Thailand Archives - Caffeinated Excursions https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/tag/thailand/ Blog of a Traveling Coffee Addict Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:14:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://i0.wp.com/caffeinatedexcursions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/wp-1555570621336.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Thailand Archives - Caffeinated Excursions https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/tag/thailand/ 32 32 141833777 Bangkok, Thailand: A City That Inspired Me To Became a Traveler https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/bangkok-thailand-a-city-that-inspired-me-to-became-a-traveler/ https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/bangkok-thailand-a-city-that-inspired-me-to-became-a-traveler/#comments Tue, 12 Nov 2019 08:00:00 +0000 https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/?p=8807 After four visits to the world's most visited city, I've finally written about why Bangkok means so much to me personally. What awaits you in the capital of Thailand? Check out this post to learn all about it, including some tips for a perfect weekend trip!

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Bangkok, Thailand: A City That Inspired Me To Become a Traveler

Published November 12, 2019

Despite having been to Bangkok four times, I’ve procrastinated writing a blog post about it until now. Why? Quite honestly, the capital of Thailand is a place that can’t be put into words. To be sure, it’s one of my favorite destinations, but condensing it into a list of attractions doesn’t do it justice. No blog or vlog can fully convey the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the world’s most visited city.

In fact, Bangkok was my very first experience of Southeast Asia back in the summer of 2016. At that time, I hadn’t started blogging yet, but I had been to Japan, China, and South Korea. That trip to Thailand lasted only three days, but I loved how festive and fun Bangkok was compared to much of East Asia. The energy of the city, the multiculturalism, and the food have inspired me to travel even to this day. I knew I eventually wanted to live in this part of the world, and three years later I do (albeit two countries over, in Vietnam).

In this post, I’ll be sharing some of the highlights of Bangkok. Keep in mind that these attractions are only a piece of the puzzle. Bangkok is atmospheric, so visitors who rush from one site to the next might not have time to appreciate what the city has to offer. Think of this post as a blueprint for exploring, not a ‘must-see’ or ‘can’t miss’ checklist.

From let to right: me (Kevin), Kailyn, and Andrew. So glad they got to come visit and experience SE Asia!

During my most recent trip to Thailand, I met up with my cousin Kailyn (the author of Kailyn Travels) and her boyfriend, Andrew. In addition to writing her own travel blog, Kailyn has been featured as a guest writer here on Caffeinated Excursions. To read her blog, click the link above!

Points of Interest

The Grand Palace and Wat Pho

We’ll start off with Bangkok’s most famous sites. This palace and temple are located side by side, so it’s easy to see both in a single day. (‘Wat’ in Thai means temple, and you’ll see that word a lot in Bangkok.)

The Grand Palace
พระบรมมหาราชวัง

The Grand Palace is Bangkok’s most famous landmark. Thai royalty lived in and used the palace from the time it was built in 1782 until 1932. The grounds are massive and the architecture is impressive, but the most stunning aspect of the Grand Palace is the amount of detail that can be seen on every embellishment and decoration. The murals inside are testament to that.

My one warning about the Grand Palace is that it can end up feeling a bit like a tourist trap. While this shouldn’t deter you from going, I would say that it’s the kind of attraction you don’t need to visit every time you go to Bangkok (I only went in 2016 and don’t feel like I missed out by skipping it on subsequent trips).

You also need to be wearing long pants and covered shoulders to get in. Kailyn, Andrew, and I were considering a visit to the Grand Palace but were turned away for wearing shorts. Since Bangkok is hot, you’ll need to keep this in mind (a change of clothes, perhaps?) or pay a premium for elephant-print pants at or near the palace entrance.

Wat Phra Chetuphon (Wat Pho)
วัดพระเชตุพนวิมลมังคลาราม

If you’re not feeling too hot or exhausted after the Grand Palace, the temple known as Wat Pho is a short-ish walk directly to the south. While the two attractions might seem similar, part of the fun is spotting the stylistic differences between them.

The highlight of Wat Pho is the massive Reclining Buddha housed in the temple complex. It’s off to the side, so be sure not to miss it! Getting a perfect picture here is a bit of a challenge due to the crowds and the massive columns that block some of the best vantage points. Plus, the Buddha is just so big that fitting it into a camera frame is a challenge itself!

Here’s a tip: you could visit either the Grand Palace or Wat Pho in the morning, then head over to the nearby Tha Tian Market (ตลาดท่าเตียน) for lunch and a break from the sun. Then visit the other attraction after you’ve eaten. Visiting the temples is more energy-intensive than you might think, so sunscreen and lots of water are highly recommended.

