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Bangkok Bizzaro
A three day adventure including the must see's and the oddities which make Bangkok well,.... Bangkok!
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Bangkok is a city like no other. This trip starts off with a day seeing the standard sites and then two more exploring parts of Bangkok the usual tourist might not know to find. Nightlife in Bangkok is a sight in and of itself, so I kept the day itineraries light to allow for lots of energy to hit the streets after the sun sets!
 Day Note
Welcome to Bangkok! Hit the Grand Palace and Wat Pho next door to see the beautiful Reclining Buddha. These are must-sees for any Bangkok visitor. Grab some lunch by the river or any nearby food stall. Try Pad Thai (noodles), Pad Kaprow Gai (stir fried chicken with basil), or Goi Teow (noodle soup). Tour the market in the afternoon, go back to the hotel and rest out and then get ready to hit the town!
Surely one of the more bizarre bars in Bangkok, Cheap Charlie's is a streetside wooden structure decorated with an eclectic collection of oddities, ranging from buffalo skulls, turtles, snakes, bee hives, tribal masks and sex toys, all looming down from the rafters onto the mixed crowd of locals and tourists. The beers and spirits are, well, cheap! No food is served but there are some good Indian restaurants nearby. Relaxed and informal, Cheap Charlie's is a good place to meet people and watch the street life roll by.
Long-time favorite among Thais and foreigners alike, Brown Sugar hosts jazz musicians from all over the world. It's a quite small venue, but has lots of character.
Located in the Rembrandt Hotel, Bangkok's first real Mexican restaurant/bar is a little pricey but a fun place for a big night out. Cuban band 'Los Hidalgos' gets people salsa-ing every day except Mondays. A suspended cloth makes things cozy, and earthenware jars and sculptures are dotted here and there. Start with Tamuin (prawns with avocado, celery, onion and jalapeno), and for a main dish you can try the Camarones Criolla (prawns, split and sauteed in butter and garlic). A full bar is available, with wine and beer.
Bangkok’s Grand Palace served as the official residence of Thailand’s kings from the time it was built in 1782 until midway through the 20th Century. Although the entry fee is considerably higher than most at 250 baht, the grounds are gorgeous and provide an unforgettable glimpse at Thai history and architecture. Sitting on over 215,000 square meters, the Grand Palace houses government offices, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and royal residences. A trip to the Grand Palace is worth combining with Wat Pho, its next-door neighbor of equal cultural importance.
This is a small but colorful market, offering a great selection of orchids and other potted plants. As you move closer to the pier, the market begins to embrace the food suppliers, so if you are staying in the Banglampoo area this is probably the best spot to get a taste of Thai market life. While not specifically aimed at tourists, the vendors are always willing to raise a smile and often a bargain.
Over 200 years old, Wat Pho is one of Bangkok’s largest and oldest temple complexes. For an entry fee of 50 baht, visitors can roam the grounds with or without a guide, stopping along the way at numerous notable temples and sites. The most famous of Wat Pho’s relics is the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, wherein lies an impressive 46 meter-long gold-plated image of a reclining Buddha. A first grade royal monastery, Wat Pho is also Thailand’s oldest learning center and the birthplace of traditional Thai massage.
Grand Palace
Day Note
Hop in a taxi and head to one of the most interesting museums in Bangkokm the Jim Thompson's house. Find yourself some stall food for a cheap lunch and spend the afternoon people watching in Lumpini Park. Go home and get ready for a classy night on the town. No jeans or flip flops allowed! Head to the Vertigo Bar for sunset cocktails. Overlook all of Bangkok as you sip your slightly expensive martini. Jump into a cab and dance the night away at Bed Supper Club. If that's not enough for you, the nearby Q Bar always provides.
The Vertigo Grill and Moon Bar is located 61 floors above the streets of Bangkok on the terrace of the Banyan Tree Hotel. From here you can gaze upon the city, through the provided telescopes if you like, and enjoy some jazz music with a glass of bubbly in hand. Perfect for a romantic rendezvous. The food is a mix of BBQ specials that include oysters and scallops. This is truly a venue that will take your breath away.
