Day 4- Bangkok

Well it is day 4 of our trip and so far we have mostly just travelled. Had a great time shopping in SF and Tay loved first class seats...glad I saved all those miles it sure made the long trip enjoyable. Probably ate way too much on the flights.
Got into the Marriott in Bangkok at about midnight local time. Got up early and we are off on tour in about an hour. I am struck with how pleasant the Thai people are. They say it is the land of smiles and indeed that is the case. I will try to add a couple of photos now but will take some today and load them tomorrow.
Is New Years and we don't have any definite plans as of yet...maybe the boat on the river to see the fireworks is the best option. We will see what Tay wants to do.

Bangkok Eat & Drink Guide THAILAND
provided by Wcities, Inc

Thai cuisine has spread across the globe in the past three decades at an unprecedented speed. The reason is not hard to fathom -- the food is absolutely delicious. There are two types of Thai cooking: royal Thai cuisine and "common" fare. The former is traditionally served to royalty, and usually garnished with exquisitely carved fruits and vegetables. "Common" Thai food is what Thais eat every day. Each of the four regions in Thailand has a distinct cuisine, but unless you are dining in a restaurant specializing in regional cooking, you are likely to find a blend of cuisines on most menus.

In the central region, the food is known for being hot, salty, sweet and sour. Dishes such as nam phrik (dips) and soups served with boiled rice are standard fare. In the northeastern region, sticky rice is the staple accompaniment to such popular dishes as som tam (green papaya salad), gai yang (barbecued chicken) and laap (salads of meat and fresh herbs). Much of the street food in Bangkok is from the northeast, due to the large number of vendors coming from the region. Food from the north tends to be mild, salty and sour, but not sweet. Fermented sour pork sausages (you can see them being barbecued on the street) are a favorite. In the south, fish and sour curries (without coconut milk) are the normal diet.
Phra Nakorn
There are plenty of restaurants in this district where you will find the best in Thai cuisine. Phranakorn Bar & Gallery has a popular rooftop bar where the drinks are reasonably-priced. Be sure to try an authentic Thai whiskey and enjoy the local, contemporary music playing in the background. The restaurant Thiptara built on the Chao Praya River has been made to resemble a traditional Thai compound. Rim Nam Terrace can be found within the Royal River Hotel , and serves local Thai cuisine in a modern dining room. The tiny and ancient Chote Chitr has been turning out court style food for over 90 years while the Brick Bar serves up beer and satisfying Thai snacks.

Thonburi
On the other hand, if it is international cuisine you are hungry for, Bangkok will satisfy you all the same. From Indian to Greek, Middle Eastern and Latin — name your cuisine and somewhere there will be a waiter ready with an appropriate menu. Sample Pacific Rim offerings at Jesters or riverfront Supatra House . Enjoy Cantonese favorites at Mei Jiang . Trader Vics Polynesian bar in Bangkok is always ready to welcome the wayfaring traveler.

Sathorn/Silom/Bangrak
If you're in the mood for fresh seafood, try Harmonique , where the menu is Thai and the main ingredient is fish. Good places to start your Thai culinary adventure include Baan Khanitha , where the food is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. Large hotels usually have excellent Thai restaurants, among them the Celadon . While European restaurants are relatively new on the scene, there has been a recent boom in Italian cuisine, with oldies such as Angelini's attracting huge crowds. Several French restaurants have also opened to rave reviews, one of the best is Le Cafe Siam . Coffee is enjoying a boom in Bangkok, and although Starbucks may now be everywhere, other chains like Au Bon Pain are springing up with great success.

Then there are the "international" restaurants serving Asian and Italian-inspired dishes, but which refuse to be easily pigeonholed: Eat Me and Indigo are just two that defy labels. Bangkok's pubs and bars are up there with the best, although it is worth noting that steep taxes on wine push even basic table vino into the expensive bracket. At its very core, Bangkok is a beer-and-whiskey town. In many establishments you can order a bottle of whiskey which will be kept for your next visit. There are a number of micro-breweries to keep ale lovers happy and plenty of bars for spirit sippers, such as the more upmarket Barbican .

Pathumwan
Then there are the pubs where live bands play popular Thai songs and, at some stage in the evening, the ubiquitous Hotel California. Henry J Bean's is just such a pub. Note that pubs and bars in Bangkok serve delectable food, making an evening of bar-hopping a fine way to pass the time. Try the area around Phra Arthit Road or Narathiwat Soi 15.

