Places to Visit in Bangkok
Shopping
The Floating Market in Thonburi is geared more toward entertaining
visitors than a place for Thais to go to the market. There are boats
available to purchase items from, but there are even more boats for
tourists. There are many shops geared to attract tourists, but in spite of
the commercialization it's still charming. If avoiding tourist traps is
important, then the Khlong Damnoen Saduak market is the place to go, even
though you'll need to get on an early morning bus in Nakhon Pathom to get
there. A "real" market, Pratunam, has many street vendors
selling items from produce to everyday necessities and clothes for Thais. Narayana
Phand is a government store that has a wide variety of crafts, but the
quality of the items is somewhat lacking.
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Historical Areas
Out of approximately 400 wats, several are worthy of note. When
visiting a wat or mosque, it is important to remove shoes before entering, as
well as wearing modest clothing (not shorts). The Wat Phra Kaeo is
the holiest Buddhist spot in Thailand and is home to the Emerald Buddha.
It is the pinnacle of architecture and art in Thailand and is also known as the
Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Part of the Grand Palace complex, the temple
was sanctified in 1782. Another wat, the Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun),
is especially beautiful at night when the tower, decorated with porcelain and
ceramics, is lit up by spotlights.
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Culture/Entertainment
The National Museum, located on Na Phra That Road, is a great place to
go to see examples of Thai culture and art. The American entrepreneur Jim
Thompson has a house situated on a small canal (Soi Kasom San 2, Rama I
Road) that is elegant and charming. The house is now a museum that is open
daily to the public with admission. On Rama IV Road, with admission, a
visitor at the Pasteur Institute (Snake Farm) can see snakes milked of
their venom every day.
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