Alright guys, welcome to the Big Mango!
Yeah, we're here in Bangkok, Thailand.
And if you've been traveling in Southeast Asia for a while or backpacking chances are
you're going to pass through Bangkok (กรุงเทพมหานคร) at some point in time.
At least a few times.
We've been here in Bangkok many times before so we feel like we've gotten to know the city
a little better each time and with this video we're going to show you 25 things to do in
Bangkok, Thailand (ราชอาณาจักรไทย).
Let's check it out.
In this video we visit the Grand Palace and plenty of wats, enjoy street food and then
have drinks at a rooftop bar, weave our way through crowded markets and take our time
visiting museums.
We tried to see and do as much as we could with our time here, so consider this a little
taste of what Bangkok has to offer.
Now let’s get started!
So we are currently visiting the Grand Palace (พระบรมมหาราชวัง)
and this is the most iconic sight in all of Bangkok (กรุงเทพมหานคร)
and for good reason.
It is breathtaking.
Like seriously if you look at the details, the little mosaics, the mirrors, the gold.
It is impressive and it is huge so we're going to give you a quick tour.
Actually, it is going to be a long tour so stick around.
The Grand Palace (พระบรมมหาราชวัง) was once the residence of the Kings of Siam,
and while the current monarchy resides in Dusit Palace, the Grand Palace is still used
for official events and functions.
There is a strict dress code in order to visit, so dress modestly; that means no bare legs
or shoulders for both men and women.
It’s also a good idea to carry your passport as security can be tight; we were asked for
ours.
Within the grounds of the Grand Palace, you’ll also find Wat Phra Kaew (วัดพระแก้ว).
This Wat houses the Emerald Buddha, which is a figure of a seated Buddha said to have
originated in India.
Unfortunately, no video or photography is allowed, but be sure to visit if you’re
already there.
Alright so we just avoided the tourist boat which was going to cost us 100 Baht.
Right, so there is a lot of tourist boat options but if you want to travel like a local you're
going to take the Chao Phraya Express Boat (เจ้าพระยา).
And this is something you absolutely have to do in Bangkok (กรุงเทพมหานคร).
It is just such an iconic experience.
Yeah.
So we can't wait to take a ride.
And tickets are only 14 Baht per person.
That is right.
Let's get on.
We're heading to Wat Arun.
The Chao Phraya (เจ้าพระยา) is a major river which flows through Bangkok
(กรุงเทพมหานคร) and then continues its downward journey to
the Gulf of Thailand (ราชอาณาจักรไทย).
Many tourist attractions sit along the river’s edge, so depending on where you’re going,
taking the Chao Phraya Express (เจ้าพระยา) can be one of the most efficient ways to get
around.
It’s also quite the experience as you’re guaranteed to see all sorts of vessels competing
for space on the water.
Alright, so I got sprayed a couple of times with that chocolate colored water on the Chao
Phraya (เจ้าพระยา) but we're now at Wat Arun (วัดอรุณ).
Sam is befriending the cats and we're going to go visit the temple.
Aw.
Hi.
Oh, look at your eyes.
You have green eyes.
So Wat Arun (วัดอรุณ)is currently under restoration which means there is a lot
of scaffolding around the main structure.
However, you can still climb up so we're looking for the steps and then we're going to head
up.
Hopefully get some better views.
Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn, is said to be most beautiful when the sun
casts its first light.
We clearly weren’t up that early, but we agree that it’s a beautiful temple, and
what really sets it apart are the porcelain decorations against an all white background.
So unfortunately this is as far up as we can go.
We were only able to climb one story and then all the entrances are blocked off because
of the construction.
But I mean you do still get sort of a cool perspective.
So it is a Sunday here in Bangkok (กรุงเทพมหานคร) and today we're visiting one of the most popular
markets in all of Bangkok.
We're going to Chatuchak (จตุจักร).
Yeah.
Woo hoo.
It is a massive market.
It is open only on the weekends and we're going to get to eat a lot of Thai street food
today.
So come join us.
That is the plan.
We are now officially entering the market and it is packed.
We're here around noon and it is just full of people.
And this is just the entrance.
Ah!
Chatuchak (จตุจักร), also called JJ Market (Jatujak), is huge!
It has over 8,000 stalls, and it is divided into 27 sections - each specializing in something
different be it books and antiques, or clothes and home decor.
We focused on street food, and after wandering for a few hours, we still left feeling like
we had barely put a dent on the map.
And since we’re talking about Thai street food (อาหารไทย), a few of
our personal favourites are banana roti, mango sticky rice, and coconut ice cream!
So we finally stumbled upon a stand that was making roti and we got my favorite.
Banana egg and I think it is condensed milk and chocolate as well.
Yeah.
Oh, it looks so good.
It's got it all on this one.
It is freshly made.
Man, we love Thai banana pancakes.
This is like quintessential Thai street food.
It is so sweet.
Oh my gosh.
