BANGKOK TRAVEL ITINERARY 2015 - KHLONG TOEY MARKET AND BENJAKITTI PARK [PART 7]

CONTINUATION OF BANGKOK TRAVEL ITINERARY PART 1,2, 3, 4, 5 AND 6

DAY 8 [THURSDAY - 19/3/15]

- VISIT - KHLONG TOEY MORNING MARKET

ONE OF THE LOCAL BANGKOK MORNING MARKETS 

[DAILY 6.00 AM – 2.00 PM]

THIS IS A VERY ‘FRESH’ MARKET, OFFERING LOW PRICES ON RAW MEAT, SEAFOOD, FARM PRODUCE, KITCHEN WARE, CLOTHINGS ETC. IT IS AN EXTENSIVE MARKET IN THE CITY AND NEARBY TO RAMA IV ROAD. THERE ARE NUMEROUS FOOD STALLS AROUND THE VICINITY OFFERING LOCAL THAI FOOD. 
HOW TO GET THERE: MRT TO KLONG TOEI STATION, EXIT UP THE ESCALATORS AND THEN WALK EAST ON THANG RAKFAIKO/RAMA IV ROAD FOR 10 MINS UNTIL YOU REACH THE LARGE INTERSECTION OF RAMA IV AND NARONG ROAD. THE MARKET IS ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE.

- VISIT BENJAKITTI PARK/QUEEN SIRIKIT CONVENTION CENTER

[DAILY 5.00 AM – 10.00 PM]

LOCATION: LAKE RATCHADA, QUEEN SIRIKIT NATIONAL CONVENTION CENTER

OVERLOOKING ONE OF THE MOST PICTURESQUE VIEW OF DOWNTOWN BANGKOK SKYLINE. COVERS A RECTANGULAR AREA OF 208,000 SQ METERS OPPOSITE QUEEN SIRIKIT NATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE 

THE PARK FORMS A NARROW SWATHE OF GREEN WITH DEDICATED BICYCLE AND JOGGING TRACKS ENCIRCLING THE WHOLE PARK. MAJOR FESTIVALS LIKE NEW YEAR’S EVE AND LOY KRATHONG ARE HELD HERE. IF YOU LIKE WALKING AROUND THE LAKE, THE BEST TIME TO VISIT IS EARLY MORNING.

HOW TO GET THERE:  MRT QUEEN SIRIKIT NATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE. WALK TOWARDS ASOK-MONTRI FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES
NOTES: WE VISITED THE MARKET FOR A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF LOCAL FOOD INGREDIENTS IN BANGKOK.  THE PARK IS A GOOD PLACE FOR MORNING OR EVENING EXERCISES.  A GOOD PLACE TO STROLL ALONG THE LAKE IN THE HEART OF BANGKOK CITY.

BANGKOK TRAVEL ITINERARY 2015 - GRAND PALACE, BANGKOK [PART 5]

CONTINUATION OF BANGKOK TRAVEL ITINERARY 2015 PART 1,2, 3 AND 4

DAY 6 [TUESDAY - 17/3/15] 

- VISIT GRAND PALACE - WAT PHRA KAEW [TEMPLE OF THE EMERALD BUDDHA]

- LOCATED PHRA NAKHON 

- OPENS DAILY 8.30 AM – 3.30 PM 

- ADMISSION 500 THB 

- PROPER ATTIRE [NO SLEEVELESS SHIRTS OR SHORT PANTS OR SKIRTS. SARONG ARE AVAILABLE FOR RENT 

WAT PHRA KAEW IS WITHIN THE GROUNDS OF THE GRAND PALACE. YOU MAY NEED ABOUT 2 HOURS TO WALK AND COVER THE PALACE GROUNDS. Click here for more photos

HOW TO GET THERE: TAKE MRT TO HUA LAMPHONG STATION THEN TAXI OR TUK-TUK TO GRAND PALACE INSTEAD OF FERRY FROM BTS SAPHAN TAKSIN TO THA TIEN. TUK-TUK FARE IS 150THB WHICH CAN ACCOMMODATE 4 PERSONS. 

NOTES: THE ADMISSION TICKET TO GRAND PALACE CAN BE USED FOR ENTRANCE TO VIMANMEK MANSION [TEAK HOUSE MUSEUM], ANANTA SAMAKHOM THRONE HALL AND AHBISEK HALL. THESE PLACES ARE LOCATED AT THE VICINITY OF DUSIT ZOO AREA. GET THERE BY TAXI.

