Bangkok
There is no city quite like Bangkok.
Urban Thais are super funky, fashionable, friendly and really know how to enjoy themselves.
On the other side, you can see how this city prospers - the work hard / play hard attitude is apparent here. The hospitality is second to none!
If you have seen Ridley Scott's vision of a future megatropolis in his masterpiece, Blade Runner, Bangkok will look familiar, especially viewed from the speeding Skytrain at night.
I stayed here for 4 nights to decompress after 6 months of rough (but amazing) travelling in India.
This is a summary of what I did, including some tips on how to make the most of your time here.
Khao San Road and Surrounds
Every backpacker at some point ends up on this street. Everything from quality cafes to travel agents, tattoo and piercing studios, big nightclubs, one-of-a-kind t-shirt shops, pad thai carts, a muay thai gym, etc ,etc - are all here in this condensed street.
If you are looking for traditional Thai culture, it isn't here, but it's convenient and you're sure to make new friends or bump into old travel buddies.
The only potential downside is that it's a little way out from the heart of Bangkok and areas like Sukhumvit, etc.
Lodgings
I stayed at Buddy Lodge and would definitely recommend.
Service is great, location is unbeatable, it's super quiet inside and the price is great for the area.
Shopping
I like BKK for shopping more than KL - it's more fashion forward and focuses more on open markets than big malls (though there are some mega malls!)
Chatuchak Market
By far my favourite market on earth. It dwarfs all of the London markets and is a mecca for everything from vintage clothes, records, designer wear, jewellry, pot plants, pets, furniture... a massive food area... You'll be sure to leave with stuff you never thought you needed!
I left with almost more bargains than I could carry!
MBK
Famous MBK is HUGE! An interesting combination of shops and stalls selling fake and real gear - watches, sports gear, bags, shoes, high fashion, etc.
Siam Paragon
The enormous posh shopping centre. This was the only place in all of Asia that I could find sticking REAL backpacker gear (Osprey and North Face backpacks, Merrell shoes, etc, etc. A godsend as my old Osprey had graciously passed on.
The cinemas here are also really impressive (caught Dark Knight Rises - first western film in 8 months!)
Food
Thai food is my favourite by far - light, spicy, nutritious. Bangkok is amazing for food; from street stalls, side cafes to posh restaurants.
Markets
All of the markets in Bangkok have great food stalls offering BBQ chicken, noodle soups, rice dishes, spicy salads, great coffee and bustling friendly atmosphere.
Street Food
Most working / commuting locals dine at streetside stalls; Sitting at shared plastic tables and chairs enjoying steaming spicy chicken noodle soup, chicken and rice, etc - ready in seconds - whilst chatting and laughing amidst the whir of activity.
Nightlife and Clubbing
Bangkok's nightlife is like no other - uninhibited, boisterous, classy / trashy (depending on how you like it)
Sukhumvit
Sukhumvit is one of the main thoroughfares of the city, a business district bundled with large expat community, a ton of bars (rooftop and ground dwelling).
Some of the more notable places include Q Bar and Bed Supperclub, at roughly 11pm the market stalls lining the streets make way for streetside bars serving strong coctails, and makes for an interesting bar crawl.
RCA
RCA!!! 3 enormous Ibizan like nightlubs side by side in an industrial estate... classy, huge, marble floors, champagne n coctails, high fashion, livin large, hands up high, electro, house, ambient chill, mashups. This is the place to really party.
What I really loved about RCA was the lack of farang - the place where mostly mad-fer-it Thais go to party!
This featured blog entry was written by SkinnyFists from the blog Tales from the Transit Lounge.
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If you're looking for a place to stay in Bangkok, check out Travellerspoint's handy map of Bangkok accommodation or for more information on things to see or do, have a look through our member created travel guide.
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