Bangkok is a city that beautifully blends the traditional with the modern. On one side it has the most breathtaking architecture with towering skyscrapers, chic corporate offices, and perfectly manicured balcony gardens while on the other the old city is a picture of a calm, tranquil, and relaxed life. Both have their charm and bear testimony to the hard work and dedication of the Thai people.
Another striking feature of Bangkok is the Chao Phraya River which runs through the city. While zooming cars routinely buzz over the many flyovers over it, the river retains its gentle flow and snakes its way through. Cruising through it while the city passes you by is a surreal experience. More on that later.
We had two days in Bangkok with lots to see so our itinerary was essentially packed. The good thing was that we could enjoy every place we visited without rushing. We reached Bangkok in the afternoon and kept the rest of the day free for shopping. We stayed in Central Bangkok. Our hotel was easily accessible from all the malls nearby on foot and surrounded by beautiful glass buildings.
Mall hopping
We had shopped our hearts out for the trip but going to Bangkok and not splurging was a crime I wasn’t bound to commit! Walking on the streets while observing local people and shops seemed eerily similar to Mumbai. Although there were five malls in close vicinity (with similar brands and items), we decided to quit mindless window shopping and shop at one place, Platinum Mall. A kept reminding me that we were paying in Bahts for stuff easily available in India. Since he was right, I limited the shopaholic in me to buying souvenirs and cute colourful clothes for us and our nephews.
Night Market
After the afternoon’s spoils, one would expect us to be done and of course, we weren’t. We had heard about the trendy night market and had to get a glimpse. The kids were exhausted so we tucked them in and excitedly walked into the brightly lit night. The footpaths had turned into a vibrant street fest packed with eager sellers and haggling tourists. A painter quoted 400 Bahts (1000 rupees) for my portrait so I let it pass. Everything we saw at the mall, and more, was available for sale and cheaper! We looked at each other, shrugged, laughed, and bought some more. Haha!
Safari World
The next day was completely booked for Safari World, an amazing experience we were all looking forward to. Quick tip: try booking your tickets online for a hassle-free and fast entry. Safari World is divided into Safari Park and Marine Park and is spread over a huge area of 480 acres. The hour-long drive-through allows you to observe animals like lions, tigers, zebras, deer, hippos, bears, and many Asian and African birds in their natural habitat. You can feed the giraffes inside and take pictures with them. Kangaroos, gorillas, blackbucks, Great white pelicans, painted storks, macaws, and many more exotic animals and birds are a delight to watch from close quarters.
Marine Park has various animal displays and all the main attractions. There are seven but we only saw the Dolphin Show (impressive creatures!), Spy War Show (A James Bond spin-off), Orangutan Boxing Show (total fun!), and the Elephant Show (nothing new). Since we were tired and hungry by then we had a buffet lunch and rested for a while. Thanks to too many places left to take pictures, it was brief. There were lots of Thai people too carrying portable fans to keep themselves cool. All in all, a sunburnt day but completely worth it.
Chao Phraya River Cruise
Thanks to the cruise, discarding my jeans and tees I donned a lovely one-piece bought specially for the occasion. The cruise was to take off from Icon Siam, a high-end mall housing major luxury brands like Porsche, Hermes, Prada, Alexander McQueen, Fendi, Christian Dior, and more. While waiting for our turn we busied ourselves by pretending to be interested in checking them out. The cruise was a crowded affair with a Thai girl singing Hindi songs and us dancing the night away. The view from the top deck was majestic. A beautiful quiet settled in as we moved farther away from the land. The cool breeze on my face and A’s warm hand in mine felt like the perfect moment ever. Bangkok will always have a special place in my heart for this!
Wat Pho
Wat Pho was last on our list before our flight back home. It’s a famous Buddhist temple considered the highest of first-class royal temples. The temple complex has unique architecture and a large collection of beautiful Buddha images. Chinese guardian figures at the gates and figures of people in different Yoga poses are scattered around. The prayer hall is grand and peaceful. The famous reclining Buddha representing Buddha’s entry into Nirvana is a massive 15m high and 46 m long and made in exquisite detail. Not sure about its significance but we beat the Kong too.
Thankfully, no FOMO for us as we somehow squeezed in a massage on the second day too. Being on foot all day, our calves were screaming in rebellion giving us an excuse to visit a foot massage parlour nearby. A managed to bargain with the lady and we got an extremely relaxing hour-long oil-free body massage at the same rate. I still remember how the lady managed to cure a month-old persistent cramp in my foot with a simple twist. She sure deserves credit for it.
The cleanliness and discipline in Bangkok made me realise how lacking we are in the basic civic sense. Even when the roads were jammed with traffic there was no honking. No irate drivers picked up a fight or threatened anyone with their lineage. People take tourism seriously and are happy to help. No wonder Thailand is fast becoming a preferred tourist destination.
This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.
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