Vientiane, set along the meandering Mekong River, is the very laid back peaceful capital city of Laos. This city is in stark contrast to the chaotic bustling streets of Bangkok or select other South East Asian cities! Vientiane is small enough that its not an overwhelming city (population 135,000) and you can find your way around quite easily. If you do get lost, there is usually a Tuk-tuk eagerly waiting to whisk you away to your destination. … [Read more...]
Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok is thousands of people all wearing the same color shirt on the same day for respect to their King, it is backpackers, it is Khao San Road, it is massage parlors, it is crowds, it is traffic, it is orange robed monks, it is hot, it is humid, it gleams with golden temples, it is medical tourism, it is cheap guest houses, it is some of the best hotels in the world, it is an ever present ebb and flow of life - all day and all night long, it … [Read more...]
Bangkok, Thailand – Weather
Bangkok, Thailand. The temperature in the city remains hot year round although there is certainly seasonal fluctuations in temperature. Most of the year sees high temperatures during the day usually in the low to mid 30 degree Celsius range (90's Fahrenheit) - often accompanied by humidity. Either humidity or heat by itself can be somewhat bearable but when you combine both together it becomes stifling, steamy and sweaty. It should be noted … [Read more...]
Bangkok, Thailand – Temples & Shrines
Bangkok is home to hundreds of gleaming golden temples - many of which are centered around the old part of town and along the banks of the Chao Praya River or along other waterways within the city. Buddhists believe that monks should be ordained on or near water. Some are more memorable than others for a variety of reasons (size, architecture, unique artifacts, unique Buddha statues, location etc). Some of our favorites are indicated by the … [Read more...]
Bangkok, Thailand – Attractions & Activities
Bangkok may not be for everyone. The high heat, humidity, congestion and air pollution may be too much to take for some people. There are so many attractions, including Wats, that a tourist could spend several weeks in Bangkok and still not see everything. It is hard to define the allure of Bangkok. At first glance it is a busy chaotic, polluted city - that is true; it is all of these things. However, once one delves into the history, attractions … [Read more...]
Bangkok, Thailand – Museums
Bangkok is many things to many people, but it is not necessarily a museum town. A number of the museums are fairly dated and fail to provide a fun, educational, modern and engaging atmosphere. However with that said, there are still plenty of good museums to keep one occupied for at least a week if not longer including some rather intriguing, esoteric and hidden away ones. We have visited and reviewed the following 50+ museums in Bangkok. And … [Read more...]
Bangkok, Thailand – Markets
ARTBOX Night Market is a trendy easy to access space, and outdoor market featuring numerous vendors including a strong food presence. originally opened a few years ago as a popup market without any permanent location. Now, open daily from 4pm until midnight at its current permanent home, Chuvit Garden, Sukhumvit 10 Alley. Located a short walk from the closest Skytrain stop of Nana. Popular with youngsters, but not to young - also well frequented … [Read more...]
Bangkok, Thailand – Transportation
NOTE: Bangkok's two airports are highlighted first on this page. All other ground transportation is described below them in alphabetical order. Airports Taxis Metro (MRT) Rideshare BTS Skytrain Tuk Tuks Bicycle Walking BRT Longtail Buses Train Mini-Van Cycle Rickshaw Motorcycle Songthaew One word summarizes traveling via Bangkok roads - terrible! Drivers use the left hand side of the road - well, at … [Read more...]
Bangkok, Thailand – Districts
Bangkok features some 50 districts - with 35 being located east of the Chao Praya River and the other 15 on the other side of the river (called the Thonburi side). We highlight only a select few major parts of town, some of these encompass several districts. The regions below are among the most visited by tourists in Bangkok and contain a majority of the city's attractions and activities. CHAO PRAYA RIVER is the lifeblood of Bangkok. It is a … [Read more...]
Bangkok, Thailand – Parks
Sometimes you need a respite from the chaos of of Bangkok's urban world - and fortunately one does not have to go very far to find any of a number of Bangkok's green spaces. Despite being surrounded by buildings and busy streets, often these spaces feature much cleaner air then the nearby surroundings, are often quieter and sometimes offer a variety of activities for all ages (paddle boats, picnicking, exercise equipment and playgrounds). … [Read more...]