Backpacking group posting on GLOBOsapiens

things to do in and around bangkok

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devinhunt Joined: Dec 02 Points: 196 Posts: 8 Posted: 2002-12-10 01:47:00    Kanchanaburi * Catch an early morning train from Thonburi Station to the River Kwai Bridge (4 hours / $1) * Take a taxi back to Kanchanaburi to visit the Allied War Cemetary * Do a tour to the Tiger Temple, where you can pat tigers and play with monkeys at an animal rehabilitation centre run by a group of Buddhist monks. The tour can be organised at the Jolly Frog Backpackers and costs 150 Baht ($6) The tour departs daily at 3pm. * Catch a bus back to Bangkok in the early evening (2 hours / $3) Ayuthaya * Catch an early morning train from Hualampong Station to Ayuthaya (2 hours / $3) * Hire bicycles from the BJ Guesthouse in the old part of town ($2 per day) to explore the temples and ruins that are scattered around town. * Ride to the elephant 'kraal' on the edge of town to play with the baby elephants. * You can ride elephants around a park near the centre of town. Ask about this at BJ's. * Eat an early dinner at a restaurant called Pothai (around the corner from BJ Guesthouse) The food is great and at about 5pm you can watch up to 40 elephants walk down the main street on their way back to the elephant 'kraal.' Bangkok * Hire a 'tuk-tuk' and get the driver to take you to some of the temples or other tourist attractions around town. Wat Arun, Golden Mount, the Standing Buddha and the Lucky Buddha and are all worth a visit. Don't let the drivers take you to tailors or gem stores as this is a waste of time and money. * If you hire a 'tuk-tuk' each, or two between some other travellers, get the drivers to race each other to your desired destination. Offer the driver who gets there first a few baht in prizemoney. * Allow a full day to explore The Grand Palace and Wat Pho. The Grand Palace is an amazing place although be aware that there is a smart-casual dress code. Don't let anybody tell you that it is closed as this is a scam to make you hire a 'tuk-tuk' and head elsewhere. Wat Pho is the best place in Thailand to get a Thai massage ($6 for 2 hours) * Bangkok is a great place for shopping. Some of the best markets are located near Khao San Road and Patpong Road. Patpong Road is the infamous red-light district of Bangkok so is an interesting place to visit after dark - a real eye-opener! Khao San Road is a good place to eat scorpions, drink snake blood and meet other travellers. * Go for a ride on the Chao Phraya river express as it's one of the best ways to see Bangkok. Use the longboats that the locals travel on as opposed to hiring your own for the day because this will work out much cheaper. * Floating markets can be seen throughout the canal system that criss-crosses Bangkok. Hire a longboat to take you to one of these. The Wat Sai Floating Market and Bang Khu Wiang Floating markets are interesting and easy to get to. BUY A LONELY PLANET GUIDE AND ASK OTHER TRAVELLERS WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO SEE AS THESE ARE YOUR BEST SOURCES OF INFORMATION!!! --- "what a long strange trip it's been...." Reply    Reply with quote    Contact devinhunt   kcheepv Joined: Jan 03 Points: 3137 Posts: 34 Posted: 2003-09-21 05:16:00    Good post! I would like to add the ChauChuk sp? weekend market. Take the sky train to Mo Chit station. Walk from there. Follow the crowds. Large outdoor flea market type place. Reply    Reply with quote    Contact kcheepv