Everything said about ‘tourist-friendly’ Thailand, when it came to the road-signs and english-speaking taxi drivers, I thought Taipei was a lot better. Still worse, the taxi-drivers in BKK are more prone to cheating. Buddhism, kept aside, BKK is as sinful as any other materialistic ciy in the world but slighly worse because of the open flesh business.
Thai’s major past-time is eating, it shows! While I craved for Thai cuisine back home, we had a real food problem in BKK being vegans. If you are a vegan in Thailand, better carry something with you while you are traveling. We, however, found refuge in 7-11 retail-chain, which sells real cheap veg ‘burgers’; clean, cheap, healthy and fills your stomach.
We had a rented a taxi for a day because these locations were real far away from where I stayed – Asian Insititute of Technology.
Thailand is constitutional monarchy and while you drive through the amazing roads (India has a lot to learn from them), you see the kings photos and the royal flags fluttering all alongside. It is a pretty sight to see.
Ancient Place : If you ever doubted that Thai was a tourist place, you should see this! The way they have packaged and marketed this place is a lesson for India. I have travelled so many places in India and we have way lot to offer, but we are pathetically bad at presentation. Ancient Place has replicas of nearly 100 monuments of Thailand, some existing some long destroyed. It would take a you a whole day to go around this place. Cycles are provided as a part of the ticket which would cost 300Baht for a foreigner. It is a whole day excercise if you like history and architecture. There are nice lounge-like cafeterias inside the location and you could also rest during the hot afternoons.
Samvat Prakaran Crocodile Farm
It is a not-to-be missed placed. If you are wondering why so many crocs got together, it is because it is FARM like a poultry farm, where crocs are bred for their skin. Nevertheless, it has been converted into a nice attractive park. Entrance is about 250 Baht (USD 6). This park is one of the best illustrations of how Thailand has remodelled into a tourist-friendly place. In addition to the crocs, there are monkey shows, crocodile fishing, elephant dances, nice parks.
Phat-Pong Market
Ok, it is a sleazy place for people to pander themselves. But it is also a nice place to have a evening in Bangkok well within your moral limits. I wonder why there are so many transsexuals in Bangkok!!