Bangkok is dotted with literally hundreds of eateries and nightspots. Do not be afraid to be adventurous because it is difficult to find a bad meal in the "City of Angels." In fact, dining and drinking will most likely become one of the highlights of your trip here.
from travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191501667-bangkok_vacations-i

Overview of Bangkok, Thailand unseen thailand

To put it simply, Bangkok can seem like a labyrinth to new arrivals in the city. The sprawling expressways and overpasses, huge new Skytrain and crowded streets full of vendors give the place a distinct Blade Runner-esque feel. Causing even further confusion is the lack of a true "center" to the city, with various districts scattered throughout town. On the positive side, the Skytrain has made it much easier to get around, and taxis, tuk-tuks, buses and motorcycle taxis are plentiful. Get your bearings by reading the following guide and it will not take long for you to be seduced by the glorious chaos and charm of the "City of Angels."

Phra Nakorn

The most heavily visited area, at least during the day, is Ko Rattanakosin (Rattanakosin Island), Bangkok's old city on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River. Here you will find fantastic examples of historical architecture such as the glittering Grand Palace , Wat Phra Keo , Wat Pho , Wat Mahathat , the Golden Mount and Wat Suthat . The city's founding pillar, Lak Mueang , is also located in this district, as are the National Museum , National Theater and National Gallery . If you are keen on seeing something completely out of the ordinary, pop across the river to the Museum of the Department of Forensic Medicine. Sanam Luang is about the only green spot on the "island," which is not really an island but would have seemed like one in the old days before the many canals linking the area to the river had not yet been filled in.

Thonburi
Bangkok was once referred to as "The Venice of the East," but today the klongs, or canals, are concentrated in Thonburi, an area lying to the west of the Chao Phraya River. You can take a klong tour, typical stops include Wat Arun and the museum of the Royal Barges . Buses heading south from Bangkok leave from Sai Tai bus terminal, located here.

Banglampoo & Thewet
Backpackers head for the Banglampoo and Thewet districts. Near the Democracy Monument on Khao San Road you can find some good souvenir shopping. This strip is lined with guest houses and cheap restaurants, none of which stand out for their ambiance or cuisine. A mere stone's throw away along Phra Arthit Road, some great restaurants and bars come to life at night. Following the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya, you will come to an area with a laid-back, cosmopolitan feel that is frequented by students from the nearby universities of Thammasat and Silpakorn.

Dusit

The Dusit district offers plenty of tourist attractions. Vimanmek Palace , Wat Benchamabophit , Suan Pakkard Palace and Dusit Zoo are all found here. There is not much in the way of hotels or restaurants, but a small artsy area popular with local students has sprung up on Rachawithee Soi 34.

Phayathai/Chatuchak
Northern Bangkok's touristic highlight is Chatuchak Weekend Market , best reached by catching the Skytrain. Mor Chit bus terminal is located near the same stop, which is handy to know if you want to catch an inter-provincial bus heading north or northeast. This is also a major transport hub, with the Skytrain and plenty of buses passing through. Mah Boon Krong is the largest shopping center in the district, and serves as a local transit hub and good orientation point.

Pathumwan
Young Thais and keen shoppers head for the area around Siam Square , a shopping paradise - unless you are a tall Western woman looking for off-the-rack clothes or shoes. The huge array of dining options along this stretch include Auberge Daband and the Erawan Tea Room .
There is plenty of selection in malls such as Siam Center and Siam Discovery Center , Centerpoint (the most popular teenage hangout), and the World Trade Center . A walk away from the latter stands Panthip Plaza, also known as heaven for computer geeks, and possibly the best place to get deals on computers in Southeast Asia. The non-shopper can retreat to the sanctuary of Jim Thompson's House and Museum . There is a cluster of hotels in this area, and popular restaurants such as the Hard Rock Cafe are also found here. Heading east along Ploenchit Road and Sukhumvit Road, you can orchestrate a shopping extravaganza at either the street stalls that spring up at the beginning of Sukhumvit and stretch to Soi Asoke or at department stores such as Central Chidlom .

Sathorn/Silom/Bangrak
The Sathorn/Silom area forms the core of Bangkok's Central Business District, although the Stock Exchange of Thailand is located some distance away on Ratchadaphisek Road. The area encompasses a number of embassies and hotels, such as the Banyan Tree, Sukhothai and Dusit Thani . Silom Road offers more shopping opportunities, including the Patpong Night Market . Sri Maha Uma Devi Temple is also located in this district. Restaurants abound, particularly around Convent Road. Head for nearby Lumpini Park for a break in a rare patch of green.

