My Top Ten Bangkok Experiences

Bangkok remains one of the most affordable big cities in the world. Bangkok also happens to be one of the most vibrant and most chaotic cities I’ve experienced. It won’t come close to Cairo, Egypt, but there are some similarities. The interesting part is, just like Cairo, there’s some order in the chaos but only the locals understand the order. For the rest of us, it all seems quite life-threatening! First off, the driving in Bangkok will have you holding on to anything that offers you a degree of steadiness because every turn will make you feel like you’re about to fly out of the car. Like Cairo, the horn is a way of signaling your next move to other road users, not the indicators. Those are just an accessory. So, you can imagine the constant noise in the city. The horn is basically the soundtrack of Bangkok. There’s no peak hour because Bangkok traffic is congested at any time of the day and night. The people of Bangkok are like busy bees – always going somewhere. And while the driving in Bangkok made me want to strangle the drivers, there was so much to love about the city and the following are just some of the experiences that gave me the fondest memories of this place (in no particular order):


1) Indulge in some Thai cuisine

Can we just pay respect to Asians in general for their amazing culinary skills! I’m putting it down to the amazing spices they have in their part of the world. I’m yet to discover dishes tastier than Asian food. Thai food in particular has such beautiful aromas. Let’s not downplay the flawless skill they all seem to have in delivering the exquisite dishes. Thai people don’t do subtle flavours. Strong, pungent and colourful is more their game. When in Thailand, allow yourself the freedom to experiment. Try out as many local dishes as you can. Go to night markets because there you will find various stalls specializing in different local delicacies. Visiting a market means you’ll get to experience many different things in one place. Ask them about their favorites and what makes them unique. Sometimes the story behind the dish makes it all the more interesting. There are so many markets in Bangkok, you’re bound to find a really good one within a reasonable distance from your hotel or wherever you will be based. Just ask the locals and they’ll point you in the right direction. Most markets sell a variety of things from clothing, electronics and food. Most of them close really late at night. So, go and have a ball!

2) Shop 'til You Drop

One of the best things about shopping in Bangkok is how cheap things are. Shopping at markets is awesome because you can bargain further on the prices and in that way, you can have variety in the items you buy for family and friends back home. However, remember to explore the more formal shopping establishments, such as malls, because they have a unique offering . MBK centre is one of the most popular shopping malls in Bangkok and once you’re there, it won’t take you long to figure out why that is the case. Bangkok is a fairly safe city, which gives you great peace of mind but as with all other cities, it doesn’t mean you must be negligent. It just means you’ll have less worries about getting mugged.


3) Go on a Chao Phraya River Night Cruise

It has become part of our travel tradition to incorporate river cruises in just about every city we visit. Cruises already done include River Thames (London), Seine river (Paris), Nile river (Cairo), Zambezi river (Livingstone) and many others. Sunset or night cruises are really awesome because you get to see the city as it lights up at dusk. The city skylines become more defined and you get to see the character of even the biggest of cities through the silhouettes and the skyline. Cruises are also a great way to experience local culture because most of them incorporate an element of entertainment onboard, which tends to be made up of local dance and other cultural experiences. The cruise of the Chaopraya river, the major river in Thailand, is no different. It’s such an enjoyable experience, an hour will seem extremely short!


4) Visit the Temples

According to stats, most Thais follow Buddhism. Religion plays a huge role in the lives of the Thai people and you will feel it just by being there. There are so many temples around the city it's as if they are the heartbeat of Bangkok. Regardless of your religion, visiting a temple can be a really moving experience. Most of them are really beautiful structures, which carry a rich history. You’ll learn a lot about the people of Thailand just by doing a tour of 1 or 2 of these. Be cognisant of their rules ito attire and general behaviour on the premises so you won’t offend the locals.

5) Take a Ride on a Tuktuk

Although known by different names in other countries, tuktuks are a big part of Asian culture. From Japan to India to Thailand, tuktuks have been wheeling people around cities for many years now. They became so popular, the rest of the world caught on to the craze, with most countries keeping the name ‘tuktuk’. Here in South Africa, ‘rickshaws’, seen mostly around the North Coast , carry the closest resemblance to Tuktuks. The major difference is that the latter runs on an engine whist the other has ‘a human engine’. Tuktuks have now spread through the cities in SA, even becoming a part of daily commute for some. However, there’s a big difference between riding on a tuktuk here in SA vs riding one in Bangkok. There’s no thrill in the SA tuktuks. Possibly zero amount of adrenalin generated. In SA, tuktuks simply take you from point A to point B. In Bangkok, tuktuks take you from 100 heartbeats a minute to 1000 heartbeats a second and until you’ve taken a ride on a Bangkok tuktuk, you haven’t experienced one at all.