I'm loving it.
Isn't that good?
Really really loving it.
We've really had a sweet tooth today.
Hahaha.
We have.
Sammy boy is going big.
Going big.
Going for a huge slice of mango.
Lots of rice.
That is one bite for a big boy.
Oh man.
It is so good.
This is one of those Thai desserts that no matter how much I've ate for the day I could
like be totally stuffed and I'm still got a bit of room for this.
There is always room for sticky rice.
It is just that good.
Love that stuff.
And if you're coming here I mean at 50 Baht it is really cheap and I highly recommend
trying this.
You can have it on the street, you can have it in restaurants.
You can have it just about anywhere.
This is a classic Thai dessert.
So not too far from Chatuchak Market you also have Chatuchak Park (สวนจตุจักร).
And this appears to be a very popular place on the weekend with blue skies, the sun is
out.
So we're just enjoying a quick stroll here.
Cause why not.
It is nearby.
At the park, you can rent straw mats for a picnic, hire a paddle boat, or just enjoy
a leisurely stroll.
So this morning we're going to be visiting the Jim Thompson House and Museum.
And Jim Thompson was an architect and businessman from the United States and he helped revive
the Thai silk trade here.
So we're going to be touring his home which is now a museum.
It is a guided tour.
And yeah it should be cool.
So that was a pretty cool guided tour but we're not allowed to film inside the home
but I can tell you that the gardens are beautiful and Jim Thompson was an avid art collector
so you get to see pieces from all over Southeast Asia.
From Cambodia, from Myanmar.
Different parts of Thailand (ราชอาณาจักรไทย).
Um, and the furniture is pretty intricate.
It is pretty spectacular I have to say.
So if you enjoy that kind of thing this museum is definitely worth visiting.
So being the homebodies that we are tonight we were thinking 'eh' let's just stay in the
hotel and not do much.
And also being the budget travelers that we are then we were like maybe let's just have
drinks on our pool on the rooftop.
It is on the ninth floor.
The views will be nice.
But no we were like we need to get out of this rut.
We need to do something exciting.
So we're at Cloud 47.
It is a casual rooftop bar in Bangkok (กรุงเทพมหานคร) and we're here for drinks.
And the views are just insane up here.
Yeah.
So worth it.
I've got a cold Chang in my hand.
A pint of Chang.
It was all worth it.
It was only like a ten minute walk from our hotel.
Yeah, pretty cool.
Pretty awesome.
And what else are you having aside from Chang?
Because there is something else you always enjoy drinking.
This is my dessert.
Baileys for dessert.
Baileys.
Yep.
And I have a Mai Thai.
There are lots of rooftop bars in Bangkok, perhaps none more famous than Sky Bar at Lebua,
where they filmed part of The Hangover 2.
That being said, we appreciated Cloud 47’s casual feel and the fact that they have a
relaxed dress code.
Alright, what is the plan?
Tell us.
So next up we're visiting Wat Saket (วัดสระเกศราชวรมหาวิหาร).
It is also known as the Golden Mount and the special thing about this temple is you get
some amazing views of Bangkok from the top.
We've been here before.
We can't wait to go back again.
Let's start climbing.
This climb is actually quite refreshing.
We're in the shade the whole time.
It is very lush.
We've got little waterfalls and streams trickling through.
There is mist blowing at tired hikers.
So it is pretty cool.
We hope you’re not feeling too templed out yet, because we still have a few more to show
you.
Next up is Wat Po (วัดโพธิ์), better known as the Temple of the Reclining
Buddha.
Inside you’ll find a Buddha stretched out 46 meters in length, which is quite the site
to behold.
This temple is also famed as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage, and the art is
still taught there.
So transportation is a big thing here in Bangkok and next up we're going to be riding the boat
down the canals and I can already smell that water.
Oh man, it is like rotten eggs and anyways.
The water is black.
Check it out.
So Sam, if you were to fall into the canals what would be your plan of action?
I don't think I would make it out.
I would just disintegrate in the water.
Another thing you need to make time for while in Bangkok is riding the water taxis, which
zip through the city’s canals avoiding heavy traffic.
The service is fast and cheap, but the water is beyond dirty, so you’ll want to keep
your mouth shut and pull up the plastic sheets so you don’t get sprayed in the face.
Another cool place to visit in Bangkok (กรุงเทพมหานคร) is Pak Klong (ปากคลองตลาด),
which is the biggest fresh flower market in the city.
Apparently it’s most active between midnight and dawn when fresh flowers are delivered
and buyers get their stock, but that would have been a bit too early for us.
So there are lots of flower shops in this area but then you also have the actual market
which is like a huge warehouse with hundreds of different booths and all of these different
flowers.
So we've finally found that.
We thought we had seen the market but really we were just looking at the little shops.
Next up is Chinatown (ถนนเยาวราช - 耀華力路), which sits along Yaowarat
Road (ถนนเยาวราช - 耀華力路).
