From Majestic Temples To Wild Streets And Weirdest Insects, How I Explored Bangkok In 4 Days
Day 1, Spot 2: Chatuchak Weekend Market
I wanted to let my shopping bug come out after one touristy thing and that’s why I planned my Day 1 itinerary in such a way that I get the best of both worlds…At around 5 in the evening, we started from Wat Pho via tuk-tuk (another tick in a box, when you are in Bangkok) but thanks to bad traffic we reached the place by 6:30..On reaching the market, we realized it is shut and only operates on the weekend and hence the name, but since I wasted so much of my time, I decided to still go and explore the famous place…All I spotted was plants there and closing street shops. So, my market hopping didn’t go as planned, but they say travelling is all about experiences…
Pro Tip: I had heard a lot about this market from one of my colleagues; apparently, one gets lot of stuff (accessories, cute little things and more) for really cheap. So, I recommend you plan your market trip definitely on a weekend and before 6 pm. Also, tuk-tuk drive is not really worth the money for long distances, a taxi is a lot cheaper and safe….
I felt betrayed on seeing a shut market, one, I wasted two hours, secondly I paid around 300 bhats, third, I confirmed from the tuk-tuk driver if the market was open and he said yes it was…So, don’t trust locals blindly, especially the tuk-tuk drivers that easily...Google the place, enquire and then decide…
Day 3, Spot 6: Koh Larn, Pattaya City
After exploring the temples, nightlife, and markets of Bangkok for two days straight, we decided to break the monotony with a beach day. We chose Koh Larn in Pattaya which was approximately a 4 hours’ drive from Bangkok, we spent approximately Rs 2,000 bhats (via taxi). And then from Pattaya, we took a ferry for 300 bhats (3 people) which took us to the small island Koh Larn in approximately 10 minutes.
The moment we hit the spot, we knew this will be a good day…As soon as we reached we saw this huge ferry point with Pattaya written in ‘HOLLYWOOD’ style in LA. I was sold at that very point!
The next fun thing was a ferry ride, which I would say was pure bliss. Just picture yourself, away from technology, sitting in the lapse of blue water and cold air kissing every single part of your body…Yes, it was that fun!
Within 10 minutes we reached the spot which is called Koh Larn beach.
Imagine, clear blue water, little babies making sandcastles, tourists going gaga over the tree swings – that’s what Koh Larn was all about basically. And not to forget, you get some of the most unique cocktails here – from getting a Pina Colada in Coconut shells, topped with pineapple and lilies (as Hawaiian as it can get) to getting Jager Bomb in pineapple shell with bright purple flowers – you will be spoiled for choices. We spent four hours at this magical place and were so so happy. I can say, it was the best decision of my entire Bangkok trip.
It was simply worth it, I can very proudly say, this elephant camp stole the show. P.S I taught my elephant rider a Hindi word – ‘pakka’…As the walk was little jumpy, I kept on asking my rider, hope, the elephant will not make me fall and on repeat kept saying ‘pakka’ and that’s how he learned the word.
Day 4, Final Spot : Erawan Waterfalls
If you love trekking and nature, Erawan waterfalls is the place to be. Named after the three-headed elephant, the place is famous for its seven layers of falls. At each level, you will get a mesmerizing view. Extra points, if you are looking for a fish spa, this place is just for you..
We only went upto level four and decided to take a swim at level 1, which was much quieter and frankly speaking the most beautiful spot.
A little bit of Delhi, a little bit of Mumbai – this was my initial thought as soon as I stepped out from Bangkok Airport. The moment I stepped inside the cab and started on my Instagram travel journey by making time lapses, boomerangs and whatnot, I had come down to a conclusion that this city is definitely like Delhi because by then I was stuck in bad traffic for an hour and was feeling so drained out courtesy the hot weather.
Airport Tip
In case you are planning a trip to Bangkok, I would recommend getting an e-visa done instead of a visa on arrival because you will be wasting a lot of your time and energy at the airport. I wasted literally 3 hours just to get a visa on arrival done. Oh not to forget, carry two passport size photos in case you wish to opt for visa on arrival otherwise you will end up wasting 300 bhats for photos for your visa form.
Cut to the scene after three hours – me and my sister dressed up and begin our day 1 adventures at around 2 pm. In our day 1 itinerary, we had decided to explore the famous Wat Pho temple, Chatuchak weekend market and then come back to the hotel for nice pool time.
Day 1, Spot 1: Wat Pho
Things to remember: At Wat Pho there is a strict dress code, anything too short and revealing is not entertained. I was warned by our sweet hotel staff beforehand so I decided to carry a scarf but luckily I was allowed to enter with my shorts which were like knee-length.
