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Off the Beaten Path in Bangkok

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Bangkok Travel Guide

Off the Beaten Path in Bangkok

Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way Bangkok attractions, posted by real travelers and locals.
Local Time 10:15 pm Wednesday, July 9, 2008
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Bangkok Off the Beaten PathTips 51 - 60 of 404  
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Churches and Cathedrals: Assumption Cathedral - Saturdays. 3.00. Weddings
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  • Updated By Bangkokjoe on July 29, 2005
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  • Yes - you can chuck confetti and petals inside. - Bangkok
    Yes - you can chuck
    confetti and petals
    inside.
    by Bangkokjoe
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    Look, if you're in the area of the Oriental / Shangri La / River City (Charoen Khrung Silom Junction area) on a Saturday afternoon and have some time then there's always a good wedding going on in Assumption Cathedral. No real need in making a special trip.

    The outfits are pretty blinking amazing (silks as far as the eye can weave) - as are some of the hair dos - plus the cars are usually a bit nobby as the Oriental Hotel being close by is used for the hi-so receptions.

    Inside the Cathedral it's weddings as they should be. Loads of laughs and spontaneity. And the best bit... All In Confetti and petal lobbing. INSIDE THE CHURCH. No rice... one does not waste food in Thailand. No ministers winging on behalf of the committee. Oh no. Thailand is a "Sanuk" society (...and many of the cleaners are volunteers).

    Serious - every Saturday. I've been there. A wedding. The downside means you can't really get up to the altar and the side naves to see some of the details. So if you want a bit of peaceful reflection and a wander around, try Saturday morning or Sunday mid afternoon

    This can be seen as part of the Urban Stroll around the area shown in the tip with the map, shown at the beginning of this section

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    Eyes Up Eyes Down When Taking a Walk
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  • Updated By Bangkokjoe on October 14, 2005
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  • Bridge of Sighs - Assumption Cathedral - Bangkok
    Bridge of Sighs - Assumption
    Cathedral
    by Bangkokjoe
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    Okay, I'm a walker in Bangkok at the right opportunity. WaLker! Can't beat it to notice the local life and some of the smaller urban details.

    BUT... Walking Bangkok can be a bit difficult if you don't keep your eyes peeled. It's a case of peripheral vertical vision.

    Down on pavement level (wonderful Brit word there, I'll say it again.... pavement) the surface is none too even, so please be careful of tripping or a nasty toe stub. Above your head you'll often get hanging electrical and telephone cables. Often only six feet high these can sag down a fair way. I've seen a few "flash" in times of storms and rains, so keep your eyes open.

    Generally the wires are fine, though spot the local stall holders tapping into the grid for a bit of free power... (Rumour has it Norman Foster got his ideas for the Pompideau Centre principle of "wear your pipes and wires on the outside" during a Bangkok spring mini-break. Plausible.)

    There is an advantage to an eyes open / up your awareness approach to an urban walk - you'll notice a plethora of nifty details otherwise missed. I've shown you an extreme example of the wires... near the Oriental Hotel. The entry to the Assumption Cathedral grounds. Oxford's Bridge of Sighs, Venice's Bridge of Sighs. Bangkok - Venice of the East: Bridge of Sighs, 4,000 volts and a jolly big aaaaagh.

    ... be prepared for a walk to take longer than you'd have set aside in your home town. And keep your eyes peeled. Twisted ankles bugger your night out. As do a few hundred volts through your missus' recently massaged body.

    This can be seen as part of the Urban Stroll around the area shown in the tip with the map, shown at the beginning of this section

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    Backstreets: Sometimes the motorbikes just die!
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  • Updated By thedouglas on June 17, 2006
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  • Dusty and disused, even by Bangkok standards! - Bangkok
    Dusty and disused, even by
    Bangkok standards!
    by thedouglas, 1 more photos
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    One of our favourite holiday activities is just walking. He who must always know where he is takes the map, but I am happy to wander! Some of our best pictures and ogles have been when we have been lost, and just wandered around the streets. Get off at a station and check out the local markets and streetscape.

    This old bike was up against the wall in one of my wanderings, not so far off the beaten path at all!

    The second bike was in a fairly busy street - and had obviously become "spare parts"!


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    Chao Phraya River: White CAt Fish bring the good luck
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  • By vee01 on October 4, 2005
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  • WHite Cat Fish - Bangkok
    WHite Cat Fish
    by vee01, 2 more photos
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    Along Chao Phraya River we can see so many various fishes which can be consumed by people who live along this river.But the strange goes to one of the Vihara/Wat along Chao Phraya. [Forget the name].There's only one white fish among thousand cat fishes[black] in this River, live here.Persicely in front of the Vihara/Wat.... Some says if u see this extinc fish in this river...it will bring you the good luck in future...Just Pray and all your wishes come true.That's what people say abt .
    And we saw it!!!.I saw the White Cat Fish!!!The one and only.
    We can feed them from boat and they will surround us.What greedy fishes!!!

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    Wat Ratchabopit: Some of the Royal People Visit this Wat!
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  • By yen_2 on March 2, 2003
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  • Wat Ratchabopit - Bangkok
    Wat Ratchabopit
    by yen_2
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    Wat Ratchabopit is one of the Wats that Royal People come to visit and pay a prayer to this temple, when we visit this today it is open and tourist is allowed to get inside normaly, they are only open for 3 days in a year so whe're lucky enough to be there though we're late and never saw some of the royal families.