The red paper lanterns and dim sum restaurants will let you know you’ve arrived.
One of the most popular sites here is Wat Traimit (พรพุทธมหาสุวรรณปฏิมากร),
also known as the Temple of the Golden Buddha.
This temple is home to the largest buddha made out of solid gold in the world.
The statue is 3 meters tall and weighs a whopping five and a half tonnes.
Sadly, we couldn’t get this on video either.
So we just finished visiting the Golden Buddha (พรพุทธมหาสุวรรณปฏิมากร)
and I saw the signs for no flash photography but I completely missed the thing about video.
Yeah.
And Sam found out the hard way.
Yeah because I have my microphone on so I had to delete all the clips so we can't show
you the Golden Buddha but it is impressive and we can recommend coming here to see it
in person.
So if you're in Bangkok (กรุงเทพมหานคร) and your aim is to go shopping you need to
come to Siam Station because it is literally surrounded by malls.
You have MBK (มาบุญครอง), Central World (เซ็นทรัลเวิลด์),
Siam Discovery, Siam Centre (สยามสแควร์) and Siam Paragon.
So it is like shopping Mecca.
It is insane.
We're going to show you some clips from all of the malls right now.
It is a little bit overwhelming.
Whether you want to watch a movie, shop for clothes, or grab a bite at a restaurant, this
is a great place to do so.
Just across from Central World, you’ll find the Erawan Shrine (ศาลท้าวมหาพรหม),
which is another prominent site in Bangkok.
This hindu shrine houses a statue of Phra Phrom, the Thai representation of the Hindu
god of creation Brahma, and you can often catch Thai dance troupes performing in the
background.
If you enjoy museums, another place you should make time for is the National Museum (พิพิธภัณฑสถานแห่งชาติ
พระนคร), which has exhibits focused on Thai art and history.
No cameras were allowed inside, but we spent at least a solid hour exploring the various
galleries.
Okay Sam, so we just finished visiting the National Gallery.
Tell us about it.
Yeah, it is a massive massive grounds.
And there is so many different like sections to the museum.
Lots of galleries.
Lots of different galleries and we couldn't film inside but we filmed a little bit outside
just to give you an idea of how big it is.
And it is also really close to the Grand Palace.
Yeah, literally within walking distance.
So on a day that you're going to go visit the Grand Palace and Wat Po you can also come
and visit this museum as well.
Early morning escapades.
Where are we?
Yeah, we're visiting Lumphini Park (สวนลุมพินี) and this is a really awesome park because
Bangkok does have a reputation of being a bit of concrete jungle.
Oh yes.
And that is well earned.
But this is like a nice oasis within the city.
And it is just such a nice park.
You can come from four thirty in the morning to nine PM at night.
And it is just so nice to get a green escape here in the city.
Let's go check it out.
Another place we visited was the Democracy Monument (อนุสาวรีย์ประชาธิปไตย)
which was commissioned in 1939 to commemorate the 1932 Siamese coup d'état which led to
the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.
So what are we doing Audrey?
Riding a tuk-tuk (ตุ๊ก ๆ).
Hop in.
Also, it wouldn’t be a proper trip to Bangkok (กรุงเทพมหานคร)
without hopping in at least one tuk tuk (ตุ๊ก ๆ).
This is a fun way to zip around the city in a form of transportation you may have never
tried before.
It turns out we're staying two blocks away from a Unicorn Cafe.
Unicorn Cafe.
Sam is like awrrr.
Whatever.
Why am I being dragged here.
Pure magic.
So this right here is the menu.
How are we going to choose.
And this smaller one is the recommended items.
So yeah, what do you think Sam?
That is more food than we were expecting.
The food actually does look good.
And we're sharing our cupcakes with our unicorns.
Yum yum yum.
Haha.
Wow.
Someone is really having a good time.
So we just finished having lunch at the Unicorn Cafe and that was a lot of fun.
What did you think?
Yeah, it was pretty cool.
I mean it is the atmosphere you go for.
I'd say the food was okay.
It was decent.
Yeah, we enjoyed the mains but the desserts were a little so so.
We weren't completely sold on the icing but we had a lot of fun playing with the unicorns.
They were dancing.
We shared our food.
So yeah, if you're in Bangkok definitely check it out.
So getting around in Bangkok.
Yeah, there is a lot of different ways to get around.
One of our favorite ways is by Sky Train (รถไฟฟ้า).
It is just so efficient.
It is air conditioned inside and we just got our Rabbit Card which allows us just to scan
in and out.
We can top up the money whenever we want.
And that’s a wrap for our visit to Bangkok (กรุงเทพมหานคร).
We hope you enjoyed this travel guide and that it gave you a few ideas of things to
do, places to visit, and foods to eat on your trip.
As always, if you have any other suggestions of things to do in Bangkok, feel free to share
those with fellow travellers in the comments below.
Happy travels and until next time!