Bangkok is one of the most visited cities in the world, It is the gateway to other regions of Thailand as well as being a city to explore in its own right. So after a relatively short flight from Nepal, we arrived in Bangkok and straight onto the MRT. Its essentially the same as the tube in London, except its overground and much newer. The MRT is a great way of getting around the city and has stops in most major areas, it is direct method of travelling, but not the most picturesque.
For our initial stay in Bangkok, we omitted visiting the famous Khao San road. I know its the usual place for backpackers to stay, but we decided to go against the status quo. We stayed in Silom instead and as it turned out stayed in the coolest hostel we had ever visited. It's called the mile map hostel, it offers cheap room rates, alongside a world map theme. Various different maps and globes adorn the place and the hostel has a pretty laid back vibe. Another plus of staying here was the famous Thai street food, just a short walk down the street lead us straight to a delicious Tom Yum soup. Our introduction into south east Asia was going pretty well, clean and efficient transport, great hostel and cracking food.
First day in Bangkok and we went straight for the grand palace, all dressed up due to their clothing policies. I can respect the dress code, but it did not help with the humidity. Getting to the Palace we opted for the boats that transport people along the Chao Phraya river. Floating down the river you can see the multiple sky scrapes and other features of the city, such as china town. The most spectacular thing you'll see on the boats though is Wat Arun also known as the temple of dawn. The temple dominates your attention from the second you see it. It is a striking temple and looks fantastic as you cruise along the river.
Grand is the optimum description for this palace, featuring some truly extravagant buildings and statues, no expense was spared in this creation. The gilded architecture and jade Buddhist sculpture make this complex a must see for any Bangkok visitor. The former home of the kings of Thailand eludes grandeur at each turn, and despite the relatively high entrance price, it is definitely worth going.
The following day we went to see Khao san road, we felt we should at least witness the place to see what all the fuss is about. The place does have a travel buzz circulating around it with numerous western travelers strolling around, seeking out food or a cheap souvenir. Khao San road was a culture clash, where Thailand meets the west. In truth I'm glad we saw the famous road and even more glad we did not stay here. There was nothing necessarily wrong with the place, it just wasnt for us. After Khao san road it was onto the siam shopping centre. Comparing places as "just like in a sci-fi film" has grown both outdated and cliche. That being said it is exactly how I would describe it here.Anything you could want is in this place and the whole atmosphere is just awesome. There are ice rinks, cinemas and ample shopping. Siam is now the bench mark I will compare any shopping center to, after visiting here.
Bangkok is a buzzing city that has excitement flowing through it. The city is the start to many adventures in Thailand and it felt just like that for us. Bangkok was a great start and now it was time to see more of Thailand
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