Bangkok, Thailand, is a fascinating southeast Asian city that offers something amusing for
everyone.
Sometimes referred to as the Big Mango, Bangkok is an important international hub, and the
home of over 12 million residents.
This video includes twenty five of the best things to do in Bangkok - so let's jump
right in and get started exploring this magical, tasty and diverse city.
Number one is wang lang market which is located adjacent to Siriraj hospital. There's a
stall that makes deep fried bite sized pieces of pork that will literally melt in your mouth.
Khanom tungtag is another famous treat at Wang Lang Market.
Number two is the gigantic Chatuchak Weekend Market. Including over five thousand permanent
stores, and if you count the makeshift stalls and hawkers around the market, the number
of vendors is closer to fifteen thousand, making Chatuchak the largest market in Thailand.
Number three is Klong Toey Market, the fresh food breadbasket of Bangkok. The biggest,
most bustling fresh wet market in central Bangkok, and lots of food to buy here, we're
going to check this out. The entire repertoire of Thai cooking ingredients are available
at klong toey, including a few interesting and extremely exotic foods if you look in
the right places.
Number four is to visit a floating market - and there are a few that set up on the weekends
just on the outskirts of town. I'm here at the talad nam bang nam pheung which is a local
little floating market. Though Bangkok floating markets are a little Thai touristy, they are
a great place to spend a day of leisure browsing and eating wonderful food. It's kind of like
a sweet tomato juice, maybe with a little bit of papaya mixed in, that's what it tastes
like, pretty good.
Number five is Pratunam market. Bangkok's Prtunam market which is one of the busiest
wholesale markets in Bangkok. Shopping is often a major component of any visit to Bangkok
and Pratunam market specializes in wholesale clothing.
Number six is MBK shopping center, a mega mall that's literally a country in and of
itself. Electronics, clothes, souvenirs, and a huge food court on the sixth floor are a
few of the draws.
Number seven is or tor kor market, a high quality fresh market that caters to the upperclass.
The aisles are wide and clean and the produce is nothing but the finest. There's also
a great selection of hawker stalls serving delicious food.
Bangkok's Dusit Zoo is number eight. I'm here today at Bangkok's dusit zoo, which is
the central zoo of the city. In case there are any lions or tigers that decide to escape,
there's a good selection of street food right outside the gates of the Dusit Zoo to
distract them as you run for your life.
Number nine on the list is Lumpini Park, located just north of the Silom district. Surrounded
by tall buildings, this is like a sanctuary of greenness in the middle. It's great if
you want to go jogging, but I'm not here to jog today, I'm just taking stroll and eating
ice cream. Lumpini Park is a natural escape from the fast pace of Bangkok, it's a sanctuary
where crows and monitor lizards reside. Don't miss the evening public aerobic dance sessions.
Getting a Thai massage is number ten. You cannot visit Bangkok without indulging in
a traditional Thai massage. I can already feel my body rejuvenating. I'm going to take
a quick nap. A Thai massage can actually be quite painful, but keep in mind that you can
always ask the masseuse to take it easy on you.
Number eleven is the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew located in the heart of Bangkok.
I'm standing outside Bangkok's grand palace and wat phra knew which is one of the most
famous attractions in all of Bangkok. I went there a couple years ago so I'm not going
to go in today, but definitely if you come to Bangkok, you've got to check out the grand
palace and wat phra knew. It's one of the most revered sites in all of Thailand and
one of the most iconic landmarks in Bangkok. If a tuk tuk driver approaches you and tells
you the palace is closed for the day, it's probably a scam, and instead walk yourself
to the main entrance gate to get in.
So, I'm going to enter the reclining Buddha. Just behind the Grand Palace is number twelve,
Wat Pho, home of the golden reclining Buddha. Wat Pho is also famous as being the birthplace
of the Thai traditional massage.
Number thirteen is Wat Arun, the temple of dawn. So it costs just three baht to cross
of the Chao Phraya river, and we're heading over to wat arun, which is one of the coolest
temples in all of Bangkok. The fine sculpture details and the steep climb to the top level
of the temple, are a few of the main highlights of visiting Wat Arun. It's definitely not
for you if you're afraid of heights, because it's almost like climbing up a ladder, but
the view from up here is great.
