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CommentsTaking on Thailand
Getting to know two very different worlds: urban Bangkok and tropical Koh Chang
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Wildlife, like this monkey, is a common sight on a trip to Thailand. |
Nestled far in Southeast Asia, with larger countries such as China to the north and India to the west, Thailand is an exotic destination that can provide visitors with a variety of experiences, simply based on location. The country’s geography is essentially divided into regions, with the northern portion consisting of mountains and forests, while the extended peninsula in the south features numerous tropical islands.
But the location that most defines Thailand (for better or worse, depending on your perspective and/or knowledge of it) is Bangkok. As the capital city and heart of commerce for the country, it also serves as the center of political and cultural activities. As it is such a heavily populated city, estimated at more than 10 million people (New York City’s population is between 8 million and 9 million, to provide perspective), the sprawling nature and overcrowded conditions in Bangkok can be a real eye-opener.
But to find a vacation destination that has the hustle and bustle of big city life, contrasted with the peace and tranquility of island life, you’d be hard pressed to beat Thailand.
Center of Attention
With an ever-growing population, Bangkok is a city that is steeped in tradition, containing a truly remarkable number of temples and shrines that pay reverence to its storied history. At the same time, as the primary hub of business and economic activity for the country, it’s also a progressive and constantly developing locale.
Bangkok is truly a feast for the senses. As such an overcrowded city, there is traffic aplenty—both pedestrian and vehicle. Lots of public transportation options are available, be it taxis, buses, motorcycles, tuk-tuk (three-wheeled motorized vehicles), the Bangkok Metro (underground metro system) or Skytrain (elevated metro system). But leave plenty of time to get from place to place, as traffic in the city is almost constantly congested.
Getting around on foot, though not always the most comfortable when factoring in the heat and air pollution, is almost a necessity at times. With temperatures frequently hovering between the 80- and 90-degree marks during the day, sweating away a few pounds via daily walking exercise should be no problem in Bangkok.
The city is a veritable shopper’s paradise, with a seemingly endless number of vendors that set up right along the street, selling pretty much any kind of merchandise you can imagine. Food carts can also be found on every street corner, offering up everything from fresh fruit to fried insects. (Try the crickets; they’re surprisingly tasty!) Whether you are a shopaholic or not, a can’t-miss stop in Bangkok is the Chatuchak weekend market. It’s one of the largest in the world. With more than 15,000 stalls, it attracts anywhere between 200,000 to 300,000 people on any given Saturday or Sunday it’s open.
Catching a bit of the country’s history is certainly not difficult, as the city is home to the Grand Palace, a complex of buildings that contains the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the country’s most sacred site. (Contact Tourism Authority of Thailand, 662-694-1222 for more information.) The lush landscaping and architecturally stunning buildings that make up the complex are meticulously and immaculately maintained by staff on a daily basis.
The Grand Palace sits on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River, which provides passage to the many canals in the city, where homes and temples can be seen on the water’s edge. Locals use the canals to transport and sell merchandise, while visitors can take in the views on the river from any number of tour boats that frequent the area.
Being a country steeped in culture, even Thailand’s sporting events have a pageantry associated with them. Thai boxing, known in Thailand as Muay Thai, is the country’s national sport and contains numerous rituals and traditions. It’s also quite an energetic and exciting sport to watch in-person. It’s hugely popular, with fights throughout the week at two Bangkok locations: Lumpini Stadium (662-252-8765) and Ratchadamnoen Stadium (662-281-4205). While the sport itself can be violent in nature, it’s certainly no more so than an American boxing match.
Another popular (and certainly more low-key) attraction near Bangkok is the Samphran Elephant Grounds and Zoo (662-295-2938, elephantshow.com/eng/home.htm) that showcases the large pachyderm, a revered animal in Thai culture. There’s an entertaining elephant show that incorporates an abbreviated history of Thai culture, and the zoo also is home to a spectacular crocodile show that includes brave (or maybe crazy) young men sticking their arms and even heads into the mouths of the reptiles.