Ratchada Rot Fai Train Night Market
ตลาดนัดรถไฟรัชดา

Bangkok has a ton more temples and palaces than the two mentioned above, but don’t feel obligated to keep visiting more if you’ve had your fill. A nice contrast to the beautiful ancient architecture can be found in one of the many night markets around the city, and Ratchada Rot Fai Train Night Market is a great one worth considering.

This train station-turned-market is now home to hundreds of vendors selling everything you could imagine: souvenirs, food, and clothes, with quite a few bars thrown in around the perimeter. If you want to bring back something interesting for friends and family, this is the place to go.

I’ll speak more in depth about food below, but one noteworthy thing you might see at Ratchada Market is pictured below. Can you guess what it is? It’s a massive mountain of pork spine served on the biggest plate you’ve ever seen. As an adventurous eater, I would’ve loved to try it, but unfortunately we didn’t have time (or big enough appetites) to go for it. It looked like many different restaurants in the market offered this dish if you’re daring enough to order it!

If Ratchada is too far away from your hotel or Airbnb, there are a bunch of other night markets to consider. One expat I met in Bangkok recommended checking out Chatuchak Weekend Market, which I intend to check out on a future trip. If you’ve been there, let me know what it’s like in the comments section!

Neighborhoods to Explore

As I mentioned earlier, Bangkok is an atmospheric city. As such, you should dedicate some time to take it all in while exploring on foot! Here are some areas to consider.

Chinatown (Yaowarat Road)
สัมพันธวงศ์

Chinatown (otherwise known as Samphanthawong, เขตสัมพันธวงศ์) is a unique area to walk around. If you’re curious about the notion of coming all the way to Thailand just to see a Chinatown, rest assured that the area still feels uniquely Thai. As one of the world’s oldest, the neighborhood has a distinct fusion of Thai and Chinese culture. Chinatown is also a great place to get some authentic cheap eats.

Centered around the busy and wide avenue known as Yaowarat Road, Chinatown offers tons of offshoots and narrow alleys filled with small shops and cafes. Be sure to check them out, but watch out: motorbikes still come zipping through them at a moment’s notice!

Yaowarat Road

Sukhumvit (Khlong Toei Nuea)
แขวง คลองเตยเหนือ

Sukhumvit is a centrally located part of Bangkok with tons of restaurants and bars, many of which cater to foreigners. We stopped for some drinks here, but don’t expect the most authentic options (or the lowest prices). Nonetheless, it’s still a fine place to cool off with a cold beer or a plate of comfort food.

Silom
แขวง สีลม

Silom feels sort of similar to Sukhumvit, although I’d say the bars here are a little more laid back. Street food is more readily available than in the city center, and this is another great area to pick up some gifts from vendors set up along Silom Road or at the adjacent Patpong Night Market.

Thai Cuisine

Harder to find than you might think!

As a cosmopolitan city, Bangkok has no shortage of international cuisine. With that said, I recommend committing to finding some good Thai food for some of your meals. This isn’t necessarily as easy as it sounds. (In fact, I think it’s much harder to find authentic local food in Bangkok than it is in Saigon, where street food adored by locals and tourists can be found on practically every street corner).

Of all the areas mentioned above, I think Chinatown had the best selection of authentic (i.e. hole-in-the-wall) options. Sukhumvit and Silom had some Thai restaurants mixed in among the bars. In general, Bangkok’s shopping malls (discussed in more detail below) feature a lot of chains and Western cuisine.

If you’re a bit overwhelmed by the choices, that’s understandable. Here are some specific restaurant recommendations to consider.

The delicious appetizer sampler I got at By Bua was actually perfect as a meal for one. They have a nice interior and good-tasting drinks as well.

This popular restaurant may be a chain, but it has a very large menu of tasty Thai dishes. No matter where you are in Bangkok, there’s probably a Ponn Cafe within walking distance.

This cozy and casual restaurant located in the Langsuan shopping center was a place I visited back in 2016, so I was excited to see that it was still open in 2019. They have standard Thai dishes (my go-to is the red curry).

As mentioned above, this night market is perfect for dinner. For readers not dying to try the massive mountain of pork spine, there are tons of restaurants serving Thai standards. We got pineapple fried rice, papaya salad, and pad Thai from some of the vendors there and all of it was satisfying.

I’m always down for a good rooftop bar, and The Speakeasy had everything you would expect. With expansive views and creative cocktails, this bar is perfect for anyone in the Lumphini area looking to admire the surrounding skyscrapers.

Gargantuan Shopping Malls

Shopping malls may be on the decline in the US, but definitely not in Bangkok. Especially if you’ve never experienced malls in Asia before, Bangkok is home to some really grand shopping centers that are busy from morning until night.