Once the residence of James H.W. Thompson, the “Legendary American of Thailand”, the Jim Thompson House is now one of the top tourist destinations in Bangkok. Comprising of six traditional teak houses, the traditional Thai-style complex was completed in 1959 and has been converted to a museum to honor its original owner and his legacy. In the middle part of the 20th Century, Thompson reinvigorated development of the Thai silk industry and collected art and artifacts from all over Thailand and the region, but mysteriously disappeared while on a trip to Malaysia in 1967. Many of his possessions are on display at the Jim Thompson House, and guided tours take guests around the stunning property.
This is the second Q Bar to be opened by American photographer David Jacobson; the original was in Ho Chi Minh City. The lounge area contains plenty of black leather and open space for that social rendezvous, while the upstairs bar is the place to refresh those taste buds. Cocktail servings are huge. On 'Absolut Sundays' the specialties includes vodka cocktails. On 'Dictator Mondays' you will get a Havana cigar and an excellent Mojito.
This is one of the most unusual clubs you'll ever visit. Dubbed as a 'dining in bed experience', it is an amalgamation of a restaurant, club, art gallery, and theatre. The décor is stark white, which gives the place a zesty, futuristic look. At the restaurant, you can slip off your shoes and lie down. Dinner is served only once; so if you need to have some, make sure you arrive by 8:30p. On weekends, you can savor the four-course menu that serves up different food week after week. The bar has been creatively designed and looks exactly like the restaurant. Come here to lounge and enjoy the tunes of international DJs, such as Benjamin Diamond and Miguel Migs. If you're into hip-hop, then don't miss Tuesday nights.
Muay Thai, or Thai Boxing, is the national sport of Thailand, and Lumphini Boxing Stadium is the place to see top fights. A very culturally-grounded sport, Muay Thai bouts are preceded by ritualistic music and dance during which the respected fighters pay honor to the sport, the ring and their teachers. Tickets can be pricey – the cheapest third class seats are 500 baht – but one night’s ticket includes all the evening’s fights. The most high-rated fights at Lumphini Boxing Stadium are saved for the end.
Smack in the heart of the city lies Lumphini Park, an oasis of nature within bustling Bangkok. The first of its kind in Bangkok, plans for the public park began in 1925. Lumphini Park is named after the Buddha’s birthplace and covers approximately 58 hectares, gracing the city with greenery and waterways for picnics, pick-up sports and paddleboat rides. Early mornings are unforgettable: hordes of fitness group regulars engage in synchronized aerobics, while others jog peacefully and practice tai chi. Lumphini Park is a great place to take a timeout during a long day of sightseeing.
Vertigo Bar
Day Note
On your last day in Bangkok, explore the oddities. Begin with a phallic shrine tucked away in the corner of a hotel garden. Explore the Corrections Museum and learn all about Thai prison without having to go there. Finish your last night with a long dinner at Cabbages and Condoms, enjoying the delicious Thai food and the interesting decor. If you tip your waiter, he will reluctantly put a condom over his head and blow it up like a balloon!
This restaurant is run by Thailand's Population and Community Development Association, whose founder, former Thai senator Mechai Viravaidya, believes "birth control should be as cheap as vegetables"—hence the restaurant's name! There is plenty of room, inside and outside in the garden, which is nice if the weather permits. An extensive variety of cocktails and other drinks is available at the "Vasectomy Bar," and the service is friendly and efficient. This is a great choice for good quality Thai food, albeit in slightly surreal surroundings (especially the walls covered with condoms from across the globe!).
Also called Chao Mae Tubtim Shrine, Lingam Shrine is a unique quick-stop while downtown. Next to a canal, the shrine is very small and consists of innumerable phallic offerings. Believers visit Lingam shrine to honor the female deity Jao Mae and ask for fertility, luck or good fortune. The phalluses come in every shape, size and material imaginable and definitely provide for a light-hearted cultural site.
Although a trip to the Corrections Museum requires a high threshold for violent images, it is worthwhile for those than can stand it. The prison was built in 1890 and now serves as a reminder of the gruesome treatment of criminals in Bangkok’s past. Photographs, wax models, and access to the execution chamber and quarters all paint a picture of the prisoners’ lives and how they got along with officers. Weapons are also on display, and they are not for the faint of heart! Admission is free.
Cabbages and Condoms
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