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Bangkok: A Young Traveller's Guide

Bangkok is an exotic, friendly, and delightful city in southern Thailand. Oahu is the capital of Thailand, it's got over eight million people and it is the cultural center of the country. It's actually a location of outrageous nightlife and beautiful temples, of delicious food and sweltering heat, of crowded streets and big markets. There isn't any not enough what to do and see within the city, but in addition there are many travel suggestions to take into account while travelling through Bangkok also.

Some Basics

Thai is the main language spoken in Bangkok, but because of the booming tourist industry, many people speak English (study a few Thai phrases, though- the effort will likely be appreciated).

The unit of currency will be the Baht (THB), often misspelled "Bath" at work. One US dollar is all about 31 Baht. Price is highly affordable in Thailand making Thailand a serious hotspot for Western tourists. You don't have to tip for services or at restaurants like in a great many other countries, but it is certainly appreciated.

There are many cultural taboos and laws that you should take seriously while travelling any place in Thailand:

When going to a Buddhist temple, dress conservatively and take away your shoes upon entering. Do not take on photographs if someone is meditating or during ritual, without prior permission.

Touching someone else's head (a child's head) is a religious affront and cannot be practiced. Touching another woman's feet are consider an impure act and cannot be ignored. Pointing to something with your foot is also dirty.

Females shouldn't touch a Theravada monk, but monks often touch lay men, and also females if the lay female is incredibly ill.

Never engage in public displays of affection.

The King of Thailand is held in reverence by the Thais. The King is legally "inviolable" in fact it is the best offense to express or a single thing that can in any respect be interpreted as "disrespectful." This is the serious matter. An infringement gets you arrested and put in prison. This really is serious. Food and Water

Food and water safety factors another major issue here. Don't drink the regular water inside your hotel or in restaurants, and don't use ice. Drink only bottled water. Don't try to eat street food that might spoil within the heat. Although Thai cuisine is delicious there are street vendors nearly everywhere, you don't want to take your time in Bangkok sick using this food.

The Streets

The traffic in Bangkok is overwhelming- it's extremely congested, and also crossing the street is dangerous! Due to large population, there are numerous options for transportation: the Metro, the SkyTrain, the boat network, the buses, taxis, and tuk-tuks.

Even though the three-wheeled, motorized tuk-tuks aren't essentially the most cost-effective way to get throughout the city (agree with a cost prior to getting in-sometimes apply for very cheap!), these are this kind of huge section of Bangkok it is worth just operating one at least one time!

Sex available

Bangkok has a flourishing and over-active Thai escort, both straight and gay. Many male and female prostitutes are HIV positive. A specific area of visitors come to Thailand to fulfill their sexual desires and fantasies. So, bear in mind that especially male website visitors to Thailand is going to be propositioned rather aggressively because you land on the airport, plus the red districts in Bangkok. You should be firm in saying "no", and guys, try not to look interested or sales pitches can be more aggressive and demanding.

Temples and Palaces

Bangkok is recognized for its abundance of temples and palaces. For instance ,:

The Grand Palace is probably one of the most spectacular. This massive residence from the King is made up of many buildings-each more beautiful compared to next. Usually it takes hours to educate yourself regarding, and worth the 400 Baht (about $13 US) admission fee.

The Temple with the Emerald Buddha, Wat Phra Kaew, is a national monument along with a must-see here-it was just about the most memorable sights from time in Bangkok. You should dress very conservatively as a way to enter, so plan in advance.

The Temple in the Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho, located near to the Grand Palace, is another temple that's extremely memorable. It's home to beautiful gardens, sculptures, and a golden statue of Buddha that's over 150 feet long. Entrance is reasonable (20 Baht, about 60 US cents), determined here is a famous Thai massage school that will allow you to get an hour-long massage for only 200 Baht (about $6.50)!

The Temple of Dawn, Wat Arun, is an additional incredible temple to find out. It is on the Chao Phraya River and it's also famous for its high colorful spires and Ordinance Hall. Just for 50 Baht ($1.60 US), this attraction provides beautiful views in the river and provides great clues about Buddhism.

Markets

Bangkok comes with a impressive amount of markets, and they are an ideal places to get Thai clothing, food, and crafts. You will find some amazing prices, but be prepared to haggle- you are able to almost always bargain to get a cheaper price! Such as the be afraid to walk away if you think maybe you're getting scammed.

Be cautious about personal belongings from the markets. There are lurking pickpockets.

Should you be from the city on the weekend, go to the Chatuchak Weekend Market, which has thousands of stalls that offer all you could possibly imagine. Although it's crowded (try pointed in the morning before it gets too hot), it's worth a trip to just experience something so large in dimensions and so full of Thai culture.

Another interesting companies are the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Vendors are in small boats plus they primarily sell vegatables and fruits. You will find the option of looking at land or renting a smaller boat too. Although rather touristy, there are hardly any other locations on the globe that have floating markets!

Museums

If you prefer somewhere less crowded, Bangkok has lots of museums which might be intriquing, notable and attractive. There are two which i particularly recommend:

The National Museum is really a stunning building which has a huge assortment of Thai art and architecture.

The Jim Thompson Residence is a rather large compound that houses art, antiques, and an interesting mix of both Thai and European home design.

Nightlife

If you're looking for some really unique nightlife, there's 2 spots in Bangkok that will leave an incredibly lasting impression.

Soi Cowboy could be the city's very tourist-heavy sex district- it's a street packed with fluorescent lights and go-go bars.

Khao San Road, meanwhile, was the best place I attended in Bangkok. While there are many clubs and economical bars (mobile bars are really popular here too), there are also Thai restaurants, Western fast-food chains, cafes, street vendors and performers, and individuals from all over the world having fun experiencing and enjoying the city. It's actually a place where Thailand meets the West, and also this mixture of numerous cultures makes Khao San Road an interesting place.