Bangkok, Thailand Travel Guide
About Getting Around Attractions Hotels Eats Essentials & Practicals
Intro to Bangkok
There is no other place in Asia like Bangkok, Thailand. As part of the Bangkok experience, I went on a canal tour at Tha Tian Pier near Wat Po. It was a hot day and I was going to be on the water so I took my shirt off on the long tail boat. When I came back to the Tha Tien Pier, an old Thai lady sitting in front of her souvenir stall started to flail her arms and shake her head with a pee yew at me. She pointed at me and then she tugged at her shirt and sighed. I was befuddled but I realized, I didn’t have my shirt on. I put my shirt on and she smiled and said, “Sawadee Kaa.” I responded with a smiled, “Sawadee Kap. Kapun Kap,” which means, “Hello. Thank you.”
When you saunter around Bangkok, you will see many Thais strolling leisurely in sandles. This may give the initial impression that Thais are overly informal. But look at their shirts; they often dress in button down shirts or short-sleeved collared shirts. Intense heat maybe the reason for so many sandal-wearing Thai locals but cleanliness and respect is paramount in the Thai culture. And, their respect arises from their deep respect for Buddha. Part of the respect is dressing decently. That means, cover yourself up in Bangkok and don’t go around shirtless, even when the temperature swelters. You can not enter the Grand Palace without shoes.
Respect for Buddha and people doesn’t diminish, however, all the hustle and bustle in Bangkok, which seems to contradict the serene sense of respect. The hustle and bustle is part traffic, part markplaces and the tourists themselves.
Bangkok was founded by King Rama I. As the capital of Thailand, Bangkok lies at the southwest border of Thailand, serving as a busy international hub. Bangkok is also a true metropolitan city with high rise buildings and a sinewy highway system. As far as tourism goes, Bangkok’s got it all: quaint and countless tourist attractions, shopping and great tailors, eating, nightlife, inexpensive hotels – you name it. To top it all off, the Thai people in Bangkok are more welcoming and have a greater sense of hospitality than countries like China and Korea. Remember though, Bangkok is hot.