If you head west along Sathorn or Silom Road, you will come to Charoen Krung ("New") Road and back to the Chao Phraya River. A tram used to run along this road, but these days hardly anything does - the traffic is too thick! This is another popular hotel area, with such luxurious hotels as The Oriental , The Peninsula , the Shangri-La , the Royal Orchid Sheraton and the Marriott Spa Resort all overlooking the river. Take a sunset cruise or dine in one of the many restaurants along the majestic river, such as Yok Yor Marina and Restaurant . The River City Shopping Complex sells a huge array of antiques and is worth a browse.

Chinatown & Pahurat
North along the river lies hectic Chinatown and Pahurat, an Indian district. Here you will find Wat Traimit , but the area is best known for its shopping. Yaowarat Road has loads of gold shops, while Sampeng Lane has everything from hair accessories to shoes, all at bargain prices. Farther north you will come to Pak Klong Talat with its colorful fresh flowers.

Outside the City
There are also a number of attractions to be found in the outlying areas of Bangkok and adjacent provinces, including King Rama IX Royal Park , Nonthaburi, the Ancient City , Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Ayutthaya , a trip to which usually incorporates a visit to Bang Pa-In Summer Palace .
 from travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191501667-bangkok_vacations-i

Thailand is the best place to spend family vacations. The country has plenty of beautiful and attractive places which parents and their children will definitely love. There are top ten best places in Thailand where most families from around the world love to visit. Here is the list of the ten most recommended vacation destinations in Thailand:1. Pattaya, Thailand - located along the Thailand Gulf. It is the most popular ocean site resort in the Southeast Asia. Pattaya has 300


affordable hotels to choose from, which are perfect for vacationing families of any size. There are also a number of markets and shopping malls. Lots of affordable restaurants are also found in Pattaya serving the delicious Thai delicacies.2. Phuket - the most popular tourist destination in the country with its beautiful white sand beach coasts. Phuket is also known as the "pearl of the South". Here, one can find the best variety of restaurants offering the best of Thai cuisines.3. Koh Samui - perfect to spend family summer vacations. Koh Samui has a large number of beach hotels where one can enjoy the amazing beauty of the white sand beaches along the coastlines. Resorts offer good budget accommodations which will surely please families.4. Chiand Mai popular tourist destination mostly because of the best shopping experience it offers. Here, one can buy a lot with just a dollar. Tourists often swarm the market of Chiang Mai that opens from 5pm and opens until midnight daily. The night marketplace has many products that will surely suit and satisfy everyone. Goods such as clothes, baggage, souvenir items, shoes and a lot more can be found here. There are also clubs in several places which offers very affordable prices. This is definitely a place for any family vacation.5. Koh Chang Thailand - is a marine national park which attracted thousands of visitors worldwide. The island has a nick name of "the last untouched paradise in the Southeast Asia", because much of its place are not yet been discovered by modern explorations and haven't been built in with establishments and infrastructures. Here, one can fully appreciate the pure gifts of nature. Koh Chang has everything nature has to offer. Perfect getaway place for families who wants to have a quiet and peaceful vacation. Families can rent natively designed bungalows where they can feel at ease and comfortable all throughout their stay.6. Krabi, Thailand - an island territory of Thailand that has fine-looking coastline and offshore islands. This location was used in the movie "The Beach" starring Leonardo di Caprio. These beaches are truly pictures perfect panoramas, together with the coconut palm trees and the blue waters of the ocean. Krabi has been a favorite place for vacationers coming from different countries.7. Hua Hin - a place which combines pleasure and beach holidays and also a place for several sports. Golf has been the most famous sport here wherein visitors can play under the shade of the coconut trees.8. Chiang Rai - a located in the mountainous regions of Thailand, which are said to have retained much Thailand's culture. Popular attractions here include the White Temple, which is the only handcrafted temple in Thailand with striking botanical gardens. Visitors love to visit here and take a look at the Buddha statues built in Buddhist temples which truly spectacular.9. Cha-am Thailand - located 160 kilometers south of Bangkok, about two hours drive via car. Cha-am beach resort is known as the longest white sand beach in Thailand. It is also a place for golfing which many of vacationers enjoy to play. Perfect for vacationing families.10. Bangkok - the main attractions in Bangkok are the magnificent temples and shrines along the city. These religious buildings were made with artistic architecture design which are truly captivating to the eyes.

