Frugal Travel Tips For Bangkok, Thailand

Frugal Travel Tips For Bangkok, Thailand
By : Kimber Chin

With the currency exchange, it is difficult not to find frugal attractions in Bangkok, Thailand. However, there are a few tips to make travel dollars stretch even further and to better the travel experience.

The Grand Palace And The Temple Of The Emerald Buddha

Yes, there is an entrance fee (200 Baht, roughly $6 U.S.) but this sight is a must see for any visitor to Bangkok. It hosts a range of Thai architecture.

Temples and other national monuments have a strict dress code. No shorts, sleeveless tops, or risqué dress. This is true of most religious places the world over but in Thailand, travelers should also not wear open heeled sandals (there must be a strap behind the heel).

Thai Customs

Which leads to some Thai customs that savvy travelers observe.

Shorts are considered appropriate only for children and the lower class.

The head is considered sacred (closest to the heavens) so do not touch. Actually try not to touch the locals at all.

Feet are also to be treated with care. To point your feet at a person is considered a grave insult and to sit with soles exposed extremely rude (especially in religious places). Sit with feet tucked under the body.

No public displays of affection. Keep that for the privacy of your room.

As with most countries, but especially Thailand, do not criticize the local government or monarchy.


This may seem like a lot of rules but most apply to almost every country a traveler is a guest in.
Also the Thai people are extremely polite so they are unlikely to express their disapproval.

Chatuchak Park Weekend Market

This is where frugal travelers buy their souvenirs. With over 15,000 stalls (pick up a free map at information kiosks), there is plenty to choose from. This is a place to haggle. Never take the first offer. Also be very wary of fakes (fake antiques, fake jewelry, etc) and of pickpockets (keep some small bills in an easily accessible pocket and hide the wallet away).

What to buy? Almost anything, especially handicrafts. My mother is an elephant lover and Thailand, with reverence of the animal, was the ideal place to pick up teak carvings (be careful of wood drying and cracking when you return home).

Wat Pho (Temple Of The Reclining Buddha)

With another very, very inexpensive entrance fee (20 Baht), Wat Pho is the largest and oldest Buddhist Temple in Bangkok. The highlight is, of course, the 46 meter long, gold covered Reclining Buddha. However, the buildings and I found the orchids were also noteworthy.

Bangkok is a bargain hunters paradise. Attractions, dining and shopping is inexpensive.

For more frugal travel tips on Bangkok or other cities, visit http://www.freephotooftheday.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kimber_Chin http://EzineArticles.com/?Frugal-Travel-Tips-For-Bangkok,-Thailand&id=700690

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Bangkok

Bangkok

Bangkok was founded in 1782 by the first monarch of the present Chakri dynasty.  It is now the country's spiritual, cultural, diplomatic, commercial and educational hub.  It covers an area of more than 1,500 square kilometres, and it is home to approximatlely ten million people or more than 10% of the country's population.
Over the last few decades, Thailand's capital city, Bangkok, has changed into a modern, exciting and sophisticated city.  It offers to visitors not only the cosmopolitan amenities they would expect from other big cities, but also a unique treasure trove of cultural attractions.  Thailand, in the heart of Southeast Asia, was never colonised and thus kept its unique culture and heritage intact. Bangkok offers visitors the opportunity to experience fascinating glimpse of Thailand's gentle culture amidst the bustle of a great and dynamic metropolis.  This great city has had astounding success in combining the ancient and modern world.


For tourists, Bangkok has a feast of attractions to offer.  The city is dotted with 400 glittering Buddhist temples of great beauty and fascination, magnificent palaces, classical dance extravaganzas, numerous shopping centres and traditional ways of life, especially along the "Venice of the East" timeless canals and the Chao Phraya River of the "River of Kings" winding through the city.  It is worth taking a trip along its waters before exploring further into different canals to take a glimpse of old Bangkok.

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Thailand Travel

Thailand officially the kingdom, land of the free, was know as Siam until May 11 , 1949. The word Thai means “freedom” in Thai language and is also the name of the mauority Thai ethnic group. It is the only Southeast Asian Country never to have been colonized by western power.

In the past, Thai society was very simple: the people were kind and always smild. We were called “Siam Muang Yim”. Thai people shared thing with each other. But today everything has changed because people think only about work and work to make mare money. They are too busy to help other people and only their family and themselves.

The official calender in Thailand is besed on the Buddhist Era, which is 543 years ahead of the Gregorian calender.

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy and the king is extremely respected. The Thai King recently celebrated 60 years on the throne and Thai citizen commemorated the events and showed their reverence by wearing yellow-T-shirts, the official royal colour.

Thais believe the head is the most sacred part of the body. The feet are considerd as the basest part of the body; don’t rest your feet or put your shoes on the table.

Thais feel strongly about their religion, so don’t wear your short clothes to a temple, don,t climb over the Buddha images and take off your shoes before entering a temple.

The traditional Thai greeting is the “Wai” the hands are brought together in front of the chin.
Sanuk is a Thai word describing everything that is fun. Thai combines with the phrase “Mai Pen Rai” or never minded.

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