{"id":4250,"date":"2013-06-11T10:00:09","date_gmt":"2013-06-11T14:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/first2board.com\/verygoodpoints\/?p=4250"},"modified":"2013-06-10T22:18:39","modified_gmt":"2013-06-11T02:18:39","slug":"so-you-want-to-go-to-thailand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/first2board.com\/verygoodpoints\/2013\/06\/11\/so-you-want-to-go-to-thailand\/","title":{"rendered":"So, You Want To Go To Thailand…"},"content":{"rendered":"

If I had a nickle for every time some asked me about traveling to Thailand I’d be…well…I’d have a few dollars. Seriously though, tons of people ask me about planning trips to Thailand so I thought I’d put a post together on it.<\/p>\n

1 day<\/h2>\n

If you’re in Thailand for 1 day (on a layover or something) it’s probably safe to assume you’ll spend it in Bangkok. Getting around Bangkok is very easy, so you can stay in almost any district of the city. \u00a0If you have a full day you’ll be able to pack a lot in. \u00a0Here are some of the things you shouldn’t miss:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Grand Palace &\u00a0Wat Pho – both are in the\u00a0\u00a0Phra Nakhon district and directly next to each other. \u00a0The Grand Palace was built in 1782 and is home to the Emerald Buddha. \u00a0Both attractions can seriously heat up (maybe it’s all the gold) so try to go early if you can. Both are open daily until 3:30 pm and close for special observance and holidays. Check with your hotel to ensure they are open (and don’t trust anyone near the gates if they tell you it’s closed. They probably want to scam you.\u00a0The area is a huge spot for tourist scams, so don’t get ripped off by people offering cheap tours, cheap tuk-tuk rides, etc..) \u00a0You have to dress modestly – or rent clothing there, for a refundable deposit – long pants\/skirt, no tank tops and flip-flops can be hit or miss. Sometimes you can get in with them, sometimes not. \u00a0Sandals are okay.<\/p>\n

\"Tuk<\/p>\n

2. Wat Arun, or Wat Chaeng, is on the bank of the Chao Phraya River. It is believed that after fighting his way out of Ayutthaya, which was besieged by a Burmese army at the time, King Taksin arrived at this temple just as dawn was breaking.\u00a0\u00a0He then named it Wat Chaeng – Temple of Dawn. \u00a0It’s quite beautiful and also a great place to see the river. \u00a0You can take a river tour, but I think they’re most a rip-off. You’ll stop at floating tourist traps and stop to feed the feed. If you really want a ride down the river, take the public boat from the Grand Palace to the Temple of the Dawn.<\/p>\n

3. Jim Thompson House – I’ve written about it several times. This is one of the more tranquil, quite attractions in the city. \u00a0If you don’t know about Jim Thompson, check out this post. \u00a0Plan to visit around lunchtime and make reservations to eat at the restaurant, you won’t be disappointed. \u00a0Jim Thompson revived the Thai silk trade, then a dying art, changed the the industry forever. After he mysteriously disappeared into the jungles of Malaysia, he left a legacy which is reflected through his collection of Thai art and antiques. The house itself is an amazing complex of six Thai-style teakwood houses which will leave you wanting to redecorate.<\/p>\n

\"052713_0219_BangkoksJim4.jpg\"<\/p>\n

These are the things that I would be sure to see if I had 1 day only in Bangkok.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2-3 days<\/h2>\n

If you’re going to be in Thailand for 2-3 days, you’ll have think hard about what you’re looking to do. \u00a0You could easily do 1 day in Bangkok and 2 days on one of the islands, or you could spend 2-3 days in Bangkok. \u00a0If you spend 3 days in Bangkok, here’s what I’d add to the list of things to do from day 1 above:<\/p>\n

1. If you’re in the city on a weekend, you’ll have an opportunity to check out JJ market also called Chatuchak, but in Thai, Jatujak or JJ. \u00a0This is one of the more famous markets in the world and worth a trip. \u00a0There are over 5,000 stalls and more than 200,000 people per day visit the market. \u00a0Going in the morning is your best best as it’s much cooler and fewer tourists will have descended upon it yet. \u00a0You’ll find everything you can imagine at JJ including an underground for\u00a0trafficking illegal and endangered species in the north west corner of the market.<\/p>\n

2. Or Tor Gor, the farmer’s market across from JJ is a great place to spend the afternoon and enjoy some amazing Thai cuisine.\u00a0
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3. Pak Klong Talad is the flower market on the border of Chinatown. The flower market is really an experience and the flowers – orchids, birds of paradise, lilies and more are amazing and amazingly cheap. After a walk through the flower market, head over to\u00a0Yaowarat Road for some Chili Fried Crab. You won’t be sorry!<\/p>\n

4. Sri Mariamman, on Silom Road, is the oldest Hindu Temple in Bangkok. It’s incredibly ornate and worth the trip. The Temple is devoted to the goddess Uma and has become a mecca for transsexuals. You’ve never seen anything quite like this Temple, I guarantee it. It’s amazing.<\/p>\n

5. \u00a0If you find yourself looking for something to do at night, you’ll have your pick of activities. \u00a0Bangkok is known for its nightlife and there are some hidden gems as well.<\/p>\n