With
many interesting attractions and places of interest
in and around Bangkok,
visitors can have a variety of " do-it-yourself
" day trips to keep your holidays fun-filled and
enjoyable.
Old Town - China Town
In
the old Bangkok town are located the
Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha,
the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, two universities
and several ministries.
It
is from this side of the Chao Phraya River that one
takes a boat to visit the Temple
of Dawn and the floating market
Chinatown
is situated to the southeast of the old town . The gold
shop street and the Temple of the Gold Buddha are located
here.
Pinklao
A
bridge was built across the Chao Phraya River near the
Grand Palace in 1973.
It
was named Pin Klao in memory of the last but one deputy
king, whose palace was nearby.
Now the area on the western side of the river has become
one of the most newly developed areas in Bangkok with
several department stores, many restaurants and nightlife
establishments.
Ratchadaphisek
Ratchadaphisek
is the name of the new sections of the inner ring road
of Bangkok but is usually used to refer to the short
section between the Lat Phrao intersection and the Rama
IX Road intersection.
This
section is being developed into a new commercial district
containing several big department stores, office buildings,
hotels and a large number of restaurants.
A
little way off the road is Thailand Cultural Centre,
where shows and exhibitions are held from time to time.
Ramkhamhaeng
When Ramkhamhaeng University was founded on Bangkok's
eastern outskirts as Thailand's first open university
in 1970, the area was rather remote and underdeveloped.
However,
as the university's yearly enrolments increased rapidly
to 100,000, the area soon became a new satellite city
of Bangkok with ever-increasing shop-houses, apartment
buildings, restaurants, cinema houses, department stores,
hotels
and places of entertainment.
Siam
- Ratchadamri
This
is one of the biggest and busiest shopping districts
in Bangkok.
A
huge commercial complex, including a 62-storey World
Trade Centre opposite Ratchadamri Arcade, is partly
completed.
Located
in the area are several large department stores, shopping
arcades, cinema theatres, and countless smaller shops.
So
you can satisfy all your needs if you stay in one of
over a dozen first-class hotels
in the area.
The
Pratunam Market next to the Indra Arcade, is worth visiting
if you want to broaden your field of vision. It is also
the market of garments for export.
Sukhumvit
- New Phetburi
In
the section from the Soi Nana crossroads to Soi Sukhumwit
21 (Asok Intersection), there are many shops catering
to foreign tourists, where jewellery, leather goods,
ready-made garments and souvenirs are sold and tailoring,
car rent and other service are offered. Inside the lanes
(soi) off the road, there are numerous fashionable residences,
hotels,
apartment houses, and some really good restaurants.
To
the north of Sukhumwit Road is the extension of Phetburi
Road which does not have many pedestrians in the daytime.
After
dark, however, the long street is brightened with colourful
neon signs and enlivened by people going out to enjoy
themselves in dozens of entertainment Places along the
street.
Silom
- Surawong
This
district has transformed in half a century from paddy
fields into the most important business and financial
centre of Bangkok.
Today, from end to end, these two parallel streets are
full of big blocks of multistory buildings, in which
are banks, finance firms, insurance companies, export-import
houses, hotels, airlines offices, restaurants, shopping
arcades, department stores, and entertainment establishments.
A
small area in this district known as Patpong, is famous
for various kinds of entertainment - wine, beer, music,
dancing, etc.
Bang
Lamphu
A
shopping area once frequented solely by local people
has become a popular place for tourists.
This
area offers various inexpensive items, especially ready
made clothes, handbags, men's and lady's shoes, cosmetics
and curios. Bargaining is recommended.
Sanam
Luang
This
huge public ground in front of the
Grand Palace used to be the place where the Weekend
Market now moved to Suan Chatuchak on Phahonyothin Road
was held.
Special
activities or ceremonies such as the Royal Ploughing
Ceremony in May and the New Year Festival also take
place here.
At the northern part of Sanam Luang opposite the
Royal Hotel is a small statue placed in small white
pavillion.
The
Goddess of the Earth was built during King Chulalongkorn's
reign (1868 - 1910) to provide public drinking water.
Weekend Market at Chatuchak Park
This
large open public ground covers approximately 35 acres
opposite the Northern Bus Station on Phahonyothin Road.
Known
as Suan Chatuchak, it hosts the popular Weekend Market
where people buy and sell a thousand local products.
Items
range from exotic fresh fruits, vegetables, handicrafts,
dress materials, clothing shoes, toys, domestic utensils
and pets.
There
is a particularly fine section for plants.
Weekend
Market is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 7.00 a.m.
- p.m. 6.00.
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