ศาลาชุมนุม

Hi,

I'm going back to Bangkok again very soon, but because my girlfriend has exams and some heavy working hours, I'm going to be alone most of the 2 weeks I'm there. I'm not usually the travelling type, especially on my own, but I'm going to have to get out there and keep myself occupied without having a Thai person to take care of everything for me .

I've been out and about on my own for a couple of days before, and within an hour of leaving the door, I managed to get kidnapped by one of those "I take you to buy FIIIIINE Thai souvenir!" taxi drivers, which has rocked my confidence a little. In those days, I managed to to visit all the temples and palaces that most tourists would go to, as well as the museum.

I realise it's a bit of an open and vague question, but I wondered if anyone could recommend some things I could do in Bangkok, besides temples and palaces? Perhaps somewhere I'm likely to meet other English-speaking people? Maybe the easiest way to answer would be to tell me what you would do if you had a few days to yourself in Bangkok? I'm 25, Male, and a computer nerd if that helps

I often carry around a load of Thai studying material and my netbook, so even if there were some cool places to chill out and kill some time over a coffee, those sorts of recommendations would be cool too.

Oh, and my hotel is apparently near Paragon, if that helps.

I know there are travel guides out there that I could get stuck into, but I was just interested in having a conversation about it on this forum. Hope no one minds...

Thanks!

• study @ lumpini park (You might meet some Thais that wanna exchange languages there and the weather should be nice right now)
• study muay thai - it's great and you will meet a lot of people (if ur there in february, i could show where I train)
• go to ayutthaya อยุธยา - I am not sure how much it is still affected by the previous flooding, but it's generally an amazing place
• Koh Kret เกาะเกร็ด
• Take a camera with you and document some cool stuff
• Get to know some nice people
• Do a cooking course
• Do some research about 1 Day Trips, there's lots of things to see and to do

oh and... hope that Diablo 3 will be published soon and look for a place where you can play it.

Here are a few of my favorites:

> Wat Bovornivet Temple (วัดบวรนิเวศ), located near Khao Sarn Rd. This is where the King was ordained. It is a beautiful, yet intimate temple and the home of one of the two major Buddhist Universities in the city. You might even find a monk or two to chat with. Across the main street in front of the temple in one of the alleys is the most famous "boiled rice" (ข้าวต้ม) restaurants in the city. Have the waiter pick out some dishes from the voluminous menu to eat with the boiled rice. A culinary treat not to be missed.

> A boat trip down คลองแสนแสบ (San Saep Canal). This may be the least expensive boat trip in the country. Get on the boat at สะพานฟ้า near สนามหลวง and go as far as the boat will take you; actually you may have to change boats at ประตูน้ำ but this is part of the fun. You'll see many of the back areas of the city. (Hint: the ticket conductors wear helmets to keep from getting beaned by the low bridges.)

> While we are talking about boat trips, consider a เรือหางยาว (long-tailed boat) trip down the canals on the Thonburi side of Bangkok. You end up at the Marble Temple. Bangkok from the canals is something you don't want to miss.

> Go shopping at the Suan Lum Night Bazaar, right across Radio Rd. from the public park that Daฟาก mentioned. If you can afford it, go see the Traditional Thai Puppet Theater with the "Joe Louis" puppets).

> Browse the Book Center at Chula University located just behind Siam Square. Take the BTS to the Siam exit and get off on the side opposite Siam Paragon. Walk two blocks away from the train, through Siam Square. The Book Center is just inside the university gate. Go up to the mezzanine where the English language books are located. One of the student cafeterias is located just below the Book Center underground. Chat up some students there. Meals are very inexpensive.

> Visit Wat Mahathat, the location of the other major Buddhist University in Bangkok. You will likely find a bunch of monks who want to speak English with you.

> For a trip outside the city, take a bus down to อัมพวา (Ampawa) in สมุทรสงคราม (Samut Songkram) province. The city has reconstructed an old-style market right along the waterfront. Great place to shop and eat and chat.

Have a great time!

A few more for the 'bucket list'

Thanks David.

I received a message as follows:

"สวนลุมไนท์บาร์ซาร์ปิดไปแล้วนะคะ รวมถึงโรงละครของโจหลุยส์ด้วย แต่รู้สึกว่าตอนนี้การแสดงของโจหลุยส์จะไปเปิดที่ โรงละครอโศกมนตรีนาฎยศาลา ภายในมหาวิทยาลัยศรีนครินทร์วิโรฒ ประสานมิตร แต่นันไม่ทราบรายละเอียดว่าเปิดแสดงตอนไหนบ้าง"

"The Suan Lum Night Bazzar has been closed, as well as the Joe Louis theater. However, the Joe Louis puppets have moved to the Asokemontri Natiyasala Theater at Srinakarinwirot University. However, I don't know the performance details."

Perhaps someone local can confirm.

David and Bui wrote:I received a message as follows:

"สวนลุมไนท์บาร์ซาร์ปิดไปแล้วนะคะ รวมถึงโรงละครของโจหลุยส์ด้วย แต่รู้สึกว่าตอนนี้การแสดงของโจหลุยส์จะไปเปิดที่ โรงละครอโศกมนตรีนาฎยศาลา ภายในมหาวิทยาลัยศรีนครินทร์วิโรฒ ประสานมิตร แต่นันไม่ทราบรายละเอียดว่าเปิดแสดงตอนไหนบ้าง"

"The Suan Lum Night Bazzar has been closed, as well as the Joe Louis theater. However, the Joe Louis puppets have moved to the Asokemontri Natiyasala Theater at Srinakarinwirot University. However, I don't know the performance details."

Perhaps someone local can confirm.

I am not local, but this is 100% true. There is no Suan Lum Nightbazar anymore :/

Thanks very much for the suggestions guys, it makes a very good start to my list. I especially like the suggestions of good places to meet people. I won't be alone for long if I can help it!

oh and... hope that Diablo 3 will be published soon and look for a place where you can play it

Hoho, good call -- however, I asked around to see if anyone knew such a place in Bangkok and couldn't find anything. Do you recall seeing anywhere at all that would let me sample the local gaming skill? :-p

CalmDownMonkey wrote:Thanks very much for the suggestions guys, it makes a very good start to my list. I especially like the suggestions of good places to meet people. I won't be alone for long if I can help it!

oh and... hope that Diablo 3 will be published soon and look for a place where you can play it

Hoho, good call -- however, I asked around to see if anyone knew such a place in Bangkok and couldn't find anything. Do you recall seeing anywhere at all that would let me sample the local gaming skill? :-p

hmmm that's weird... i never looked for it but frequently saw places where kids played various games... i played diablo 2 in thailand in future park too It would surprise me if there is really no place to play uptodate video games... new business idea if that is the case lol
unfortunately I dunno any Thai that is truly interested into video games so I can't help you out there buddy... if I see anything myself, I'll let ya know

I wanted to access email while in Sabdakro recently, so I went to the local internet cafe. Well, there was no coffee or food, but it was full of school kids playing online games. The PC I was given had shortcuts for some games. Also, I went to the newsagent in Klang Plaza and bought two magazines on online games. So I think online games are big in Thailand. I don't know how you would talk to the locals about this sort of thing, but you could just walk into an internet "cafe" and ask the panakngan what online games can be played on the PCs.

now the game playing in Internet cafe here mostly Korean game. Sadly kind of low quality games.
about 10 years ago you will see every internet cafe all playing counter-strike.

now everyone access to the broadband internet and PC at the cafe can't handle mainstream game. so we play at home.

I'm waiting for Diablo3 too