THE BEST TRAVEL IN THAILAND,BANGKOK

Bangkok Travel Guide
Chaotic, carnal and congested, Thailand's capital is divided by the Chao Phraya River and is nestled in one of the world's most fertile rice-producing deltas. Bangkok's 579 square miles (1,500 sq km) are criss-crossed by a series of canals carrying passengers and cargo, its roads clotted with endless traffic jams, while the city sprawls in all directions with a hodge-podge of urban, commercial and industrial buildings. A new overland metropolitan railway speeds above the city, providing visitors with a relaxed and efficient way to observe the hustle and bustle below.
Despite its pollution and overcrowding, Bangkok is undoubtedly one of Asia's most exciting cities, and one of the world's largest, promising to reveal to each traveller the wild and untamed mysteries of the east. On the banks of the Chao Phraya visitors will find the Grand Palace as well as Wat Phra Kaeo, the palace temple housing the Emerald Buddha, constructed entirely from translucent green jade. Slightly upriver are the exquisitely ornamented Royal Barges, still used today for special floating processions.

Bangkok Attractions
Royal Grand Palace
Construction of the palace began in 1782 and was completed in time for the coronation of King Rama I, and opened in 1785 to signify the end of the Burmese invasion of Thailand. The palace itself is made up of a complex array of smaller buildings, most notably the Wat Mahatat (the Palace Temple) and the Wat Phra Keow (the Royal Chapel), which houses the famous Emerald Buddha sculpted from a single piece of jade, and one of the most revered objects in the Kingdom.

Royal Barges National Museum
The Royal Barges National Museum houses several decorative royal barges, the earliest of which dates back to 1357. Most of the barges served as War Vessels at one point, and were subsequently used on royal or state occasions on the Chao Phraya River. Due to their age the barges are now rarely used, but their intricate designs reflecting Thai religious beliefs and local history are of great importance to the country’s heritage. The barges were last used at the end of 1999 to celebrate the king’s 72nd birthday.

The Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho)
Situated adjacent to the Royal Grand Palace, Wat Pho is Bangkok’s oldest, largest and most famous temple. The grounds of Wat Pho contain over 1,000 statues of Buddha, and the temple houses one of Thailand’s most spectacular sights, the Reclining Buddha - a 157ft (48m) long and 49ft (15m) high statue that is gold-plated and inlaid with Mother-of-Pearl on the soles of its feet. In the 19th century King Rama III turned Wat Pho into a centre of learning and visitors today can still have a massage and learn about the ancient art of Thai Medicine.

Jim Thompson’s House
American silk entrepreneur Jim Thompson deserves most of the credit for the current popularity of Thai silk around the world. His fame increased when, in 1967, Thompson disappeared in the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia under mysterious circumstances. He has never been heard of since. The house itself is an excellent example of Thai residential architecture, and inside is a display of his Oriental art and antique collection, as well as an array of his personal belongings.

Vimanmek Teak Mansion & Dusit area
There are several good reasons to visit the peaceful Dusit area of Bangkok with its wide tree-lined avenues and important mansions, but the most graceful of the buildings here are found near the zoo, where you will find the neo-baroque National Assembly Hall and the impressive Vimanmek Teak Mansion behind it. The latter was built in the reign of Rama V and is the world’s largest teak structure. Toda,y it is a museum to the lifestyle of one of Thailand’s most important kings. Also in the grounds are lovely gardens, several small former royal residences and the unusual- styled Abhisek Throne Hall.

Lumpini Park
The largest park in Bangkok, Lumpini Park is a great place to simply relax and get away from it all for an afternoon. Many people use Lumpini Park for more energetic activities; joggers can frequently be seen and there is a small, rudimentary outdoor gym in one section of the park. The park, with its big convoluted lake, can be accessed by Lumpini MRT station or Sala Daeng BTS station.

Chinatown
Busy, colourful and lively, Chinatown makes for an interesting morning / afternoon browsing all the traditional Chinese remedy stalls and gold shops. Good, inexpensive food can be found here too, especially Chinese and Indian. It’s a good place to get a glimpse of how Bangkok once was, especially if you wander down some of the small lanes, It’s located south east of Banglamphu (where Khao San Road is), directly west of the city centre and can also be accessed from the river, by hopping off a ferry at Tha Ratchawong pier.

Khao San Road
For people watching of an entirely different kind, head to backpacker central, Khao San Road. Here you’ll discover another world, a cornucopia of free-spirited culture, commercialism and young traveller’s hedonism. Almost anything is available here, from fake university degree certificates to cheap clothing and pirate DVDs. It’s a lively place by day or night and offers plenty of places to eat, party, meet people or simply find a tour agent and internet caf?.
Read all about it on Khao San Road.<http://www.1stopbangkok.com/what_to_see/khao_san/>

Patpong Night Market is very popular with tourists. Situated within the notorious district of Patpong, a place of sex shows and go-go bars, the Patpong Night Market is full of stalls selling fake designer good at rock-bottom prices. Bargain hard and visitors can bag themselves a very cheap ‘Rolex’ watch or ‘Armani’ handbag. The goods here are of decent quality but tend not to be the real thing. You will unfortunately be on the receiving end of some hard sell in this area, both from stall owners and proprietors of the notorious bars whose glittering neon lights dominate the landscape.

Of the 30 or so temples in Bangkok, the largest is the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, which houses an impressive statue of the deity. The famous Floating Market is a delight to visitors and well worth a visit. As the sun lurches towards the horizon in the west and the sweat cools, this city of royalty and religion comes alive with a palpable decadence. Music and dazzling neon advertise a miasma of trendy bars and nightclubs, as well as the notorious 'girlie joints' that have ensured the Patpong district its reputation for hedonism.