Bangkok won world best's cities awards 2011 Bangkok is the world best's cities in 2011. Travel & Leisure magazine announced that Bangkok is the most popular travel destination of the world. The editors of Travel & Leisure used a questionnaire to judge cities around the world for their sights, culture, food, people, shopping and value was used to make the determination. Finally, Bangkok the won world best's cities award again. Bangkok Highlight Attractions There are a variety of travel attractions in this busiest city such as Grand palace, Vimanmek Masion, Victory Monument, Golden Mountain, Siam Ocean World, Chatuchak Weekend Market, Suan Lum Night Bazaar and more places to see. There are many shopping malls in Bangkok. It's easy to reach them by BTS and MRT. The famous shopping mall area is Siam Center. There are many big shopping stores, Siam Paragon, Siam center, Siam discovery, Central World Plaza and MBK shopping center. The best wholesales shopping mall is the platinum fashion mall. You can buy cheap clothes, shoes, women fashion, and accessories here at the low prices.If you want to buy the local products or some souvenirs from Thailand, Chatuchak Weekend Market will be the first place to select. You will be surprised with a wide range of goods at this largest weekend market. Shoes, clothes, antique goods, bags, accessories, second hand books, food, and plants, even pets like dogs or cats. However, it's always

crowed with local shoppers and foreign travelers every week. Therefore, you should wear casual clothes for your comfort. Land of Smile and Friendly PeopleThai people are always welcome visitors with a kind heart and gracious smile. When you travel to Thailand, you will touch and learn about Thai culture and discover unseen things that you never know until you step into the Land of Smile. The Best Ratchada Hotel Bangkok Bangkok Chada Hotel is the 4 stars hotel on Ratcharadaphisek Road (Ratchada Road). This Ratchada hotel Bangkok is the best choice to stay in the city-center area. You can easily access to the travel points, entertainment complex center, shopping mall center, banks, and hospitals. The luxurious hotel offers the reasonable price with comfortable Bangkok hotel rooms and great facilities. MRT (subway) station is nearby the hotel. It's convenient to transport while you travel in Bangkok, the busiest city of Thailand. MRT is connected with the BTS (sky train) line. It will allow you reach your destination faster than taking a bus or taxi. If you are seeking for Bangkok Center Hotel, I would recommend Bangkok Chada Hotel.

With the popularity of Thai-style cooking, it is to no surprise that Bangkok restaurants have mushroomed to outstanding proportions in the recent years. Thai cuisine has the following characteristics: sweet, sour, salty, and spicy all at the same time. A unique combination that is not overwhelming but distinct. Famous streets frequented by tourists may now be regarded as food "nirvana" with its wide variety of Bangkok restaurants that fill it. For both the gourmand and not, there is a perfect dining venue! These Bangkok restaurants not only serve Thai food. International cuisines such as Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, American, German, Italian, and many more are at your disposal in this city's main boulevards. For every Bangkok travel guest's convenience, there are directories that include a list of most Bangkok restaurants in the city along with their contact numbers and locations. Booking your reservation is not a problem!The price range in the different Bangkok restaurants in Thailand is wide. If you have a small budget for dining, there is a perfect restaurant for you. If you came prepared to spend, there are a number of luxurious Bangkok restaurants that provide every Bangkok travel visitor a gastronomic adventure at a relatively higher price tag. Take note that lower-priced does not necessarily mean lower quality food. Even the cheapest of fare is authentic Thai cuisine in this city of gold.There is a unique form among the famous Bangkok restaurants in Thailand. These are called antique houses. Locals of Thailand regard these venues as the best place to try out authentic Siamese dishes. Other worthy experiences are dinner cruises, trendy fusion eateries, and even open-air Bangkok restaurants. Every Bangkok travel itinerary must include a taste of all these dining options.A consult with the Thailand Tatler, an independent consortium geared towards criticizing and reviewing Bangkok


restaurants, is highly suggested. It has become a comprehensive guide to what are considered Thailand capital's best dining venues and destinations. The top ten Bangkok restaurants are awarded these titles after much surveys and questionnaires. Independent food critics coming from different countries contribute to the Thailand Tatler. Information is always up to date and recommendations are very dependable. For the best of Bangkok restaurants, be sure to visit the Thailand Tatler online. It is best to do this before your planned Bangkok travel vacation so that you can organize it accordingly into your Bangkok travel schedule.After a few days as a Bangkok travel visitor, you may want to take some Thai cooking classes. There are a number of institutions that offer half day or full day courses on basic Siamese cooking. Most of the classes include a trip to the river markets for fresh produce. Each class will teach you four to five dishes which you can try in your own home. Enlisting in these kinds of classes is one of the most unforgettable Bangkok travel memories one can ever have.Thailand's famous fruit and vegetable market is called Pak Klong Market. A Bangkok travel itinerary is never complete without a trip to this place. Chilis in every color from yellow to red as well as an assortment tropical fruits that are one of the juiciest in the word may be found in Pak Klong Market. Only the freshest harvests are sold in this venue and your camera is guaranteed to be maximized with the colorful and vibrant view.