Modern and Ancient Bangkok in Two Days

Thailand is one of the most tourist friendly places we've been to. The people are warm and other than the taxi drivers, everyone was friendly. The Thai are well groomed, the cities and taxis are neat and clean and even though Bangkok is congested and crowded, it is still far cleaner and more modern than any Indian city. The Thai adore their king, pictures of him and the queen are displayed all over the country and people pray to his statue along with other gods at many temples.

We only spent two days in Bangkok but I was impressed with its swanky, modern subway system, its toll highways and upscale malls. Driving along the highway, S&R  remarked  that it was like the US. We stayed at the  Sheraton Four Point hotel that just opened this month.  It was centrally located and a few minutes from the train station which was very convenient. The service was excellent and one staff member at the coffee shop, Warped, was so helpful, she called multiple places to arrange for us to see a Thai dance show. Here are the highlights of our Bangkok portion.

• Siam Niramit show. We really enjoyed the impressive dance stage production depicting Thai art culture. Sindhu and Rushil were mesmerized throughout the show.
• Taking the subway station to the Grand Palace and other sights in Bangkok.It was far more efficient and less expensive than taking a taxi. Taxis always quote too much money and hardly ever go by meter so the public  transportation options in Bangkok offer a relief from haggling and being stuck in traffic.
• Taking the toll highway to the airport, we would have missed our flight had the toll option not been available.
• Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew. In 1983, my parents took us to Bangkok  and I still have vague memories of how beautiful the palace and temples were and what was most impressive  was how well it has been maintained all these years. At the wat (temple), a European woman wanted to take a picture with a Buddhist monk, she was dressed in a tank top and was told to cover herself and not to touch the monk. Her husband joined her and the monk said it was fine for him to touch him.
• Visit to the MBK center.  Each floor of the mall had a theme, one floor was dedicated to mobile phones and iPADs and accessories, another one for food, one floor for handbags and clothing, etc.. The goods sold here were for the Thai locals and the adjoining mall,the Siam Center was a swanky new mall selling foreign brands.
• Eating excellent Indian vegetarian food and Mexican food. Not surprisingly, cuisines from all over the world are available throughout the city.
• Visit to Ayuthaya, Thailand's former capital. We saw ruins of the temples and structures, well worth the trip.

Most people don't recommend a visit to Bangkok mainly because it's  like any other typical city in the world however Bangkok gives you a perspective of Thailand that the other cities don't give. We only covered a few of the sights, there are many other wats, museums, shopping areas to see but we ran out of time.

At Siam Niramit show

Grand Palace Grounds

Blue lotus flower at the Emerald Budha Temple

At the Emerald Budha Wat courtyard. This is a replica of the Angkor Wat in Cambodia

At Wat Phra Kaew courtyard

At Wat Phra Kaew courtyard. Combination of Cambodian, Khmer, Sri Lankan, and Thai  architecture.

At Wat Phra Kaew courtyard

Grand Palace courtyard

At Wat Phra Kaew

Grand Palace

At Wat Phra Kaew

Ayuthaya - Wat Ratchaburana

Ayuthaya

Ayuthaya

Ayuthaya - Wat Phra Mahathat

Ayuthaya - Wat Phra Mahathat

Ayuthaya - Wat Ratchaburana

At the elephant camp in Ayuthaya. Personally I could have done without this visit but the children enjoyed the elephant ride. Elephants are revered in Thailand, I would  venture to say even more than in India, Ganesha features prominently in many temples and much of their artwork depicts elephants.

Ayuthaya - Wat Phra Si Sanphet

Ayuthaya - Wat Phra Si Sanphet

Outside of the MBK Mall near the Siam Center. We were rushing back to the hotel to catch our flight but couldn't resist taking a picture in front of the glitzy lights.