- VISIT WAT ARUN 

YOU CAN SEE WAT ARUN FROM THA CHANG PIER. 

HOW TO GET THERE: TAKE FERRY ACROSS FROM THA CHANG OR THA TIEN PIER AFTER VISITING GRAND PALACE. PER TRIP IS 3 THB. ENTRANCE TO WAT ARUN IS 50 THB. Click here for more photos.

- VISIT ERAWAN SHRINE 

LOCATED IN FRONT OF GRAND HYATT ERAWAN HOTEL AT RATCHADAMRI ROAD. Click here to see more photos

HOW TO GET THERE: TAKE BTS TO CHIT LOM THEN BY FOOT OR BY TUK-TUK.

- VISIT MBK, SIAM PARAGON, CENTRAL WORLD AND PLATINUM FASHION MALL. 

THESE SHOPPING COMPLEXES ARE ALL WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE WITH EACH OTHER. THEY ARE AROUND PLOEN CHIT ROAD, RATCHAPRASONG ROAD AND PHETCHABURI ROAD. 

OCCASIONALLY, THERE ARE THAI FOOD PROMOTIONS IN THESE AREAS WHICH ARE REASONABLY PRICES AND WORTHY TO TRY.

Click here for more information on shopping in this area

BANGKOK TRAVEL ITINERARY 2015 - MAEKLONG RAILWAY MARKET AND AMPHAWA FLOATING MARKET [PART 3]

CONTINUATION OF BANGKOK TRAVEL ITINERARY 2015 - PART 1 AND 2

DAY 4 [SUNDAY - 15/3/15]

- VISIT [1]

MAEKLONG TRAIN/RAILWAY MARKET

[MARKET PLACE WITH A RAILWAY TRACK THROUGH IT] AT SAMUT SONGKHRAM 

WHICH IS 37 MILES WEST OF BANGKOK. 

 READ MORE >>

IT LOOKS LIKE ANY OTHER OPEN-AIR MARKETS OF ASIA.  THE CROWD WEAVES THEIR WAY AROUND IN BETWEEN VENDORS. THE MARKET COMES TO A STANDSTILL WHEN THE TRAIN PASSES THROUGH.  ONCE THE TRAIN IS GONE, THE VENDORS PUSH BACK THEIR STALLS AND BUSINESS IS AS USUAL.  THE THAIS CALL THIS PLACE 'TALAD ROM HOOP MARKET' WHICH MEANS 'MARKET UMBRELLA PULLDOWN'.

HOW TO GET THERE: TAKE BTS TO VICTORY MONUMENT, GET DOWN TO MINIVAN STATION NEARBY AT SUZUKI MOTOR COMPANY JUST BELOW THE BTS STATION.  THEY HAVE REGULAR VAN TRIPS TO MAEKLONG.  THE FARE IS 70 BAHTS PER PERSON.  JOURNEY IS ABOUT 1 HOUR.  

- VISIT [2]

AMPHAWA FLOATING MARKET

 [OPENS SAT/SUNDAY AT 3PM].

THIS FLOATING MARKET IS VISITED MOSTLY BY LOCALS AND NOT AS MANY TOURISTS AS DAMOON SADUAK FLOATING MARKET WHICH FURTHER FROM MAEKLONG TRAIN MARKET PLACE.  READ MORE >>

- TAKE BOAT CRUISE ALONG AMPHAWA CANAL - FROM FLOATING MARKET, THERE IS A BOAT CRUISE SERVICE AVAILABLE AT 50 BAHTS PER PERSON.  IT TAKES YOU TO CRUISE ALONG THE RIVER AND MAKE ABOUT 7 STOPS FOR YOU TO SEE SEVERAL WATS.  THE CRUISE TAKES ABOUT 1-2 HOURS.  A VERY WORTHY CRUISE YOU SHOULDN'T MISS.

HOW TO GET THERE: FROM MAEKLONG MARKET PLACE, TAKE A TUK-TUK.  FARE IS 8 BAHTS PER PERSON.  TO GET BACK TO BANGKOK, YOU CAN TAKE THE MINIVAN FROM AMPHAWA FLOATING MARKET AT 80 BAHTS PER PERSON.

- VISIT BANGKOK BOAT NOODLE ALLEY 

AT VICTORY MONUMENT.

