Wat Arun Photo: Ai Pang

 

A three-wheel taxi Photo: Ai Pang

 

A room at the Avani Sukhumvit hotel in Bangkok Photo: Ai Pang

 

a breakfast buffet Photo: Ai Pang

For many Chinese, it is somewhat "criminal" to not head overseas when you have a long vacation like the upcoming National Holiday Day. The week-long holiday provides enough time to travel to most destinations around the world that are favored by Chinese travelers including Japan, South Korea and Thailand. 

Half of my friends have been to Thailand, either the southern island of Phuket or the northern city Chiangmai. They always talked how much fun they had there, almost as if they were free advisements for the country. 

Having been to Japan and South Korea, I decided recently it was time to make my maiden voyage to Bangkok, capital of Thailand. I headed there in early September, thus becoming one of the 8 million Chinese tourists who have visited the country this year as of September 15. 

You have plenty of reasons to plan a trip to Thailand - cheap flights and accommodations, local yummy street food and various kinds of markets that you can spend hours wandering about. There is also a free visa-on arrival policy for many countries, which means as long as you find tickets in a flash sale, you can then just grab your passport and go. 

City of temples 



Although Bangkok means "City of Angels" in Thai, the city in fact can be called the city of Buddhist temples. Nearly 95 percent people are Buddhist. Temples can be seen in every corner of the city and monks are highly respected. There are a number of temples for expats to put on their must-see list, from the Temple of the Reclining Buddha Wat Pho to Wat Arun, nicknamed the Temple of the Dawn. 

Characterized by tall golden stupas, Buddhist temples are quite unique and easily spotted throughout the city. A must-see for any first-time visitor to Bangkok, Wat Pho is famed for its giant reclining Buddha that is 46 meters long and covered in gold leaf. Here comes a rule No.1 in Thailand - before visiting any temple you should pay attention to the dress code, which requires you cover your shoulders and knees.  

The Wat Pho is only a 10-minute walk from the Grand Palace, so you can visit them, and the nearby Bangkok National Museum, at the same time.  

I'd recommend making the museum your priority on the first day of your trip, because it introduces Thailand's history, its people, religions, and customs as well as houses the largest collection of Thai art and artifacts in the country.  

The most well-known landmark in the city, the Grand Palace, is at the top of the list of must-see sights. Built in 1782, the palace was the home of the Thai king and the administrative seat of government as it was where he held court. Although the Thai kings stopped living in the palace around the turn of the 20th century, the palace complex is still used to mark all kinds of other ceremonial and auspicious events.

In addition to the Grand Palace, the palace complex also includes Wat Phra Kaew, or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which contains the small but greatly revered 14th century Emerald Buddha. 

Wat Arun, nicknamed the Temple of Dawn, is quite special and different from other temples you can visit in Bangkok with its colorfully decorated spires and how it stands majestically over the water. It is an online sensation for many Chinese travelers. 

City of traffic jams 

Although I had read news and heard complaints about the traffic problem in Bangkok, I didn't think it was that serious of a problem since I have lived in Beijing for years and experience the terrible traffic there every day. 

However, I suddenly found myself trapped in a traffic jam nightmare when I took a ride from Grab, an app similar to Uber that is popular in Southeast Asia, back to my hotel Avani on Sukhumvit road, the city's CBD area.

The experience was so terrible that just two traffic lights cost me 40 minutes. Trapped in the middle of the road, I couldn't do anything but wait. Seeing many locals riding motorcycles and passing by very fast, I desperately hoped to be one of them. 

Due to heavy traffic problems in the city, it turned out to be a very wise choice to stay near a BTS sky train station. People love to travel in Bangkok, largely part due to the various selections of accommodations, from hostels to luxury hotels, with fair prices. Many people will choose to stay at a hotel near Sukhumvit road, not far from most tourist attractions. 

Narrowing my choice according to various requirements, I found the Avani Sukhumvit Bangkok, a new hotel that just opened earlier this year. The most important part was the location, just near the exit of the On Nut station, which allows you to take the BTS to most tourist attractions such as the Erawan Shrine and shopping areas.    

Markets, street food and massage 

One of the most joyous parts of traveling in Southeast Asia is wandering the various markets scartted about the various major cities. Two of the most famous markets in Bangkok are definitely the Train Night Market Ratchada and the Chatuchak Weekend Market. 

Some people may ask why I am not recommending one of the many floating markets, a local specialty covered by tons of travel logs and TV programs. 

The reason is that most of the well-known ones are located in suburbs, where you have to spend an hour or more on the road and take a boat. I prefer to enjoy the very same food in the malls and markets within the city. 

These mouth-watering dishes include Kao Niew Ma Muang, made with sticky rice, mango slices and coconut cream syrup, and Som Tam, a typical Thai salad consisting of shredded green papaya, tomatoes, carrots, peanuts, dried shrimp string beans, sugar, garlic, fish sauce, lime juice, and plenty of chilli peppers.

No matter which market you go to, bargaining is a skill that you must master. Don't feel shy about haggling, even though everything is already cheap. Getting a discount is just as great a feeling as buying something new.  

The Train Night Market Ratchada is more well-known for its street food at night, when you will find yourself lost in food stalls selling everything from seafood, desserts to drinks. Please go to the market on an empty stomach or you won't be able to enjoy everything it has to offer.  

With 8,000 stalls, the Chatuchak Weekend Market is without a doubt the world's largest market for daily life goods. Getting lost among the stalls is the easiest thing, even if you are carrying a map. 

One of the best ways to approach exploring this massive market is to venture in not knowing what it is that you want. If you go in with the hopes of purchasing jewelry, odds are you won't be able to find the clothing and accessory section. 

If you are a massage lover, then the Chatuchak Weekend Market can offer you a selection of massage choices at the end of a tiring day walking around the market. 

Some people may prefer the massages at hotels or a spa, which tend to be gentler and have the masseuse communicate in English. As a boutique hotel lover, I take spa service very seriously, especially in the city of Bangkok, well-known in the world for its service industry. I very much enjoyed the spa service at my hotel, especially after the whole day walking among the thousand stalls in the market. 

Rules of thumb



Grab and BTS



Transportation is always a headache for travelers. In Bangkok, taking a taxi can be a pain since you need to have good bargining skills and a bit of luck to find an empty one. 

Fortunately, the BTS train system is very convenient and great for avoiding rush hour traffic. However, if you don't want to squeeze into a crowded train car after a tiring day of walking, a car ride may sound much better. 

This is where Grab comes in. It is an app similar to Uber and very useful in Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Malaysia. Using the promo NIHUA, you can find some surprises for you when using it for the very first time. Remember though to always take the BTS during rush hour, or else your road experience could be terrible.  

Hotels

Location is always the top criteria to take into consideration when booking a hotel. However, good locations mean high prices. From my experience, the Avani Sukhumvit Bangkok is a good choice as it is not far from the airport and almost sitting above a BTS station. It also has a rich breakfast and lunch buffet. If you just want to kill time in the hotel, you don't have to go far to get everything you need. Nearby are supermarkets like Tesco and BIGC and convenience stores like 7-11, where you can find various kinds of Thai snacks and gifts for friends. Book it on booking.com or Agoda in advance and you may find a favorable price.

Currency 

It is very easy to find places for money exchanges in the city. The rate is much better on the street than at the airport. 


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