Bangkok

Visiting Bangkok was a once in a lifetime experience and we can see why Thailand is such a popular destination. We wish we had been there longer so we had time to explore some of the amazing beaches, get out of the city and visit an elephant sanctuary. Unfortunately we just didn’t have enough time and between the heat and humidity as well as adjusting to the time changes and long travel, we also didn’t have the energy. This gave us the opportunity to really explore Bangkok and enjoy all it had to offer.

The highlights of our trip included:

Lumpini Park – This park is an oasis in an otherwise bustling and chaotic city. If you want to escape the traffic and get some exercise this is the perfect spot. You’ll find many people riding bikes, running, walking and participating in tai chi classes.

The Grand Palace – If you go to one place in Bangkok, this is the place to go. Beautiful grounds and seeing the emerald buddha were the highlights. Make sure you get there early and wear appropriate clothing (no shorts, tank tops or sandals are allowed).

Wat Pho – This temple is within walking distance of The Grand Palace so we visited both in one day. This is the location of the large reclining buddha. There are hundreds of temples to choose from to visit and this is one of the more popular ones, but is well worth the stop and doesn’t take long to visit.

Wat Arum – This temple is located across the river from where we were staying at the Royal Orchid Sheraton. This is a beautiful temple and seemed to be a popular location for photo shoots. Many of the hotels along the river have free ferry boats that you can take to get across the river, but we decided to take a taxi to the temple and walk back with a ferry ride from the IconSiam Mall located right across from our hotel.

IconSiam Mall – Malls are really popular in Bangkok, probably because of the air conditioning! There are several high end malls that have lots of food and shopping and are great places to go to escape the heat.

Jim Thompson House – This was my favorite! Jim Thompson was an American businessman who revitalized the silk industry and mysteriously disappeared in 1967. He had a beautiful home that is now open to the public. The grounds are both beautiful and peaceful and the shop has some fabulous silk items for sale. This is a very popular spot and you can only visit the house on a tour. The grounds open at 10 and the first English speaking tour was at 10:25 so we were able to enjoy the grounds before it got too crowded.

King Power Mahanakhon – If you want to get some great views of the city head to the top of the King Power Mahanakhon. This is especially popular in the evening; they even have a bar at the top so you can enjoy a cocktail while watching the sunset.

Traveling halfway around the world is exhausting but completely worth it! You just have to take your time, hydrate, and prepare for many days of recovery. We’re so glad we got a chance to experience Bangkok!

Jen & Brendan {March 2024}