Entry timings for Wat Pho: 8 am to 5 pm
Ticket Price: 200 Bhats
We reached this pretty Buddhist temple at around 3, we had opted to come here via taxi, it was convenient and wasn’t very expensive..
As soon as I entered the place, I remember uttering ‘Never have I seen this pretty temple in my life’ these words in my sister’s ears….At the very first glance of Wat Pho, you will fall in love. The structure is pretty in every aspect.
Long story short…Wat Pho also hosts Thailand's most famous reclining Buddha statue which is nearly 50 feet (15 meters) tall and is considered to be one of the biggest and most important reclining Buddhas in the world. And that is the main reason we were kind of here but we never imagined this place to be so pretty…From pretty Buddha statues to ‘Phra Chedi Rai’ basically, stupas shaped structure which contains the ashes of members of the royal family..Wat Pho will make you awe-struck in many ways.
Along with housing the famous reclining Buddha statue, one can spot more than 1,000 other Buddha images at this very place.
Going back to a little history, at Wat Pho, I learned that this place is the birthplace of Thai massage and still serves as an important center for studying traditional medicine….
My Recommendation: Since Bangkok is all about Buddha temples and there are countless of them, we decided to cover just the two famous temples and skip going to even grand palace which is right opposite Wat Pho. In case you have time, you can go to the Grand Palace, it is definitely a tick in the box while exploring Bangkok. But if you are short on time and have limited days just like us, I would recommend exploring Wat Pho and Wat Aruna alone….
After roaming day 1 in Bangkok taxis, we had decided to go and explore the city on Day 2 via Sky Train (Bangkok’s tube)….Our day 2 location was another famous and must-visit spot of Bangkok – Wat Arun which is fondly called the temple of dawn (Wait till you see my pics and you will know why it is called just that) and is located on Chao Phraya River.
The best part of this place is that it lets you explore a totally different side of Bangkok city – minus the busy streets, honking cars, as to reach the spot you will have to take a ferry, which is like a 20 minutes ride (take one with the orange flag as it is the local boat and costs half the price).
Entry Fee: 100 Bhats
Exploration Time: 3 Hours
Best Time To Visit: You just can’t go to this place and not wait for the sunset. The way this temple changes its colours is magical. Try and reach there by 3 or 4 and explore the place till 6, at 5pm the temple closes its entry so make sure you reach the spot well on time.
Next on my list for Day 2 adventures was Koh San Road – for all my pad thai and shopping needs. From getting some pretty handmade elephants to seeing a crocodile getting fried on a stall for snacks and experiencing pretty awesome live music, this small market lane will surely have everyone’s heart.
What not to miss, when in Koh San Road: Live music while you enjoy authentic Thai food and a picture of you and the famous McDonald uncle with the signboard that says ‘I Love Koh San'. I obviously, did all these ticks in my journey..
My day 2 was filled with many experiences, next on my adventure list was Lebua sky bar – yes it is that famous bar where everyone’s favourite hangover was shot….
Mind you, this place is pretty expensive, the drink menu starts from Rs 3000 and goes upto Rs 25,00. I had some nachos and pizza while my sister enjoyed a glass of red wine. You gotta be mindful while spending here…Oh, in case you just want to come and experience the sky bar and see the best view of the city, you can do it for totally free. Lebua hosts a free walking tour as well.
Tip: Ask the staff to get your photo clicked as they are very professional and knows where you can get the best views…See for yourself (Click, click)
Day 4, Spot 7: Thaweechai Elephant Camp
Elephants are my soul animal – so coming to Thailand and not seeing one was an absolute no-no. We went to Thaweechai Elephant camp which is said to be the oldest camp, here you can feed elephants, play with them, ride on them and even have a bath with elephants, obviously…What we took was a 30 minutes ride into the woods, 10 minutes playtime…We didn’t opt for bathing, but to our surprise in the 30 minutes’ walk, 10 minutes was dedicated to the river where the elephant actually crosses and shows you some water-stunt.
Also, it is here you can enjoy bamboo rafting - If you want a perfect me-time, then friends this is it! 30 minutes in the lap of nature with birds chirping on one end and water flowing on the other - it was simply serene...
For about 30 minutes we soaked in this natural beauty and then made our way back to the airport. With unlimited memories in my heart, mind - Bangkok will always be very special. It is one place that gives you the best of so many worlds - nature, beach, nightlife, crazy city chores, and whatnot, the list is kind of endless.
Pro Tips: Exploring Bangkok is not very expensive; we actually had a pretty luxurious trip, go and explore the city in taxis as it isn’t very expensive, eat wisely, and lastly spend money on doing all things touristy. We didn’t waste a penny on shopping and instead explore the best of the best places in the city. Happy Travelling :)
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