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As the gateway to Thailand, it is a madcap mix of the traditional Thai temples and culture, merged with a modern western framework of high-rise buildings, motorways and shopping malls.
Vibrant and sprawling, it has not one, but several centres, each with their own unique character and charm. A city not to be missed!
For any trip longer than a day, you’ll need a good map and your walking shoes! Although Bangkok’s traffic is horrendous, the Skytrain has made getting around as a tourist much easier, quicker and cheaper. Not to be missed sights include the enormous array of Wats (temples), with their glittering glass mosaics, gold statues and towering Buddhas. The most famous of these are the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, otherwise known as the ‘Temple of the Emerald Buddha’. Filled with historic, religious and royal significance, the 945,000 sq metres of grounds, with over 100 buildings, is an impressive sight. Next door is Bangkok’s oldest temple, Wat Po and across the river the well-known Wat Arun, ‘Temple of Dawn’.
If you have time, a great trip, ideally with an overnight stay, is the famous River Kwai and Death Railway, as well as the historically rich and beautiful old capital city of Ayutthaya.
Whatever you plan to do, you will not be bored in Bangkok!
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