Thailand (Lonely Planet, 13th Edition) - China Williams [74]
On the opposite (west) side of the river is Thonburi, which was Thailand’s capital for 15 years, before Bangkok was founded. Fàng ton (Thonburi Bank), as it’s often called by Thais, seems more akin to the provincial capitals than Bangkok’s glittering high-rises.
Bangkok’s main international airport, Suvarnabhumi (pronounced sù·wan·ná·poom), is located 30km east of the city centre. Some domestic flights still use the old Don Muang Airport, north of the city. For details on how to get to and from these equidistant ports, Click here.
Return to beginning of chapter
Bangkok Addresses
Any city as large and unplanned as Bangkok can be tough to get around. Street names are intimidating, and the problem is compounded by the inconsistency of romanised spellings as well as a mystifying array of winding streets that never lead where a map dares to propose.
The Thai word thanŏn (Th) means road, street or avenue. Hence Ratchadamnoen Rd (sometimes called Ratchadamnoen Ave) is always Th Ratchadamnoen in Thai.
A soi is a small street or lane that runs off a larger street. So, the address referred to as 48/3-5 Soi 1, Th Sukhumvit, will be located off Th Sukhumvit on Soi 1. Alternative ways of writing the same address include 48/3-5 Th Sukhumvit Soi 1 or even just 48/3-5 Sukhumvit 1. Some Bangkok sois have become so large that they can be referred to both as thanŏn and soi, eg Soi Sarasin/Th Sarasin and Soi Asoke/Th Asoke. Smaller than a soi is a trok (ròrk; alleyway).
Building numbers are equally confounding; the string of numbers divided by slashes and dashes (eg 48/3-5 Soi 1, Th Sukhumvit) indicate lot disbursements rather than sequential geography. The number before the slash refers to the original lot number; the numbers following the slash indicate buildings (or entrances to buildings) constructed within that lot. The preslash numbers appear in the order in which they were added to city plans, while the postslash numbers are arbitrarily assigned by developers.
Maps
A map is essential for finding your way around Bangkok. The long-running and oft-imitated Nancy Chandler’s Map of Bangkok is a schematic guide to the city, with listings of out-of-the-way places, beloved restaurants, and colourful anecdotes about neighbourhoods and markets. It is an entertaining visual guide but should be complimented by a more hard-nosed navigator, such as Think Net’s Bangkok bilingual map with accompanying mapping software. To master the city’s bus system, purchase Roadway’s Bangkok Bus Map. The Thai Marine Department prints the free map Boat to All Means, which shows the routes of all water-bound transport in Bangkok. Ask for a copy at any large river or canal boat pier. For visitors who consider eating a part of sightseeing, check out Ideal Map’s Good Eats series, which has mapped legendary mom-and-pop restaurants in three of Bangkok’s noshing neighbourhoods. For nightcrawlers, Groovy Map’s Bangkok Map ’n’ Guide series makes a good drinking companion.
If travelling to districts outside central Bangkok, invest in Bangkok & Vicinity A to Z Atlas, which covers the expressways and surrounding suburbs.
INFORMATION
Return to beginning of chapter
Bookshops
For a decent selection of English-language books and magazines, branches of Bookazine (www.bookazine.co.th) and B2S (www.b2s.co.th) can be found at nearly every mall in central Bangkok. The Banglamphu area is home to nearly all of Bangkok’s independent bookstores, in addition to at least three branches of Bookazine. Th Khao San is virtually the only place in town to go for used English-language books. You’re not going to find any deals there, but the selection is decent.
Asia Books (www.asiabook.com) Soi 15 (Map; Soi 15, 221 Th Sukhumvit; Skytrain Asoke); Siam Discovery Center (Map; 4th fl, Th Phra Ram I; Skytrain Siam) Also a branch in the Emporium Shopping Centre on Th Sukhumvit (Map).
Dasa Book Café (Map; 0 2661 2993; 710/4 Th Sukhumvit, btwn Soi 26 & 28; Skytrain Phrom Phong) Multilingual used bookstore.
Kinokuniya Siam