The Thai capital is most tourists' entry point to Thailand. Most foreign airlines only fly into Bangkok, although if you are coming from elsewhere in Asia, some flights are available directly to places such as Phuket and Chiang Mai. In recent years there has been some tendency to bypass Bangkok or move on up-country quickly due to the city's notoriously bad traffic. In fact, traffic is not as bad as it used to be and there are many places worth seeing in the big city. Almost all of the most interesting sights are near the river, and so accessible by express boat. Between the boat and the train system you should be able to get just about anywhere in town that a tourist would want to go. Pick your hotel carefully to be near the river or the train system, and you'll have no trouble getting around on your own. The "standard" tourist sights include the Grand Palace in which the temple of the Emerald Buddha is located and the nearby temple commonly known as Wat Po where the large Reclining Buddha is found. Tour groups are also often taken to see the large solid gold buddha in the otherwise unremarkable Wat Traimit. If you're on your own or in a small group, we highly recommend a tour of the canals by long tailed boat. Its the best way to cool off after a hot day trudging around a few temples. Most riverside hotels rent boats, or you can arrange them from the pier at the River City shopping complex. You generally pay by the hour. Two hours is more than enough to get a flavor of canal life, see the royal barges and stop by Wat Arun.

The Rose Garden Just 32 km from Bangkok, takes you to the Rose Garden a place that is warm and welcoming, awaiting to embrace you with award-winning service the moment you enter the door. The Rose Garden Country Resort & Hotel, with its botanical gardens, cultural centre, family spa and 18-hole championship golf course, is the perfect place to relax and let nature clear your mind. Stroll through the tropical paradise, take time out for a round of golf or join a Thai cooking class. The world-renowned Thai cultural show is a spectacular presentation of traditional music, folk dances, martial arts and an opportunity to see a family of majestic Thai elephants, residents of The Rose Garden, at work and at play.The Photographs to the left and lower right show Where Gina and I were able to feed the Thai Elephants and see a Thai cultural show.

The photo to the right is The Royal Barges Museum we actually visited this by taking a hired boat down the Chao Phraya river from our hotel taxi, the river is pretty grubby at the best of times, and is litered with Thai barges transporting everything from Sugar cane to timber, most of the barges look like they will sink at any time, suprisingly they don't however I would recommend you take larger boat than we did, one did get the feeling that anytime a larger craft went past, we were in for a drenching, we were asked of course to wear a life jacket as a precaution, so The Royal Barges National Museum is located on Klong Bangkok Noi off the Chao Phraya River, and not far from Phra Pin Klao Bridge. It is opposite to Thonburi Railway Station. Most of the tourists go by boat with the conducted tour or by special escorted tour. However, it is possible to go by car, and park the car under the Arun Amarin Bridge before crossing Klong Bangkok Noi. Then follow the sign, walking through narrow lane of the housing community of Wat Dusita Ram till the Royal Barges National Museum.Admission to the museum is 30 Baht (about US$0.75) per person. If you want to take pictures, there's an additional fee of 100 Baht (about US$2.50) for a camera. The museum is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day. The museum is closed on New Year's Eve (31 December) New Year's Day (1 January) and Songkran (13 to 15 April).

Summary: Gina and I thoroughly enjoyed our 4 day break to Thailand, for a cost of around $750.00 which included return flights to Bangkok from Manila, (a 3 hour flight) 3 nights hotel accomodation, round trip transfers to the hotel, and 2 half day tours we thought it fairly reasonable value, breakfast and dinner at the hotel were not included, however the prices there were fairly reasonable, we were able to take a boat trip down the Chao Phraya river, to the Royal Barge Museum, although I thought the journey in the boat we rented to be a little on the dangerous side, and having been glad to get out of the boat, we did enjoy the experience, Bangkok however is bustling with traffic and noise, and the smell of street food is incredible, if anyone does decide to take their fiancee there, the links in this page will give all the information you need Have you taken a look at Hong Kong yet ?

Come on what do you need an invitation from Jackie Chan or maybe you might like to stop by our Boracay Trip page ?