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Bangkok: Thailand's Playground!

Bangkok, Thailand is a city of many wonders. Modern skyscrapers sit among ancient ruins and historic palaces. Called "Venice of the East" due to the many canals that traverse the city, Bangkok offers a myriad of sight seeing opportunities for all vacationers. The palaces and temples will keep your camera clicking for a month of Sundays. If shopping is on your vacation agenda, Bangkok offers excellent Southeast Asian handicrafts, antiques, silk, and jewels. The nightlife is unstoppable. You can dance till dawn, or eat Thai food at 4:00 am. Whatever your particular vacation passion, Bangkok will provide!

One of the most visited sights in Bangkok is The Grand Palace, one of Rama I's greatest achievements. The palace has been remodeled and rebuilt over the years, and today is highly influenced by western architecture, notably Colonial and Victorian motifs. This is where Anna, who tutored Rama IV and was the inspiration for The King and I, lived. As you enter the palace gate, you'll see the Pavilion for Holy Water, where priests swore loyalty to the royal family and purified themselves with water from Thailand's four main rivers.

For a better understanding of Thailand's history and culture, make your way to the National Museum, the largest one of its kind in Southeast Asia. The museum has a wonderful collection of Thai art, with representatives from all major periods, from Dvaravati to Ratanakosin. Another great museum is the Jim Thompson House. The home of the mysterious silk entrepreneur Jim Thompson, the house is a great example of both authentic Thai residential architecture and South-East Asian art. Each wall of Thompson's house has its exterior side facing the building's interior, exposing the wall's bracing system to residents and guests.

Bangkok can't be beat if shopping is part of your itinerary. The Ploenchit-Ratchaprasong area is a confluence of several shopping districts catering to both those looking for luxury items, as well as bargain hunters. Also, the area around the World Trade Centre and Narayana Phand Pavilion host the official handicraft centre, selling items from all parts of the country. For shopping on the provocative side, point your compass to Chinatown, which offers visitors a wide array of jewelry, hardware items, wholesale food, and antiques-all at prices lower than anywhere else in Bangkok. Chinatown also offers a wonderful glimpse into 300 years of cultural development, and more fantastic food than any human could eat in a lifetime.

A visit to Bangkok is incomplete without marveling at some of the many Buddhist temples that dot the cityscape. The Wat Phra Keo within the Grand Palace compound houses the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and is one of the most sacred temples in Asia. The statue of Buddha is one of the most famous in the world; it stands 31 inches high and was carved from a single piece of jade. Wat Benjamabophit is home to Bangkok's most photographed wat, the Marble Temple. It was built in 1899 and is where Thailand's present king came to spend his days as a monk before his coronation.

There is never a dull day in Bangkok. There are enough palaces, museums, temples, and other activities to keep you busy for a dozen vacations. See a soccer game at either Lumpini or Ratchadamnoen Stadiums, or if you're really adventurous, sit in on a night of Muay Thai fighting. Plan an excursion floating down the River Kwai, and see the famous River Kwai Bridge. Sign up for a cooking class and learn how Thai cooks come up with their delicious recipes. Dine, or just take in the views from the Observation Deck of the Baiyoke Sky Hotel, the world's tallest hotel. Bangkok is a thrill ride of epic proportions. So buckle up, and enjoy the trip!