Travel Tips - Cambodia - Thailand - August 2007

Grand Palace - Riverboat Taxi's - Sky Train - Shopping Areas - Dr. Beat In Siem Reap, Cambodia - Getting Around Bangkok

National Radio Text Service - Wednesday August 29, 2004

THE GRAND PALACE - BANGKOK'S WATER TRANSIT - A GOOD WAY TO GO

Getting around Bangkok is a nightmare. Being bogged down in traffic is a familiar site and no fun. One way to counter the problem is by using the water transit systems.

Tourists that are on a package tour are guided most everywhere. On your free day when you are left up to the decision making of your movement WHAT CAN YOU DO? Shopping is usually on the menu but there is more....

THE GRAND PALACE

The Grand Palace is very close to the Chao Phraya River. Take the Sky Train to the last stop at the Taksin Bridge. Under the bridge is a boat taxi station where you can catch a boat to the Grand Palace.

The Grand Palace entry fee is 200 baht (US $5) for foreigners and free for Thai citizens. There are tour guides available for a fee.

A guided tour takes two hours. You can also rent a tour audio cassette or mini disc if you prefer to go it alone. To rent the audio equipment a passport, American Express, Master Card or Visa is required.

The cassettes and mini disc's come in eight languages: English, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish and German.

Using a cassette or mini disc the tour can take one and a half to three hours depending on your pace. The cassette and mini disc's rent for 100 baht for the first two hours and 100 baht per hour thereafter.

The Grand Palace is open to the public from 8:30am to 3:30pm. The wearing of shorts sandals, sleeveless or belly exposed shirts are not allowed. Some items may be rented at the palace. Socks may be purchased for 15 baht.

DINING & SHOPPING

If you choose to see the Grand Palace late in the day you can fill the day out by taking the riverboat to the River City stop. There you can take a diner cruise on the Chao Phraya river. Diner cruise boats are at River City. The Sheraton Hotel is also at this stop. You can also shop at River City shops.

Several years ago one shop had shop was selling a life size statue of an elephant for US$12,000. That shop no longer exists.

If you take in the Grand Palace early in the day you can fill out the day with shopping, dining and a movie you can take the boat and return to the Taksin Bridge stop.

At this point you have two choices: (1) You may shop at numerous shops in the area or (2) Take the Sky Train to the Silom Square shopping area.

To Siam Square then take Sky Train to the Siam stop. There are numerous stores, restaurants, a bowling alley and movie theaters in this huge three-block area that includes Siam Square and Siam Center. The Paragon shopping complex is a block away.

The Hard Rock Café is also in Siam Square. Chulalongkorn University campus is adjacent to Siam Square thus there are many students that patronize the area.

For those that enjoy football the National/Supachalasai Stadium is a block away. There is a National Stadium stop that save a few steps. It is the next stop after the Siam stop. It is he last stop when taking the train from the Taksin Bridge.

The Thailand professional league plays their games at the stadium.. The MBK shopping center is also at the National Stadium stop.

The World Trade Center is within walking distance from the Siam Skytrain train stop. The World Trade features upscale department stores, movie theaters and an ice skating rink.

The Big C shopping Center is across the street. This is more mid-level shopping. The complex also has a fitness center and upscale movie theaters. In the EGV theaters VIP section you can purchase a recliner couch (Love Seat) for two with leg rests. Recliners without a leg rest are also available.

The Pratunam Market shopping area is a short walk for the World Trade Center. Pratunam is well known for its low priced clothes and bags.

Pantip Plaza is also within walking distance of the World trade. It is know for great deals on computers, cell phones, software and computer peripherals.

DR BEAT IN SIEM REAP

Dr. Beat Richner is most notably known for two things... building children's hospitals in Cambodia and playing the cello. Dr. Beat performs in Siem Reap at Jayvarman Hospital Saturday nights at 7:15pm.

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