6) Get a Tailor-made suit

You’ve probably heard about the talented tailors in India and Thailand. If you’ve been eyeing a bespoke design but haven’t quite settled the internal conflict about paying R10,000 for it then perhaps you can have one custom made for you. In Bangkok, tailors are in just about every corner. Really good and extremely skilled tailors who will make you a piece you’ll never want to outgrow. Their workmanship is impeccable and it still amazes me just how quickly they do it. A 3-day turnaround isn’t what you’d expect for a suit that’s going to make you look like a million bucks, but they can do it. Some do it in an even shorter time. So pick a design and ask the staff at your hotel about any tailors in the vicinity. We found one in the basement of the hotel we were staying in. She took our measurements on our second day in Bangkok and by the fourth day, we were collecting our finished garments. My husband was so happy with his suits, he was dancing for the lady as he tried them on. The cherry on top is the price you’re going to pay. Trust me on this one.


7) Go Skybar Hopping For Sundowners

One of the many things I like to do when visiting a new country and a new city is to look for places with great views. Observation decks, rooftop restaurants/bars are among my favorite things to do. Sadly, we didn’t get to do this in Bangkok and I don’t even know how that happened because Bangkok has some of the most gorgeous skybars. To add to this is the fact that Bangkok has an electric nightlife. You don’t even need to be out at a bar to feel the energy. Just step out into the streets and you’ll be engulfed by the vibe. Just a take a look at this list of Bangkok’s Top skybars and you’ll want to start packing right away


8) Experience the Floating Markets

This is another thing we didn’t get to do when we were in Thailand purely because of time constraints and bad planning – the floating markets. My heart is still sore because this was right on the top of my list. I usually read up about the places I want to visit before leaving SA but this time around, I only discovered the details late. For starters, we needed to wake up extra early to make it to the floating markets in time to see the actual trading in progress. It’s a pity we didn’t know about the floating markets that are closer to the city but you can read all about them here. You may be wondering what floating markets are. Simply put, floating markets have been a way for many traders of goods and foods to sell among themselves and to locals. The interesting thing about them and hence the name, is the fact that the traders ride through canals of water on small boats with whatever goods they are selling. In my next visit to Bangkok, this is certainly getting ticked off my bucket list. Let’s see who’ll make it there first – you or me?


9) Go For a Thai Massage


I once had a boss who said she doesn’t like the idea of ‘being fondled by strangers’. The moment you utter such statements when I’m talking about getting a massage then you and I can’t be friends! It’s not fondling, it’s massaging. It’s the rubbing and kneading of muscles and joints of the body with the hands, to relieve tension or pain. It involves the use of special oils, which help you relax. It may even involve the use of hot stones to enhance the process of releasing tension from your body. In my opinion, if you’re going to go all the way to Thailand and not try Thai food and a little Thai massage, then just stay at home. You have no business going there in the first place. They know just how popular Thai massages are, they have little spas even in the most unexpected corners in town. Some are dodgy but once again, just like pretty much everything in Thailand, they are super cheap compared to what you’d pay at home for the same session. My recommendation is that you do this towards the end of your trip when you’ve done all the walking, the sightseeing and the shopping because you’ll probably need a good massage then.


10) Explore the City on Foot


On one of your days in Bangkok, just walk aimlessly through the city. Take a good pair of walking shoes, put on some sunscreen, grab your hat, keep your handbag light and hit the streets. It’s even more fun at night because you get to experience all the energy that Bangkok’s nightlife has to offer. Don’t worry about getting lost because you will find your way back to your hotel when the time comes for you to head back. When you walk the streets of any big city, you get to experience the rawness of it. Your most authentic experiences will most likely be a result of this exercise. Talk to the locals, do a little window shopping, explore and keep an open mind. You’re bound to see things that will shock you. Some things will warm your heart. Others will downright humble you. You’ll go back home a far richer person than you came. Bangkok is no ordinary city. Bangkok is an extraordinary city and you owe it to yourself to experience it, even if it’s just once in your lifetime.