To & From Bangkok:
A well connected and popular Far East Travel hub, many options from Dublin, best to shop around for the good flight times and value well in advance of travel dates.
Bangkok has a hot season March to May, and a rainy season June to October, outside that is the best time to visit but reflected in higher flight and accommodation costs.
Like an Irish summer, pack sun cream with an umbrella, shorts, a rain jacket, and hat.
Arrival will be approximately 24 hours later than take off, so best to try and arrive during the early afternoon so you can get to hotel before dark, only 10/11 hours of daylight, so it is a long evening.
- Woke Tip; Try late October early November for best climate and prices.
- Awake Tip; Bangkok is a major hub for linking Australasia to Europe and very popular for back packers, so it can be extremely busy at holiday times such as Xmas and New Year.
Arrival into Suvarnabhumi airport, ( BKK) can be daunting as has one of the worlds largest Terminal buildings, so the place is massive, and bustling with passengers going in all directions.
BTS rail link is good option as traffic can be an issue in city centre although we did make it relatively good time with car/driver booked through hotel. We had chosen the Shangri La Resort: Saphan Taksin Skytrain station is literally over the road so taking the train is very feasible too.
Shangri -La resort has two wings the Krungthep is club level, with substantial buffet breakfast , fabulous afternoon tea and cocktails with heavy hors d’oeuvre /sampler plates served in the evening all included in the price. It is by far the best club experience we have enjoyed anywhere on our travels. The Krungthep wing has its own reception and lobby, and separate outside pool and spa, so an oasis within an oasis. The rooms have balconies looking over the Chao Phraya River, so a wonderful experience.
Figure 1 Balcony View down the River Chao Phraya
Exploring Istanbul – Day 1:
The BTS/MRT subway lines are quite easy to negotiate so we opted to visit the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo -hop off at Sanam Chai
The Grand palace is in the Old City, situated on its own island Rattanakosin, albeit a canal was dug across a neck of land on the East bank of the Chao Phraya river.
It is a most impressive site home to the Royal family, although no King has resided there since the early 20th Century, but the complex is stunning display of Thai art. Wat Phra Kaeo served as the Royal chapel.
Figure 2 Entrance to the Palace
Figure 3 Inside the Royal Palace
Tucked behind the Phra Mondop is a model of Angkor Wat installed by Rama IV 1851 when Cambodia was under Thai rule.
Figure 4 Phra Mondop
Do not miss the famous reclining Buddha at Wat Pho the oldest and largest temple in Bangkok, a typical Thai temple with resident monks.
Figure 5 Reclining Buddha
Over the river is Wat Arun, jump on a ferry shuttle from Tha Tein, try and avoid all the tour groups and overanxious Tuk Tuk drivers.
However after a long hot day in the palace and connected grounds a quick Tuk Tuk back to the hotel is a great way to see some of the back streets—just make it very clear you don’t want to go shopping as the driver is on a mission and not always the same one as you—our mission change shower and enjoy cocktails at the hotel lounge.
- Awake Tip; Negotiate and agree the price and destination before setting sail in a Tuk Tuk.
Check out link 3
Exploring Bangkok – Day 2:
The National Museum is a great way to immerse yourself in Thai history, a guided tour at 9.30 a.m on Wednesday and Thursday is worth joining and its free.
From there head towards Dusit Park, sometimes referred to as the New Royal City which is home to Royal residencies and Government offices. The Zoo is worth a visit along with the Royal Elephant Museum
If you have time drop back to Jim Thompson’s House, an American credited with having revived the Thai art of silk weaving.
From the Shangri La there is a free river ferry to the Asiatique Night Market for late night shopping and food and drink.
Check out link 4.
Exploring Bangkok – Day 3:
Bangkok’s canals are a network of waterways spreading out into the countryside to the west of the Chao Phraya River. This is where the local population live precariously perched on stilts.
There are a few ways to tour the canals you can hire a boat or join an organised tour on a larger boat, the cheapest way is to explore by riding the Chao Phraya express, a river bus which runs between Sathorn Pier and Phra Athit Pier, journey takes about 90 minutes passing by several historical sights such as the Church of the Santa Cruz, Wat Arun, Wat Phra Kaeo and Wat Rakhang.
To cap a Bangkok experience, brace your self for a night visit to Patpong – tread carefully, and there is always The Paddy Field Bar and Restaurant if you want to play safe.
We hope you have enjoyed our look back at Bangkok & to keep up with our travels you can follow us on
Instagram : @wokeandawaketravel
Twitter : @woketravel
Useful Links
1.https://www.shangri-la.com/bangkok/shangrila/
2.https://www.royalgrandpalace.th/en/home