HOW TO GET THERE: THE MINIVAN FROM MAEKLONG RAILWAY MARKET WITH STOP OR DROP OFF PASSENGERS BENEATH THE VICTORY MONUMENT BTS STATION NEARBY TO BOAT NOODLE ALLEY.  THERE ARE SEVERAL OUTLETS SELLING BOAT NOODLES. THE PRICE PER BOWL IS 12 BAHTS.  THE PORTION IS SO SMALL THAT ONE BOWL ISN'T ENOUGH.  THERE IS A VARIETY OF NOODLES TO CHOOSE WHICH COMES DRY OR IN SOUPS.  THE CRISPY PORK LARD IS WORTH TRYING.  THE PANDAN COCONUT MILK CUSTARD IS ALSO YUMMY, VERY FRAGRANT AND NOT TOO SWEET,  FRESHLY STEAMED IN SMALL SHALLOW CUPS.

- DINNER IS FREE AND EASY AROUND SUTTHISAN MRT STATION.  THERE ARE NUMEROUS FOOD  STALLS  SELLING LOCAL THAI FOOD AROUND THE AREA AT VERY REASONABLE PRICES.

BANGKOK TRAVEL ITINERARY 2015 - OR TOR KOR/CHATUCHAK MARKETS [PART 2]

CONTINUATION OF BANGKOK TRAVEL ITINERARY 2015 - PENANG/BANGKOK [PART 1]

DAY 3 [SATURDAY – 14/3/15]

- VISIT [1]

  OR TOR KOR MARKET

[4th best fresh market in the world]

HOW TO GET THERE: TAKE MRT TO KAMPAENG PHET STATION - EXIT 3. OR TOR KOR MARKET IS ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF MRT KAMPAENG PHET STATION EXIT 3.

- VISIT [2]

 CHATUCHAK MORNING MARKET [JJ MARKET]

 [largest weekend market in Asia]

 AFTER VISITING OR TOR KOR MARKET

HOW TO GET THERE: WALK BACK TO MRT KAMPAENG PHET STATION - EXIT 3. TAKE ESCALATOR, WALK TO STATION EXIT 1. CHATUCHAK MARKET ENTRANCE IS JUST OUTSIDE THE KAMPAENG PHET MRT STATION EXIT 1.  YOU CAN CHOOSE TO HAVE LUNCH AT OR TOR KOR MARKET OR CHATUCHAK MARKET.
NOTES: THERE ARE VARIOUS ENTRANCES TO CHATUCHAK MARKET LEADING TO VARIOUS SECTIONS/MARKETS LIKE FLOWER AND PLANTS MARKET, CLOTHINGS SECTION, LEATHER GOODS SECTIONS ETC.

- VISIT [3]

TERMINAL 21 [PIER 21] FOOD COURT AND COMPLEX 

AT SUKHUMVIT SOI 21-23

HOW TO GET THERE: TAKE MRT TO SUKHUMVIT STATION EXIT NO. 3

NOTES - EASY TO MORE AROUND AND FOOD COURT IS CLEAN WITH VARIETY OF GOOD FOOD AT VERY REASONABLE PRICES.  AN EATERY WE WILL COME BACK OFTEN.

EVEN THE WASHROOMS ARE WORTH COMMENTING - VERY UNIQUE AND CLEAN INSIDE OUT.

- VISIT [4] LUMPHINI PARK 

IN THE LATE AFTERNOON. 

 AFTER VISITING THE 2 POPULAR BANGKOK MARKETS AND LUNCH AT OR TOR KOR MARKET, BACK TO HOTEL TO REST BEFORE PROCEEDING TO LUMPHINI PARK IN THE LATE AFTERNOON.

LUMPHINI PARK [OPENS 4.30 AM – 9 PM]

HOW TO GET THERE: BEST TO TAKE MRT TO MRT SILOM STATION. TAKE EXIT TO LUMPHINI PARK. YOU WILL SEE KING CHULALONGKORN STATUE OUTSIDE THE PARK ENTRANCE.  TAKE A STROLL IN THE PARK UNTIL YOU REACH THE LUMPHINI EXIT.
FROM EXIT WALK ALONG WIRELESS ROAD TO SOI POLO [ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES] FOR DINNER AT THE POPULAR FRIED CHICKEN OUTLET - SOI POLO FRIED CHICKEN [OPENS FROM 7.00 AM TO 10.00 PM DAILY]  TRY TO HAVE EARLY DINNER BECAUSE THE PLACE MAY BE CROWDED.  PRICES OF FOOD HERE ARE VERY REASONABLE AND FOOD IS GOOD.