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Bangkok Trip, Travel and Fun – Part 2

January 22nd, 2010

This post is a sequel to Bangkok Trip, Travel and Fun – Part 1.

Chatuchak Weekend Market / JJ Market

If you’re planning a holiday to Bangkok, make sure if falls on a weekend or at least for a Saturday or Sunday!
This is because you must pay a visit to Chatuchak Weekend Market or better known as JJ Market. Your Bangkok shopping trip will not be complete without this.

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Image from thailandforvisitors.com

Chatuchak market open only on weekends and the stalls are open by 10am till evening. It is easily accessible and within walking distance of Mo Chit station of the BTS Skytrain Sukhumvit Line.
Taking the BTS train that you will be awed by the size of the market, with the view of it from the skytrain.

Notice the number of taxis and vans parked by the road from the photo below. (Can you see something else that is wrong with the photo?)
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The place is quite compact and the pathways are narrow. There are too many shops for you to shop around in a day.
The stalls are categorized to sections but you can still see different types of goods sold everywhere in the market.

Tips for visiting Chatuchak weekend market:
Wear light clothes, do not wear long pants as it is extremely warm. Do go early.
Bargaining is expected, if not mandatory, at Chatuchak and the prices are generally substantially cheaper than the shopping centers and street stalls on Silom and Sukhumvit.
Beware of pickpockets and careful of your belongings.

If you’re one that thinks the price and value of your purchase ranks higher than your comfort during your shopping, this might be your shopping heaven. The prices of goods are cheapest here as compared to the city’s shopping complex or roadside stalls. Learn how to bargain!

Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew

The Grand Palace of Bangkok served as the official residence of the Kings of Thailand from the 18th century onwards. The Grand Palace is now opened for public visit ever since the present King of Thailand, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, relocated permanently to the Chitralada Palace.

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Clockwise from topleft:
1. The entry sign that shows DO NOT TRUST WILLY STRANGERS. We had an interesting misadventure on that, and more on that in the next post.
2. Many mythological giants like these that guard the temples.
3. Palace guard that does not move (except his eyes).
4. Ticketing counters before the entrance. Thai enters for free. Remember to wear decently before your visit.

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The Emerald Buddha (fourth from left) sits high up on an altar of gold designed to represent the traditional aerial chariot (Busabok, Sk. Pushpaka) attributed to Hindu gods on the murals of this country.

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Before you exit the Grand Palace, there is a Wat Phra Keo Museum that display samples of architectural temple fragments that have been replaced by new ones.
Cannons (above) are all lined up in display.

Chinatown / Yaowarat

Chinatown is Chinese community centric area and is a colourful, exotic and busy area, packed with market stalls and probably the greatest concentration of gold shops in the city.

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Most of the vendors here are able to speak Mandarin.

In Chinatown, I visited Lao Li (now Overseas Restaurant – 海外天) for a small bowl of claypot Shark Fin’s soup.

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Learn more about Bangkok’s Chinatown here.

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Central World shopping center and Bangkok’s traffic.

Baiyoke Tower II

Baiyoke (bye-yook) Tower II is located on 222 Rajprarop Road in the Ratchathewi district of Bangkok, Thailand, and is the country’s tallest building.
It contains the Baiyoke Sky Hotel, the tallest hotel in Southeast Asia, with an open-air 360-degree revolving roof deck on the 84th floor.

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While the revolving roof deck is open 1030 – 2230 daily, I figured that Bangkok’s skyline at night would be much better than the morning view.

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You might want to have your dinner at the tower as there are quite a number of restaurants for your choosing. Do make early reservation and you might want to ask for window seats. After your dinner you will still have time for a skyline view of Bangkok at the revolving platform on 84th floor and the observation deck at 78th floor.

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Photo above is the Central World shopping mall viewed from Baiyoke Sky. Notice the heavy traffic in front of the mall.

To get to Baiyoke Tower II, you can take the BTS to Chit Lom of Sukhumvit line, follow the signboard to Central World and you may choose to take a taxi or tuk-tuk if the traffic permits. Walking is also possible and the distance is around 1km. It is advisable to walk as the heavy traffic might costs you both time and money.

My preferred drink:
OISHI Green Tea (green cap – the others are not as good)
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No, this is not advertorial but the Oishi Green Tea is what replenishes the dehydration of the body during the entire trip, besides having plain water and coconut.

Holiday in Bangkok?
In my opinion, Bangkok is a holiday destination that is value for money.
It is a very attractive city for shopping and the local people are nice and friendly.
However, the locals might speak very little English except for hotel staff.
Do take caution though as there are some things you should learn being tourists in Bangkok.

Have you been to Bangkok and is there anything you liked or disliked there? Please comment below this post.

Up next : The misadventures in Bangkok.

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