Bangkok (Lonely Planet) - Andrew Burke [88]
We apologise for not ending this tour with a drinking spot with a view (the views in Soi Cowboy notwithstanding), but it is supposed to start early. If you’ve managed to stretch it out to the end of the day, consider walking down to Cheap Charlies in Soi 11, and be sure to check out the Sukhumvit restaurants.
Return to beginning of chapter
GREATER BANGKOK
Eating; Shopping; Sleeping
Once rice fields, voracious Bangkok has expanded in every possible direction with few concessions to charm. Surrounding the previously defined neighbourhoods are seemingly endless flat residential suburbs with a small number of scattered attractions. Some of these sights are conveniently located along the Skytrain route, making them easily accessible from downtown. Chatuchak Weekend Market and the Children’s Discovery Museum are both on the northern branch of the Skytrain, while Rama IX Royal Park (below) is located in the far-eastern part of the city.
The other attractions listed here will require a taxi, a boat, a bike or several forms of public transport (and lots of time and patience).
For details of the fab cycling tours through the ‘lungs of Bangkok’, the mangroves and plantations of Bang Kachao just across the Chao Phraya from Klong Toey, see Click here.
CHILDREN’S DISCOVERY MUSEUM
Map
0 2618 6509; Queen Sirikit Park, Th Kamphaeng Phet 4; adult/child 70/50B; 9am-5pm Tue-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat & Sun; Mo Chit
Through hands-on activities, learning is well-disguised as fun at this museum opposite Chatuchak Weekend Market. Kids can stand inside a bubble, see how an engine works, role-play as a firefighter or jump into the music room to play on traditional instruments. Most activities are geared to primary school age. There is also a toddlers’ playground at the back of the main building.
RAMA IX ROYAL PARK
Map
Soi 103 (Soi Udom Suk), Th Sukhumvit; admission 10B; 5am-6pm; ordinary 2, 23 & 25, transfer to green minibus at Soi 103; Udom Suk, & taxi
Opened in 1987 to commemorate King Bhumibol’s 60th birthday, this green area, about 15km southeast of central Bangkok, covers 81 hectares and includes a water park and botanic garden that is a significant horticultural research centre. There are resident lizards, tortoises and birds, and a flower and plant sale is held here in December. The park’s centrepiece is a museum dedicated to the life of the king. In 2009 the water park had yachting facilities added.
SAFARI WORLD
Map
0 2518 1000; www.safariworld.com; 99 Th Ramindra 1; adult/child 750/450B; 9am-5pm
Claiming to be the world’s largest ‘open zoo’, Safari World is divided into two parts, a drive-through Safari Park and a Marine Park. In the Safari Park, visitors take a bus tour (windows remained closed) through an ‘oasis for animals’ separated into different habitats that are far more livable than the depressingly small old-school enclosures at Dusit Zoo. Hundreds of animals roam through the park, including giraffes, lions, zebras, elephants and orangutans. The Marine Park focuses on stunts by dolphins and other trained animals; if that’s not your thing you can go to the Safari Park only. Safari World is 45km northeast of Bangkok, and best reached by taxi.
ANCIENT CITY (MUANG BORAN)
Map
0 2709 1644; www.ancientcity.com; 296/1 Th Sukhumvit, Samut Prakan; adult/child 300/150B; 8am-5pm
Don’t have time to see Thailand’s most famous historic monuments? Then consider seeing scaled-down versions of them in what claims to be the largest open-air museum in the world. Covering more than 80 hectares of peaceful countryside, Muang Boran is littered with 109 facsimiles of famous Thai monuments. It’s an excellent place to explore by bicycle (daily rental 50B) as it is usually quiet and rarely crowded. Ancient City lies outside Samut Prakan, an hour by road east of downtown. To get there, either negotiate with a taxi (about 1200B return)