A
A kicks off with Bangkok's Attractions - an alluring potpourri of tourist delights that takes in ancient temples and auspicious shrines, gilded palaces and winding waterways. These touchstone sights are where the country's traditions, its tumultuous past and spiritual roots intertwine. They're also, you'll discover, the spots where Thailand is on grandest and most evocative form; the essential starting blocks for an understanding of Bangkok's cultural heritage and unique and utterly seductive aesthetic.
Bangkok's Architecture now registers a strong, if unsteady blip on the global design radar. It may not be consistent or often coherent, but it's frequently clever and always compelling. From towering skyscrapers to colonial-era townhouses, glittering temples to teak houses, Bangkok's hidden treats for the eyes abound and astound.
An adrenalin-rich A is Bangkok's Amusement Parks with their roller-coasters, playgrounds and water rides. Or if a Jane Fonda-style workout is your preferred method of working up a sweat, then head for one of Bangkok's many Aerobics classes or parks. If creative stimulation appeals more than the physical kind, why not nurture the latent artisan in you by taking in the city's vibrant contemporary or traditional Arts scene? There are pockets of galleries and antique shops across the city, places for you to come muse with your muse as it were.
Think of Soi Ari as the up-and-coming, less self-conscious cousin to trendy Thonglor. Personally, we like this neighourhood more. Found next its own BTS station (BTS Ari, just two stops from Chatuchak Weekend Market) it deftly marries Bohemia (trendy eateries, cafes and artsy boutiques) with quaint (wonderful streetfood, bare but tasty restaurants, knick knack stalls). There's an interesting cross-section of Thai society here too - not just urbane hipsters. Moreover, unlike Thonglor its totally walkable.
Unsurprisingly for a city steeped in Chinese influence, Acupuncture is also big here. Once you've done all these, take a respite from the Bangkok's bustle with a spot of Afternoon Tea - an import, of course, but a soothing and rather elegant one at that.
B
The BTS Skytrain is, without doubt, the city's sleekest, smoothest and coolest mode of transport. For improving the notorious gridlock-traffic, the health of our lungs and saving travel time, it glides effortlessly into our A-Z of Cool. But for doing it with such poise - so briskly, efficiently and comfortably - it deserves a badge of honor.
Use it to whiz you to one of hundreds of Bangkok's Bars. You'll find a staggering array to choose from: glitzy cocktail lounges (the stomping ground of the city's gliteratti), scruffy bohemian shacks and European styled watering holes. Or if heading home holds more appeal, let it whisk you to anyone of Bangkok's growing line-up of trendy, design-led Boutique Hotels. Alternatively, disembark at Ratchathewi to take in the sights from Baiyoke Tower, 88 soaring floors of glass, concrete and steel - and Bangkok's tallest building.
For B's in a more family-orientated bent, try casting your net round the city's Butterfly Enclosure or going for a strike at its Bowling Alleys. Or why not go track down some Bargains? Fancy some tips for home-improvement, the latest in audiovisual gadgets or international trade fairs, then keep your eyes peeled for events at BITEC (Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre).
It's over five years old. But it's still debatably the chicest club in town. It's Bed Supperclub. Inside this ice-white space-pod with curving walls, rub shoulders with the city's young wealthy elite while reclining on oversized divans and snacking on dishes like herb-coated goats cheese with roasted walnut dressing. Then, just when your thinking of checking in the for the night, it morphs into one of the glammest clubs on the planet. More often than not the curvaceous sound system and discerning DJs, elicit a memorable vibe.
C
C begins with the ancient lifeblood of the city: the dark, mysterious, brooding Chao Phraya River. Without it our beloved Bangkok would not exist. It's what first drew settlers here, and its waterways and tributaries were for hundreds of years the main means for conducting commerce and getting around. The poet T.S. Eliot likened it a "strong brown god, sullen and untameable" - you must try at least one river trip so you can conjure up your own impressionist poetry. Riverboats also offer the coolest, least temper-fraying method for seeing the landmarks dotted around Rattanakosin Island.
For chaos, cars and a cornucopia of Chinese produce it's got to be Chinatown (Yaowarat). Bangkok's Chinese population have been here since the 14th century, helping make the city the commercial success it is today. Streets and alleyways are jammed with shops and stalls selling everything from gold jewellery and wholesale packaging to herbs, fabrics and tea. And don't forget the seafood, for which locals will cross the roughest sea of rush-hour traffic!
C is for Bangkok's Clubs. Whether your into of-the-moment techno, a hip-hop head or salsa lover, Bangkok has a haunt for you. These salacious nighttime playgrounds attract not only world class DJ'ing talent but also the city's urban youth and sub-culture clans. They're a notoriously fickle breed - as soon as a new club opens, another closes. But still the beats go on pumping.
If nothing is cooler than creative spirit, entrepreneurial verve and funky objects, then Chatachuk Weekend Market has to be one of the coolest places on the planet. It's the mother of all markets - a sprawling maze of 9,000 plus stalls, each overflowing with cool or copied items crafted by Thailand's armies of artisans. You'll find clothing, jewellery, paintings, sculptures, furniture, exotic pets - yes, even, kitchen sinks if you look hard enough! Pack a hat, lap up the liquids and prepare to get very lost!
Looking for authentic Culture? Learn to knock up the meanest green curry going on a Thai Cooking Class, or experience a traditional Thai dance that evokes the spirit and atmosphere of old Siam, ie, a Cultural Show. Or try hunting down some fine local Crafts at Suan Lum Night Bazaar, MBK, Chatachuk or Rivercity.
If you're happier indulging in modern pursuits, then hop to the latest mall to have taken over the title of being the biggest shopping labyrinth in Southeast Asia, CentralWorld. Or drag your date to one of Bangkok's state-of-the-art Cinemas. These multiplexes screen a diet of Hollywood blockbusters and Thai mainstream movies, with the odd South Korean romance or Japanese horror thrown in for good measure. Art-house aficionados should head for House Cinema or Lido - both screen independent movies.
If live music is your thing, there's also Concerts galore to choose from. Mainstream pop, dance and rock acts from the West are the norm, but there's also the occasional Korean boy band and, of course, Thai talent. For family-friendly fun, head out of town for a croc-wrestling extravaganza at the world's largest Crocodile Farm. Or go Cycling for the day on the outskirts of Bangkok. The brave go it alone - the wise take a Cycling Tour.
Another day, another new block of Condominiums. Or so it seems in Bangkok. These sky-piercing towers of sleek modernist design are popping up all over the place, especially around central business like Sukhumvit. And you can have a piece of the property pie! While Thai property laws are tricky, and foreigners are not allowed to own land outright, they can buy condominiums in many areas. Perhaps its time to acquire that swish bachelor or bachelorette pad you've been hankering after!
Take a look at D, E and F in our in-depth delve into Bangkok cool. |