I think part of the reason malls are still such an integral part of life in this city is the fact that they offer so much more than their American counterparts. Far from housing only big box department stores, the malls we saw had everything from multi-level food courts to pharmacies, banks, currency exchange places, boutique shops, and more. You really can get anything you need here, and you’ll see that malls are a gathering place for young and old alike.

Take a tuk-tuk!

Have you really been to Thailand if you don’t take a tuk-tuk ride at least once? They’re everywhere, but crowds of them can be found outside tourist hotspots like the Grand Palace. Know how much you’re willing to pay (price estimates from Grab, the Uber of Southeast Asia, or even Google Maps can help inform what’s reasonable for a specific trip). Practice your bargaining skills and be willing to walk away if the driver won’t budge on an inflated price!

Experience the outskirts of Bangkok in Pak Nam (Samut Prakan)

Last but not least, for travelers who may want to see Bangkok beyond the beaten path, a great option is Samut Prakan. Specifically, the small town of Pak Nam is perfect because it’s located on the southern end of the BTS Skytrain (Sukhumvit Line).

Pak Nam, Samut Prakan

Despite being easy to get to, there are almost no foreign tourists who come out here, so it’s a totally different experience from all the neighborhoods mentioned above. To learn more about Samut Prakan, check out my list of ten things to do there.

What does Bangkok mean to you?

Bangkok is such a big and ever-changing city that no two visits are going to be the same. With that said, the capital of Thailand is a cornerstone of international travel and perhaps the most important city in all of Southeast Asia.

If you’re about to experience it for the first time, you may also find a metropolis that you connect with on a personal level, like I did. If you’ve been before, leave a comment and let me know what impression Bangkok left on you! Did you like it, love it, or hate it? Thanks for reading, guys!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!
Bangkok was the first city I visited in Southeast Asia, and it was one of my original inspirations to travel the world! Learn more about how you can see the world's most visited city in my newest blog post! #bangkok #visitthailand #visitbangkok #bkk #thailand #bangkoktravelguide #bangkokitinerary #travelbangkok #weekendinbangkok #thailandtravelguide #thingstodoinbangkok #bangkokweekendguide #thaifood #thaitemple #grandpalace #grandpalacebangkok #travelsoutheastasia #seasia Bangkok was the first city I visited in Southeast Asia, and it was one of my original inspirations to travel the world! Learn more about how you can see the world's most visited city in my newest blog post! #bangkok #visitthailand #visitbangkok #bkk #thailand #bangkoktravelguide #bangkokitinerary #travelbangkok #weekendinbangkok #thailandtravelguide #thingstodoinbangkok #bangkokweekendguide #thaifood #thaitemple #grandpalace #grandpalacebangkok #travelsoutheastasia #seasia

This post was published on Nov 12, 2019

Hi, I’m Kevin! I’m a coffee addict from Seattle, and my life revolves around traveling! Caffeinated Excursions is a record of my trips over the past seven years. Since I started blogging, I’ve lived in Mexico, Vietnam, Brazil, and the US. I just moved to Australia and plan to be here a full year. Thanks for checking out my blog!

Upcoming Trips

  1. Bangkok (Sept)
  2. Istanbul (Sept)

Support the Blog!

The post Bangkok, Thailand: A City That Inspired Me To Became a Traveler appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

]]> https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/bangkok-thailand-a-city-that-inspired-me-to-became-a-traveler/feed/ 20 8807 10 Things To Do In Samut Prakan (Pak Nam), A Small Town Near Bangkok https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/10-things-to-do-in-samut-prakan-pak-nam/ https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/10-things-to-do-in-samut-prakan-pak-nam/#comments Mon, 14 Oct 2019 17:00:54 +0000 https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/?p=8396 This small town on the outskirts of Bangkok had a surprising number of things to see and do. Check out my list to see why you should explore beyond city limits during your next trip to the Thai capital!

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10 Things To Do In Samut Prakan (Pak Nam)

A Thai Province Near Bangkok

Published October 15, 2019

As I become a more experienced traveler, I’m realizing that I really like to visit small towns. Granted, a town or city of any size can be a hit-or-miss. For example, my recent trip to a relatively small port city on the coast of Malaysia was pretty underwhelming. However, lesser-known places usually offer some unique experiences that can’t be found in national capitals or sprawling urban areas. I’ve had good luck with small towns in Taiwan, Belize, and Uruguay (just to name a few). But what about Thailand?