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    Shrines and Spirit Houses: Spirit House Central Region Style
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  • Updated By Bangkokjoe on October 19, 2005
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  • Thai Spirit House - Grounds of the Siam Society - Bangkok
    Thai Spirit House - Grounds of
    the Siam Society
    by Bangkokjoe
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    Assuming you've already made it to the Siam Society you may have noticed this Spirit House in the grounds, on your left as you enter. The breadth and depth of design variations on the Thai Spirit Houses, that all properties have placed in their grounds, is a nifty little insight into the domestic architecture found around and about the Kingdom..

    One interesting point about spirit houses is that there are two key themes. You may see two spirit houses right next to each other. One is higher than the other and is supported on one pillar. The other is lower (!) and is supported by four pilotti, pillars. The first is for the sky / heaven bound spirits and is effectively floating in the air. The four legged job is for earth bound spirits, hence it's link to the ground, and oftn has steps leading up to the front. The lower level one also tends to be a bit "granny flat" second rate versus the higher job. Reflecting the lower status of the earth bound crew.

    The one you have here is the heaven bound version...

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    Author's Wing at the Oriental Hotel
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  • Updated By Bangkokjoe on July 29, 2005
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  • Writer's Room, Author's Wing at the Oriental - Bangkok
    Writer's Room, Author's
    Wing at the Oriental
    by Bangkokjoe
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    Noel Coward, Somerset Maugham, James Michener and, and, wait for it, and Joseph Conrad. Wooo hoooo! These blokes all stayed - and jotted down their lines - at the Oriental.

    Jospeh Conrad, Heart of Darkness eh? In this very wing. Marlon Brando did that in Apocalypse Now didn't he? "The horror, the horror". Well Marlon, it ain't one nip of horror in the Author's Wing at the Oriental Hotel. It's blinking paradise in here, pal.

    ...great for an afternoon chill out and a cup of tea. And there are book cases with some first editions in, sepia prints of the old Bangkok. Service is impeccable. Talk about the atmosphere, even Neil Armstrong would find some in here..... he's probably been.

    Often there is a weekend wedding reception in one of the smaller rooms. A great backdrop for the bride, groom and two bridesmaids photographs. In the early evenings a pianist and cellist tinkle and stroke away.

    A place to go to say you've done it. Though beware. Once you're in... ...will you ever want to leave for the Heart of Traffic Darkness and Congestion waiting outside? The horror, the horror!

    (PS. If you look closely in the pic you can see Nataporn having a quiet kiss with her new hubbie on the top of the stairs. Nice one Khun Nat krab!)

    (PPS. Bridesmaid on piano downstairs before cellist arrived. Nalak dee.)

    This can be seen as part of the Urban Stroll around the area shown in the tip with the map, shown at the beginning of this section

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    Suan Pakkard Palace: Suan Pakkard Palace
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  • Updated By jrs1234 on April 13, 2005
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  • Laquer Pavilion, Suan Pakkard Palace - Bangkok
    Laquer Pavilion, Suan Pakkard
    Palace
    by jrs1234
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    This lovely ex-royal residence is in the middle of a busy commercial district, on Sri Ayutthaya Road, but don't let that put you off. It is made up of a collection of attractive old wooden houses which now house several collections of exhibits, many of which are connected to the performing arts. Make sure you look inside the highly decorated laquer pavilion (pictured) at the rear.

    This museum is a small treasure that many tourists don't make it to, but it's very easy to get to as it's just a short walk from Phaya Thai Skytrain station. It's open daily from 9am to 4pm. Note that there is an alternate spelling of Suan Pakkad Palace when you're looking for this place and it's also sometimes called Cabbage or Lettuce Farm Palace. There's a lot more information on the official website, listed below.

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  • Website: http://www.suanpakkad.com/main_eng.php

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    Internet Cafes at KSR
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  • Updated By SirRichard on October 21, 2003
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  • An internet cafe - Bangkok
    An internet cafe
    by SirRichard
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    In Khao San Road you will find Internet Cafes almost 24h. There are many, just go and compare prices. At 216/1 Khao San Road you'll find NB Internet (Email: nb@cheerful.co) with 20 computers lined up against the walls and people coming and going all the time!

    1 Baht for 1 minute. Minimum charge of 5 Baht. Open 09:00 to 02:00.

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  • Website: http://www.khaosanonline.com

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    Dusit Zoo in the heart of Bkk, a relaxing place!!
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  • Updated By Wann on February 9, 2007
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  • pond with Ananthasamakom Throne Hall in the backgr - Bangkok
    pond with Ananthasamakom
    Throne Hall in the backgr
    by Wann
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    A popular place for the weekend in the heart of the city, Dusit Zoo or the other original name Khao Din Wana, tell taxi driver shortly go to Khao Din!!. Here you will see thai families spending time together. Its not only zoo, not only animals but here more like fun park for kids, relaxing park, wide area with many recreation activities provided. Some nice gardens, I saw many people picnic, sit on a mat under the shade and big part of the area is pond as you can see on my photo, many people enjoy paddling a boat and enjoy Chak Ka Yan Nam :), well I don't know the proper word for that in english, the meaning is water bicycle, ride in the wide pond in the area of the zoo. You can see Ananthasamakom Throne Hall from the zoo area. They have small trains ride for sightseeing around the area. Yes you must pay a little for the entrance fee. (more photos at travelogue page)

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