Everybody probably on their way to remote destinations their stop sooner or later in Bangkok and it couldn’t be otherwise for us too on our way to Australia. We couldn’t say that Bangkok is exactly what they call “the land of smiles” but, on its way, it’s unique and for sure we couldn’t have the following experiences anywhere else.

First of all we got hit by the heavy traffic, the noises and the pollution and when we tried to escape the city traffic on a Tuc Tuc, which we thought it would had get us anywhere cheaply and quickly, in reality we just sat in the traffic jam squeeze in this tricycle breathing profoundly the traffic fuels and coping with the noisy engine that gave me headache.

Secondly we got a glimpse of the many temples around town from the Grand Palace complex, which includes the ornate Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram where rest the Emerald Buddha, the Wat Pho, home to the reclining Buddha (46mt long), the Wat Suthat, Wat Saket and many others, all magnificent. Did you know that there are 9 wat (temples) in Bangkok all with their own motto? The Wat Pra Kaeo, for example, give you “endless wealth and prosperity”, the Bowornniwet Vihan “receive the good things in life”, the Wat Pho “calmess is happiness” (http://www.9wat.net/). We couldn’t miss the opportunity to see them all and that’s why we gave it a go to one of the most popular scam (we did it of course for other travelers’ sake, what a silly question): an unforgettable tuk tuk personal tour. We ended up seeing every Buddha in town in less than an hour for only 10 BHT each with the surplus of a stop at the travel agent, the silk tailor and the more we dislike it and told our driver we weren’t interested in buying anything the more he took us around to find whatever to satisfy us ... long story and long journey till we dropped out just before the gems store..phew...

Ah, and why not finishing our lovely day chased up by the many sellers standing at any corners for a massage, a suit, cheap food or perhaps the famous “ping pong” show? We were better off getting lost in Chinatown’s congested streets having instead a bowls of jummy cheap homemade wonton noodles.

And what about Khao San scene coming across the “Cheap drink, very strong alcohol and no ID required" manifesto of the many bars, the occasional sightseeing of an elephant taken for a stroll on a leash or having a Pad-thai along the crowded streets. Did I mention early the unbearable heat which to get away from it we fund refugee at the air-con MBK mall where we got stuck shopping for bargains till we dropped?

If this wouldn’t be enough prepare to get marvel of the many controversial of this giant metropolis where materialism coexist with a strong Buddhism culture in everyday life although you would bump into some monks in their saffron robe shopping for the latest technology at Pantip Plaza and the many lady-boys that go around city unnoticed by the locals. Or what about the poor districts where tin-style houses pile up compare with the luxury that splash out from the modern city centre with huge upscale shopping complexes like around Siam Square, the Gaysorn, the ultramodern skytrain and skyscrapers? That’s Bangkok!

Tips:

• the further you move from Khao san Road is likely to be the quieter and cheaper guesthouse;
• couldn’t make it to the large Chatuchak Weekend Market with 10,000 stalls that you need a map to move around or the flower market in Chom Thong which is only on Sunday early morning;
• never trust a tuk-tuk’s driver or anybody given you information around temples or the streets, always get advice from the TAT.