Bangkok city guide --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More Bang for your buck
Sunday November 27, 2005
It's got fab food and great parties and, with a strong
pound, you might be able to afford a room at the world's
best hotel. Report by John Brunton
and he wrotes'
If you do only five things (in Bangkok)
1. Take a trip along the majestic Chao Phraya river.
Either jump on the express boat, a water bus that zips
up and down the river stopping at the major tourist sights,
or hire a 'long-tail' boat - like a gondola trip in Venice,
only faster and a lot cheaper.
2. Do not miss the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (open
daily 9am-5pm). Go early or late - half an hour before
it opens or closes - to avoid the huge tour groups, and
rather than queue for a glimpse of the famed Emerald Buddha
(all 66 centimetres of it), spend time away from the crowds,
admiring the wonderfully restored wall paintings illustrating
the Ramakian epic.
3. The Jatujak weekend market, 20 minutes away on the
Skytrain, is shopping heaven. With over 8,000 stalls selling
designer clothes, fashion accessories, interior decorations,
antiques, silks and ceramics, you'll come for an hour
and stay the whole day. See www.jj247.com
to check out the best stalls.
4. Have a Thai massage. Choose between the ultimate massage
at the Wat Pho monastery - torture, but you'll feel wonderful
the next day - or spoil yourself at one of the many inexpensive
day spas dotted around Silom and the Sukhumvit Road.
5. For a splash-out Sunday brunch, head for Madison (155
Rajadamri Road; 250 1000; reserve in advance ), flagship
restaurant of the Four Seasons Hotel. This is the crucial
Bangkok rendezvous for the city's socialites, providing
- on top of the fun atmosphere - all you can eat and drink
including lobster, scallops, oysters, sushi, dim sum,
martinis and bloody marys.
Read
full article
|
