Nightlife in Bangkok

Bangkok was established in 1767, when King Taksin recovered the kingdom after a Burmese siege at the former capital, Ayutthaya. King Taksin placed the capital at Thon-buri, which is now part of the present Bangkok. He was succeeded by King Rama I, who founded the Chakri Dynasty and transferred the capital across the river to the modern-day Bangkok. Now Bangkok is home to the present royalty, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Thailand boasts of being the only nation in Southeast Asia, which has not been colonized by any Western country. Although Thai culture is prominent in Bangkok, remnants of Western influence are seen especially with the surge of tourists and foreign migrants to this city. In the backdrop of skyscrapers and urban improvements, Bangkok maintains its beauty with its Grand Palace and Buddhist temples that house various images of Buddha in different sizes. Markets and malls are also fast becoming popular in Bangkok, with its bargain goods and affordable products replacing Hong Kong as the shopping capital after the latter’s transfer to the Chinese government. Its proximity to popular beaches and resorts also makes Bangkok a favorite destination among tourists. Its modernized international airport has also become a hub of flights en route to Europe and the Middle East. However, the sex trade remains to be a driver for foreigners to be attracted to Thailand.

Quick Tips:

If you want to get a good exchange rate for your currencies, go to Bayouk 1 to have your money changed into Baht. There are also bargain shops within Bayouk where you can do your shopping spree. A word of caution: don't carry too much money when you shop for your own protection. As you tour around the city, it is advisable to bring a phrasebook because Thais could not converse in English well. When shopping, carry a calculator with you so you can strike a bargain better with the vendors or stall owners. Upon checking in your hotel, ask for their business card, which you can show to taxi drivers when the need arises. When you are in Bangkok, it is always better to be sensitive to their local customs and traditions. Remember to show respect to elders by performing the wai with your palms put together close to your chest and performing a bow. Observe Thai customs, like not touching a person's head or not putting your feet on a table when you sit.

Best Way To Get Around:

Since Bangkok is now considered a hub, there are several flights coming in from different parts of the world at various times of the day. You need not worry when there is no one to meet you upon your arrival because there are several taxis lined up outside of the airport that can take you to your destination. Apart from taxis, the Sky Train is very helpful to tourists and is convenient and affordable. For other parts of Bangkok that cannot be reached by the Sky Train, there are air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses plying various routes. Also, there are motorbikes that can take you to small alleys, but they are very dangerous. You better take the tuk-tuk or the tricycle.

Royal Benja is near a Sky Train station, but it is about a few meters from Sukhumvit. We had to take a small alley and pass by several stores and girly bars before getting to Royal Benja. From Sukhumvit, one can see the towering building of Royal Benja.

But then, the adage “don’t judge the book by its cover” seems to be applicable to Royal Benja. Awed by the structure, we were expecting a breath-taking experience inside. Unfortunately, we were met by a hall of old carpets and rooms smelling of cigarettes. Worse, when we went out at night and returned to the hotel, the staff was fumigating the building and it smelled terrible. We had to hold our breath until we got to the elevator. It's a good thing we didn’t stay there for long, or else our entire stay in Bangkok would have been unpleasant.

A dinner along the Chao Phraya River is an awesome experience. The cool wind blowing, the sound of laughter, and the beautiful city lights bring excitement to an appetizing dinner. Indeed, the dinner cruise at the Chao Phraya River is something that will give you a glimpse of the other face of the City of Angels.

On the dinner cruise we were served delicious Thai cuisine. It was like a feast with a wonderful ambiance. We passed by the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Keo, which shown beautifully from afar.

To get into the pier where the dinner cruises begin, we were brought somewhere in the area of the royal barges. The cruise lasted approximately about an hour.

This is the Red Light District and night market rolled into one. We can stroll and shop and pass by bars with sleazy girls dancing, as seen from the streets. Though it's also a shopping haven, Patphong seem to have a higher price range compared with other markets in Bangkok. We love to come to Patphong, not because of the near-naked people found there, but because we know that there are restaurants and eateries open all night long till dawn. It's so easy to get to Patphong. You can take the Sky Train and get off at Silom. There's Patphong 1 and 2, so you have all night to discover the place.

MBK is known to have several bargain stores. It has parking spaces on almost every floor. Nevertheless, despite the parking provisions, we still had a hard time finding a slot in MBK. It was an indication that a lot of shoppers go to MBK. Floors of stalls selling clothes and various items are found at MBK. It is convenient to shop here because it is air-conditioned and spacious. We had a wonderful time buying our stuff in this shopping haven. We bought shirts and blouses for only B100, or less than $2. Bags and shoes are also everywhere. And, take note, the more items you buy, the less you pay, because you can ask for a bigger discount. As we got tired of shopping, we went to one of the restaurants inside the mall to have a rest and a decent meal. There are also some fast-food joints where you can spend a few minutes recharging your energy for another shopping splurge.

Near Impala Hotel and the Sky Train along Sukhumvit Road, it is really easy to go to Emporium. It has several floors with various clothing stores and restaurants. At the ground level is a floating restaurant with an artificial mini lake right at the center of the mall. Emporium is connected to a building that leads to the Benjasiri Park. My friends and I would usually meet in this mall because it is familiar and well organized, and we love the interior of Emporium. There’s a money-changer inside that also offers a reasonable rate. But if you are in the lookout for something cheap, Emporium is not the perfect place, because most of the items sold here are a bit expensive. But if you have an eye for discounts and bargains, you can probably find a good price in one of its stores. Emporium is a good place to hang out and relax, where you can watch the latest Hollywood movie in one of their cinemas.

The Grand Palace is a majestic view to behold. At night, it sparkles like the stars, while during the day, it glows like sun. Beside it is the Wat Phra Kaeo that houses the most highly venerated Buddha. People flock to the Grand Palace every day. Some are in a guided tour, while others go on their own. Tourists shouldn’t miss going to the Grand Palace, which is one of the icons of Bangkok. It would take half a day to tour the compound. When our friends took us to the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo, I was dumbfounded. We had to make sure we didn't disrespect the place or the believers who were praying. It was the foundation day of the Chakri Dynasty, so we were warned not to step at the red carpet reserved for the king.

I used to work in an organization with the Asia Pacific office in Bangkok. Before I left my job, I was told to attend a meeting with colleagues from other Southeast Asian countries. Gladly, I complied. Then I was told that the office moved to a new building and I carefully jotted down the new address. The office is located on Convent Road. I asked our executive assistant where it was since I was going to Bangkok by myself. She told me that it’s in Silom, near Patphong. A Convent Road in Patphong?

For those who are not familiar with Patphong, it is Bangkok’s prominent red light district. Girlie and gay bars come alive at night, and sometimes they leave their doors open for passersby to take a peek at the performances and entice them to go inside the bar. In the morning, Patphong is a busy street with vendors selling all kinds of items, from clothes to souvenir items to jewelry. But at night, women clad in skimpy clothes fill the place. Oftentimes, these women are not real women but transvestites. Prostitution is rampant in Bangkok. Many nonprofit organizations focus their eyes on Bangkok for a solution to the AIDS problems as well as women- and child-trafficking. With still concerned groups who are willing to help the plight of Thai women, it is a blessing to find a Convent Road in Patphong.