Bangkok

My first trip to Bangkok was on the tails of my hubby’s golf group. They were making their pilgrimage to overseas putting greens. The golf widows didn’t intend being caddies so we were left to our own devices for 4 days. Surprisingly, we didn’t miss them much!

We travelled on Thai Airways for the first time and I compliment the attendants for their friendly, courteous and professional service. I especially loved the beautiful silk outfits worn by the female crew.

A steamy 34 degrees greeted us on arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The drive to our hotel was smooth with free-flowing traffic except when we got to the city centre where it was a logjam. We inched along for the last kilometre. Peak-time traffic is the same in a big city anywhere in the world.

Train travel

Our hotel was conveniently located near the metro and sky train. All station names and announcements were in Thai as well as English which made it easy for travel. Some place names are long … try asking the booking clerk for a ticket to Phaya Thai Ratchaprorop!

People enter and exit the train in an orderly manner. They stand on either side of the markers, permitting passengers to alight first. Even in peak hour crush, they wait patiently “in single file”. Fascinating to see such courtesy at a train station! We initially broke ranks and rushed in but soon fell in line.

Chatuchak markets

On the first day we took the metro to Chatuchak. These are weekend markets for local products and handicrafts. The stalls are located on long avenues and it was extremely crowded. The undercover areas are in confined spaces but the outer shops are easier to navigate, though you need some sun protection. We wandered along viewing the goods on display … plenty of linen and cotton clothes, bamboo and cork products, strange confectionery and loads of seafood. I’ve never seen so many fried octopus and squid before. Tropical fruits were displayed in an explosion of colour, with many new ones that I hadn’t seen before.

Royal Thai Palace

Day 2 was another hot and humid day, so we armed ourselves with umbrellas and water bottles for a visit to the Royal Thai Palace or Grand Palace, one of the top sights in Bangkok. Built in 1782, the sprawling complex comprises several beautiful buildings, pavilions and landscaped gardens. The pagodas are stunning with different styles of architecture and exquisite artwork. Most of them were gilded and some spires seemed to touch the sky.

A large portion of the population follows Buddhism. There is a Monk School across the road from the Royal Palace. The belief is that you must be a monk at some time in your life, for a day, for a week or longer, as you choose. The monks live a simple life, walk barefoot and depend on food offerings from people.

Wat Pho Temple

Not far from the palace is the Wat Pho Buddhist Temple. Built 300 years ago, it was considered to be the first university of Thailand. Its original name is 49 letters long so I won’t try to type it, let alone say it out loud. In one of the buildings is the famous statue of the Reclining Buddha, 45m long in gold and mother-of-pearl. Nearby are several hallways with over 300 statues of Buddha in different poses. The temple complex is huge. A dynasty of kings from Rama I onwards added various structures through during their reign. A giant mural on one of the outer walls depicting a scene from the epic Ramayana took me back to my Ancient Indian History lessons at school.

Maeklong Train Market

The Maeklong Train Market is about 80kms from the city centre and is accessible by road or rail. It is one of the more unique local experiences for visitors to Bangkok.

Alighting from our van and taking a short cut to the tracks, we had to pass through the fish and meat market with all types of whole products and offcuts, some of which made us squeamish. We ran the gauntlet looking neither left nor right until we reached the tracks.

Vendors set up their stalls alongside the railway tracks and it is possible to walk along the sleepers. When the horn sounds, the shop awnings are lowered and the train passes within inches of bystanders (albeit at a slow pace). People edge away from the tracks but still within feet of the moving train. If you don’t get hit by a moving carriage, you are still in danger of being struck by a selfie stick dangled by a tourist leaning out the train window! The train passes, the awnings go up again and trading continues. No occupational health and safety rules but in the scheme of things, you’re here for the experience, so live like the locals for a few minutes. The train runs through 8 times a day, so be sure you synchronise your visit.

Floating Market

Keeping with the theme of unusual markets are the Floating Markets in Bangkok. There are several, with Amphawa and Damnoen Saduak appearing to be more popular ones. We visited the latter, located not far from the train market. Another unusual experience of local life and culture. Shoppers/tourists sail through the canal in little wooden boats under brightly coloured umbrellas. The vendors peddle their wares from boats – fruit, ice-cream, cool drinks, and even cooked food like pad thai, rice, seafood …. Ok, I admit I wasn’t game enough to sample anything sold in the waterways. We did try some yummy coconut cakes when our feet were firmly planted on solid ground.

Shopping

Bangkok has always been a shoppers’ paradise and there’s something to suit every budget, from the street sellers and retailers to the high-end stores.

Being 2-day old pros in train travel, we ventured on the automated driverless sky train to the Platinum Shopping Centre. This retail shopping centre has multi levels and long arcades. I’m sure we walked miles in just a single section, end-to-end and up-and-down. Plenty of shoes and clothes, especially linen, and other brand name goods. Interestingly, the preferred mode of payment is not plastic but paper cash.

We managed to pack in quite a bit of action in a few days. Do be adventurous and try out the diverse cuisines. You really won’t get Thai’d of it! There is such a fantastic range of food and fruit, be it street food, cafe-dining or restaurants. I Pad Thai’d my heart out daily with all variations of noodles. A refreshing drink of coconut water, freshly cut open and drunk with a straw provided the perfect cooling agent.

Golf

During the day, I didn’t see much of my other half. The guys departed at an early hour to beat the heavy traffic. The golf courses were located far from the city. By all reports, they were picturesque and pristine. Some courses boasted a number of visiting professionals including Tiger Woods.

We leisurely ladies had lazy mornings sampling the different fare at the breakfast bar before setting off on our daily expeditions.

If you’re into massages, there are umpteen places to get body and foot massages for a few dollars. I passed on that but ensured good foot circulation by walking around the malls. During the monsoon, be prepared for heavy showers. The rain comes down heavy but clears quickly.

Golf took me on my first trip to Bangkok, but the shopping and food will take me back again. Oh … and maybe the cosmetic surgery! Haha … watch out for my falsehoods!