Since I had already been to Bangkok twice, I wanted to spend my third visit to Thailand doing something else. Flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok are always cheaper than to Phuket or Chiang Mai, so I was able to narrow it down to the provinces near the nation’s capital. I also wanted to stay someplace that wouldn’t require a long bus ride from the airport.

After a few days of consideration, I decided to check out Samut Prakan, the Thai province neighboring Bangkok to the south. Specifically, the small town of Pak Nam seemed like the obvious choice since it’s linked to the city center and the airport by the BTS (Bangkok Mass Transit System). It also looked far enough away from downtown to offer its own unique experience.

I definitely took a gamble when I decided to spend a few days in Samut Prakan. But it ended up being exactly what I was hoping for. Despite being only about an hour away from the center of Bangkok via the metro, Samut Prakan felt like a town untouched by tourism. Signs and menus are only in Thai. There are also a ton of temples in the area as well as other interesting monuments to see.

If you’re in search of an authentic and quintessential Thai experience, look no further than Samut Prakan. Here are ten ideas for how to spend a day trip or weekend getaway to the town of Pak Nam. Feel free to skip below to any of the activities that catch your eye!

  1. Explore the wet markets on the waterfront
  2. Admire the strange Samut Prakan Tower
  3. Check out the free temples in the town center
  4. Visit Wat Asokaram, a stunning white temple
  5. Take the ferry across the river to see Wat Phra Samut Chedi
  6. See a truly massive copper elephant statue at the Erawan Museum
  7. Grab street food for lunch
  8. Relax in one of the town’s cute cafes
  9. Have dinner at a night market
  10. Try craft beer on tap

In Town

The center of Pak Nam town is very compact and walkable. The first three activities on the list are all based in this area located on the eastern banks of the Chao Phraya River.

1. Pak Nam Fresh Market
ตลาดสดปากน้ำ

This lively market is a maze of stalls and vendors selling everything from fresh seafood to toys and gifts. It’s split up into a few sections and is surprisingly big.

What I liked about this market is the fact that it’s not a tourist attraction. People actually purchase groceries here. The floors are wet. It smells like fish. It’s not super picturesque, but it is authentic and worth a visit.

2. Samut Prakan Tower

If you spend any time walking around the town center, you’ll definitely notice this massive structure pictured below. It’s lit up very prominently at night, so I assumed it would be the perfect way to get a great view of the surrounding area from the observation deck.

Unfortunately, the tower does not appear to be open to the public. I tried going in and was turned away by security guards. If you make it close enough to see into the big glass windows on the ground floor, you’ll notice that the interior of the building doesn’t really look finished. However, there doesn’t appear to be any construction taking place, so I wouldn’t expect it to be open for visitors any time soon (read more here).

For now, you’ll have to just admire this odd landmark from the ground. If it opens and you’re able to go up, let me know in the comments below!

3. Temples

A number of temples are within walking distance of the town center. Here are two that I checked out.

Wat Phichai Songkhram
วัดพิชัยสงคราม

There are actually a couple of temples clustered together here, and all of them are beautiful. It was amazing that there were no other tourists here on a beautiful Monday morning. I had the place all to myself! In addition, it’s free to visit.

Wat Klangworrawiharn
วัดกลางวรวิหาร

This is also a collection of a few temples located here (near Racha Market mentioned below). I personally liked Wat Phichai Songkhram a bit more, but since they’re only about fifteen minutes away from one another on foot, there’s no reason not to visit both.

It looks like these aren’t the only temples in Pak Nam. If you’re willing to walk a little bit further, you should be able to find more.

Outside of Town

There were also a couple attractions outside the town center that I recommend.

4. Wat Asokaram
วัดอโศการาม

This stunning temple is absolutely worth the short trip from Pak Nam. Take the Skytrain all the way to the last stop, Kheha (เคหะฯ), then hire a taxi for only ฿40 to ฿50 to go the rest of the way. Since Wat Asokaram is so far out from the city center, there won’t be tons of tourists here.

Like the temples in Pak Nam, Wat Asokaram allows visitors to enter for free. I saw quite a few monks and nuns walking around the area, and a couple of people inside were praying. Be respectful by wearing long pants and a shirt that covers your shoulders.

Nearby (to the south of the temple) there is a quiet little neighborhood. I enjoyed a short walk here to see the local houses, but I did encounter a pack of dogs. It wasn’t as bad as my recent close call in Malaysia, but stray dogs appear to be very common in both Thailand and Malaysia. Most seem docile but you never know when one might be aggressive. Just be aware and ready to back away slowly if you are approached.

