Anytime you enter a new place, the first thing you do is observe your surroundings. Compare them, with what you are used too. So when you enter a completely foreign place, it hits you like a brick wall. This world seems completely flipped upside down from your own and considering Bangkok is a huge city, I just found it overwhelming. Tons of people, vehicles, buildings, shops, food carts, animals running around, homeless people, just tons of stuff going on all at once. The climate is ridiculously hot, quite humid, high off all the car fumes, and just being mesmerized by everything. The stoplights have timers, the electric poles have so many wires on them the city just looks like its past full capacity, and a fire could spark at any time.
We stayed at a hotel called The Citrus 22, about a 5 story hotel, very modern inside, breakfast included, nice beds and bathrooms, and good service. It was on a busy street with tons of stuff to do, and about a 10 min walk from the subway. It wasnt in the heart of all the night scene which was nice because we were recovering from jet lag, and we were also only there for about 4 days which was also nice.
I would highly suggest using the “Tuk Tuk” as transportation around the city if the destination is with in a 10-15 mile radius. This little motor cart can hold up to 8 people (crammed), swerve in between cars, go down tight alleys and are way cheaper than a taxi (ranges from 100-300 bahts). They also are fun and a good adrenaline rush considering how chaotic the driving can be in this crazy city. Its a great cultural experience because TONS of people use these at all times of the day. Although these little alternative taxis are awesome, they have a few down sides…obviously they are old resulting in spitting out nasty fumes, they’re super loud, and very little. There are not any doors or windows so you also have all the fumes from the other cars blowing into your face and these drivers take some risky moves. In the end, they were awesome.
Before we even thought of taking the Tuk Tuk, we thought a good way to get a feel for “a day in the life” of someone that has no car or money to spend on a taxi everyday but too far to walk, is to use the subway. It sounds like an easy task, yet you must remember there are tickets you have to buy, certain stops you have to get off yet, and even taking the right subway. After you master getting to the platform its a whole other story getting on and off. Remind you, Asia is the most populated continent on this earth, and this is very much proven at rush hour…which of course is when we tried our first time. Literally, people squeezing through the sliding doors at the very last moment, shoulder to shoulder crammed standing and sitting. Germs every where, every stop is an adrenaline rush, wondering who is going to make it and who is not.
We made it to The Grand Palace finally within the last hour it was open of the day and that was the best decision we made, there were no people, the sunset made everything glisten, and sparkle. There were no lines, barely any people and any angle for a picture we wanted, we got because no one was in our way. I also made the mistake of wearing california girl clothes, which wasnt exactly appropriate for the occasion. They allowed me in all the parts of the palace except one part with this amazing buddha structure, it was basically the heart of the whole palace, and they clothes for me to put on over (dress code is shoulders and legs covered).
Our last stop of the day was Khaosan Road which was just a short, busy street with tons of venders, bars and people. Definitely where the partying happens all night, and probably where a lot of other stuff goes on Image may be NSFW.
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Tattoo shops, bars, clothes, food, smoothies, jewlery, bags, hair braiding, massages, hotels…the list goes forever. Basically whatever you need, its there.
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