yum anywhere, it will always take me back to Bangkok.
It really was a good and bad experience during my first visit in Bangkok. I think next time, the beaches would be the places I would visit.
Below is a sticker I see in taxicabs there. It indicates what are not allowed in the cab. I find it funny and interesting.
Getting around Bangkok is easy just utilizing their trains. Sometimes it's still cheaper to take taxi if you want to go from one place to another. Work on haggling skills though when talking about fare.
Beware of places where they do not allow photographs. Some establishments do not allow you taking photos. They have stickers of what not to do and/or bring inside. If you don't see it, better ask. I made this mistake while we were at Jim Thompson's Museum. We didn't notice the sign right away that taking photos is not allowed. We went inside the shop and I took photos. A staff noticed it and exclaimed rather loudly and suddenly, "No pictures!" She suddenly realized that it was louder than she expected. We we both surprised I guess but we both laughed about it. I quickly deleted the photos. Now that makes for an embarrassing moment.
Take photos whenever you have the opportunity. This applies to every travel. You never know if you will be able to return to that place or take that photo again. I missed a lot of things and not able to take photos of that I wish I should have.
I was traveling memory lane as I was making this blog. I remember that we had to stop at a noodle shop for a meal before heading to the zoo. I was unable to take photos at that stop. There were lots of photos I took but these were the ones I was able to recover from my other blogging site.
Thank you for taking time reminiscing with me.
*All contents and photos are mine.
That trip looks really surprising, it is good to visit new places and always have photos to remember them, but not only the photos of the place matter, but also what you have experienced there and what you have enjoyed. It is also good to travel alone or with company so everyone can enjoy different things according to their point of view and then talk about their nice or bad experience somewhere.
A few years ago I went on a trip with my family and my couple's family, it's the first time we were traveling together and it was really fun and different, we enjoyed quite a lot, the good thing is that there was nothing negative on our way, there were only a lot of positive things.
I hope you will have a great trip like that again soon and you can continue to enjoy it.