If you have never travelled to an Asian country before then a visit to Thailand and its exciting capital city, Bangkok, will come as a pleasant surprise. You will have a myriad of hotels to choose form in Bangkok; you can find everything from budget type hostels to first class hotels offering every facility you can think of.
On your first day in this amazing city expect to be taken aback by its tall office blocks, wild freeways and let your senses reel with all the new impressions, smells and sounds to take in. Give the city a chance, stay a few days and discover Bangkok’s secrets, you will not be disappointed. Traditional Thai temples, golden palaces and ancient wooden houses are hidden away and discovering them is all part of the charm of being in Bangkok.
The Grand Palace is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Bangkok and visitors come here from all over the world. The temple was built in 1782, and used to be the royal residence. There are a number of palaces and Wats (temples) within the complex, go early in the morning to avoid the midday sun and the crowds. Wat Phra Kaew is also called The Temple of the Emerald Buddha as that is what you will find within its walls, a reclining Buddha sculpted from a colossal piece of jade and more than a century old. Wat Arun, is also called The Temple of Dawn and its elongated Khmer-style tower is decorated in minute pieces of porcelain. Wat Pho was constructed by King Rama I, and is known to be the oldest temple in the city. Commonly called the Temple of the Reclining Buddha it is approximately 200 years old. The actual Buddha is a lengthy 46 meters long and 15 meters high, has mother of pearl inlaid feet and is gold plated.
If you do find yourself in Bangkok, don’t miss out on Jim Thompson’s House. The man in question was an American man who decided to open up a museum in order to revive Thailand's silk industry. In this museum you will find a fascinating and spectacular collection of Thai and Asian art, pottery and antiques.
If you want to shop then Bangkok is the city, famous for its street markets, modern department stores and local boutiques. Everyone who has ever been to Thailand have probably heard of Chatuchak Weekend Market, an area with more than 15000 shops and stalls to explore and you will be able to find absolutely everything here whether you are looking for local crafts, paintings, birds, cheap clothes, books, or some delicious local cuisine. China Town offers street after street of stalls selling gold, ornaments, traditional Chinese medicines, jewellery, and food of course. Shop in the evening at Patpong night market if you are looking for presents to take home, there are heaps of souvenirs, fake brand names and cheap clothes to be found.
Don’t miss out travelling on the Chao Phraya River. Hire a long-tail boat or just jump on the local ferry that runs up and down the river all day. Get on and off at any of the famous landmarks.
If you are planning on traveling for a longer period of time then Asia has more countries with lots to offer. Bangkok is the perfect place to travel from and Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam are all interesting places to visit. If you don’t want to fly between countries there is always the train to consider. Or take a train from Bangkok to many other Asian cities, they are very cheap and sleepers provide comfort and a good chance of meeting other travelers.
There are an abundance of hotels and guest houses in Bangkok city and other Asian cities, whether you are looking for a simple Bangkok hotel room with a fan or Singapore accommodation with an international hotel chain, you will be able to find something clean and comfortable to fit your requirements. If you decide to take a trip to Asia there are lots of sites on the web where you can find information. You will be able to book reasonably priced hotels in Thailand and Bangkok as well as cheap Singapore hotels and other types of accommodation online.
Michiel Van Kets provides article services for Alina Richards who works for Cheaper Than Hotels.com which is a company operating in association with or on behalf of key hotel chains who are part of Orbitz Worldwide. The site offers Bangkok hotels and cheap Singapore hotels. On this website you will find cheap hotels in Singapore, Bangkok and in other Asian cities.