Number fourteen is Wat Saket, also known as the Golden Mountain. Wat Saket which is also
known as pu khao tong, which is the golden mountain, Bangkok's golden mountain. The three
hundred and eighteen stairs to the top takes just five to ten minutes to climb, and your
effort is rewarded with fantastic panoramic views of Bangkok.
Number fifteen is the Erawan Museum, famous for its three headed elephant. Within the
three headed elephant is an impressive museum while the beautiful gardens that surround
the complex are neatly manicured and make a perfect place to take a peaceful stroll.
Number sixteen is the Vimanmek Mansion. It's the world's largest golden teak mansion. Unfortunately
they don't allow photography inside, but we can get some photos from the outside. I just
finished the tour, it took about thirty minutes, and it's really cool inside, impressive to
see.
For nightlife, shopping, and restaurants, Khao San Road is number seventeen. I am on
Khao San Road which is the center of backpacking here in Bangkok, Thailand.
Victory Monument in Bangkok, Thailand. At number nineteen is Victory Monument. And since
it's a transportation hub of Bangkok, the roundabout is full of shopping, food, and
entertainment. Don't skip a meal at boat noodle alley, a collection of canal side restaurants
next to Victory Monument that serve bowls of pure porky delight.
Number twenty is durian fruit. While its shell is spiky and intimidating its flesh is sweet
like nectar and creamy like butter. A durian is a fruit like no other, a unique and sensational
flavor and texture that should be experienced by anyone that visits Bangkok. While some
dislike the pungent smell or the pudding texture, in my opinion, a durian is the absolute heaven
on earth.
Thai street food and home style restaurants is number twenty one. Fresh herbs, spicy chillies,
zesty lime juice and a host of tropical fruits and vegetables all combine to make Thai food
intensely appetizing. Rated as one of the top cities in the world for dining, Bangkok's
food reputation won't let you down. Fancy sit down restaurants are great, but in my
opinion it's the street side stalls and the family run hole in the walls that serve the
best Thai cuisine. A Thai feasting experience will thrill your taste buds and keep a smile
on your face.
One way to bring home the wonderful array of Thai flavors is by signing up for a Thai
cooking class, which comes in at number twenty two. There are a number of different choices
from professional cooking schools to motherly style home cooking courses. Often a cooking
course will include a visit to a local wet market followed by preparing a set menu of
a number of different dishes. Don't worry, you'll get to eat what you cook too! This
is the flavor that will give us the deliciousness of this green curry we're about to cook. I'm
at the market, I'm going to get some of this stuff.
Number twenty three, located near Yaowarat Chinatown is Pahurat, a little slice of India
in the heart of Bangkok. Fabric and clothing, chai and chapatis, are all available in this
concentrated area of merchants. I go to explore the mixture of cultures, and or course to
eat Indian, Bangladeshi and Burmese cuisine. First dip it into the sauce, give me a plate
of this and I'm happy.
The historical pak klong talad, or Bangkok central flower market is number twenty four.
I am at Bangkok's pak klong talad, which is the famous flower market. People come to purchase
flowers for everything from gifts for their special loved ones to flowers with religious
and cultural significance. The sea of brightly colorful flowers in mesmerizing.
Finally at number twenty five is Yaowarat, Bangkok's bustling, and always energetic
Chinatown. Gold stores, lottery ticket vendors, Chinese medicine dealers, and exotic food
markets all add to the mix. When evening in Yaowarat falls, street food and seafood restaurants
take over and don't stop serving until the wee hours of the night. This is called kuay
jab, and it's in a soup made from all things pig. Sampeng Market also located in Yaowarat,
is an intensely busy shoppers paradise that includes an unfathomable range of knick knacks.
So whether you choose to go on a shopping rampage, a street food pilgrimage, a peaceful
temple visit, or a cultural museum trip, there's no doubt that the steamy hot capital of Thailand
has it all.
Hey everyone, it's Mark Wiens here, Thank you so much for watching that video, and if
you enjoyed it, please remember to give it a quick thumbs up, and also leave a comment
right below to let me know what you think about Bangkok. I want to hear from you.
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