I have been to Bangkok countless times for work and business. Every time I'm here, I tried to find something new to eat, something new to experience and something new to see. Trust me, it is endless and that is why Bangkok has been rated by many fellow travellers as their favourite destination that they'll go back again and again and again. In this blog, I'm going to touch about some of the places that I have visited as a tourist in this beautiful city.
1. Chatuchak Market
OK, if you haven't been here, you haven't been officially to Bangkok. This is a weekend market similar to Bazaar but they have like more than 1,000 stores. You name it, they have it. Their home decor is to die for - cheap and unique. I have seen so many tourist shipping furniture back, something you don't see a lot in other places. I almost bought a puppy. This is just a place where you can go crazy shopping and probably lost in it as well. Point to take note though, wear your flip flops and singlet because it is very very hot.2. Klong River Ride in Chao Praya River
OK, this is a bit lame but no matter how many times you have sit in a boat or gondola or 'sampan' somehow it brings you very different experience in different countries, different weather and probably different smell from the river ... OK, you get the drift. Anyway 'Klong' means boat in Thai. To be honest, the boat ride in Bangkok has nothing much to offer or has nothing distinct about it but it did passed through some some awesome sight such as this Wat Arun which is famously known as the Temple of Dawn.
Or as you're about to drift off to sleep, suddenly you saw this lady next to your boat! She isn't sitting on the river. She is in another Klong trying to sell us some souvenirs. Probably this is known as 'floating seller'!
You see, when King Rama I decided to move the capital from Thonburi to Bangkok in the 1700s, he wanted to build a grand palace as the kings residence and administration centre. Hence the gigantic, magnificent and over the top grand palace. From afar as you go towards the grand palace, you will first get a glimpse of the gold dome-like tower structure. It is a very big contrast to the modern city surrounding it so you kind of get this little excitement to wanting to go in so badly.Tourist Scam Beware!!! Anyway as we get of our taxi near the entrance to the grand palace, we were stop by a guy standing opposite the entrance and he told us that they are having some ritual ceremony and will only reopen at 2pm. We were directed to visit a jewellery centre which is obviously some tourist scam but we didn’t realised it then. Well, at least I only bought a semi precious ring. (Sorry, maybe I have this shopaholic sucker face in me). After the ‘jewellery visit’ scam, we head back to the Grand Palace. Now, I was stop entering the Palace because I was wearing a sandal which according to the Thai culture, very unrespectful. I have to buy a pair of socks at the entrance and wear it with my sandal (what a bloody fashion crime they made me commit) and then we FINALLY got in.
Okay, after all the sweat and money, I must say I am still quite high spirited … because the whole damn place is in GOLD!
Obviously the king is not residing here anymore. It has been turned into a money-making hot spot. 
Behind me is the Wat Phra Kaew temple within the palace complex but they were having some ritual ceremony (so the guy outside did not exactly lie altogether) and so I didn't get to go in and see the Emerald Buddha that the King still comes in to worship every month. Damnnn! 
Apparently some of these buildings behind me is still being used today as the administration of the royal household or something. In short this palace truly represents and embodies one of the most grand monarchy and kingdom in this region. Do you know Thailand is the only country in South East Asia that has not been colonised?
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Date of travel : Oct 2004