5. Wat Phra Samut Chedi
วัดพระสมุทรเจดีย์

If you have an hour or two to spare, be sure to take the ferry across the Chao Phraya River to check out this other temple. The ferry leaves frequently all day and only costs ฿6 each way. You’ll depart from this ferry dock and get dropped off here on the other side. The temple is only a few minutes away on foot.

I visited Wat Phra Samut Chedi right at dusk, and I’m so glad I did! The temple has a small path surrounding it, and tons of people were walking and jogging around it. What a beautiful place for an evening stroll, right? There were also people playing soccer, which made it feel like a community gathering place.

Despite the crowds, there were no other tourists here (as far as I could tell). Join the locals and take a few laps around the track before taking the ferry back to Pak Nam!

6. The Erawan Museum
พิพิธภัณฑ์ช้างเอราวัณ

This quirky “museum” is located a few miles north of Pak Nam’s town center (the closest BTS stop is Chang Erawan, ช้างเอราวัณ). The main attraction is a truly massive copper sculpture of an elephant with three heads that can be seen from the street.

I still can’t decide if the ฿400 entrance fee (approx. 13 USD) was worth it, but if you are willing to pay, you can go in and check it out up close. Inside the pink base of the statue is a beautiful, ornate hall with a stunning glass ceiling.

There’s also an elevator and staircase that will take you inside the actual elephant, which houses a somewhat unusual shrine. Unfortunately, there aren’t any windows, so don’t expect a panoramic view from the top.

Authentic Thai Cuisine

The last four items on my list involve eating and drinking. Culinary options in Samut Prakan are both plentiful and cheap. 

7. Street Food

Street food is truly everywhere in Pak Nam, and you should absolutely take advantage of that! To be perfectly honest, I don’t think I ever managed to try street food in Bangkok. I just always ended up eating at fancy-ish places after being indecisive about what I wanted. In Pak Nam, there aren’t a ton of restaurants, but there are street vendors on almost every corner.

In addition to the standard choices like noodles and dumplings pictured above, adventurous foodies should get some street snacks as well. I tried a few different ones and couldn’t tell you what they were, but everything was delicious! If you recognize either of the two snacks below, leave a comment and let me know what I ate!

8. Coffee

If you’re like me and need a cup of the good stuff to start your day, there are a couple of nice options.

Sanctuary Paknam

This cafe and restaurant is a short walk outside the town center, but I loved the atmosphere inside. It’s got a botanical theme, and the restaurant is surrounded by a nice, lush garden.

Coffee By The Cop

There wasn’t anything particularly amazing about this place, but I just found it amusing that this little cafe was actually next to the town’s police station. They made a nice iced latte and it’s closer to the town center than Sanctuary.

9. Racha Market
ตลาดราชา

This night market was the perfect place for dinner. With a few dozen vendors, you can find anything you might want. I just went for a simple bowl of noodles with pork, but I also tried a few meat skewers and a crepe for dessert.

10. GIVE ME SOME ALE

Last but definitely not least on the list is a tiny craft beer shop located near the Royal Thai Navy Academy BTS stop. It was a bit pricey so I only got one draft beer here, but the ambiance was amazing. I didn’t really see any bars in town, so if you’re craving a beer, this is the place to go!

Where I Stayed

I ended up staying at the Suwatchai Garden, a simple hotel near Sanctuary Paknam. I booked it on Airbnb, and was pleasantly surprised to find that they had a nice outdoor pool.

Small-town Thailand: Is it Worth a Visit?

The short answer: absolutely! You don’t have to take an exhausting bus ride to the most remote corners of this beautiful country to get a sense of what life is like outside of the major cities. Since Samut Prakan is accessible by BTS, it’s the perfect place to get a glimpse of ‘life in the suburbs.’

Have you been to Pak Nam before? What about some other locations in Samut Prakan Province? Let me know in the comments below, and thanks for reading!

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10 things to see and do in this quaint suburb of Bangkok. Check out my blog post to learn more! #caffeinatedexcursions #samutprakan #paknam #visitsamutprakan #thailand #สมุทรปราการ #จังหวัดสมุทรปราการ #ปากน้ำ #travelblog #travelblogs #travelblogger #travelbloggers #travelguides #traveltips #offthebeatenpath

This post was published on Oct 15, 2019

Hi, I’m Kevin! I’m a coffee addict from Seattle, and my life revolves around traveling! Caffeinated Excursions is a record of my trips over the past seven years. Since I started blogging, I’ve lived in Mexico, Vietnam, Brazil, and the US. I just moved to Australia and plan to be here a full year. Thanks for checking out my blog!

Upcoming Trips

  1. Bangkok (Sept)
  2. Istanbul (Sept)

Support the Blog!

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