Andrew Pereira
Sukhumvit is definitely one of the most popular areas of Bangkok for bustling markets, excellent shopping venues and doses of culture at museums and galleries.
The Siam Society Bam Kamthieng is a fabulous museum that re-enacts all the features of a northern Thai village. It is part of the Siam Society; an association that staunchly strives to protect traditional Thai heritages. Within the museum is a Thai village where a traditional wooden house displays daily cultural ceremonies together with everyday household chores and village folklore beliefs. The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday between 9 am and 5 pm.
The Chuvit Garden is a welcome green space in a city that is more of a concrete jungle. The park a shady haven to many visitors around the Sukhumvit area; had a somewhat 'shady' birth. It is widely known that the area for the park was created by illegally evicting and bulldozing the houses of tenants there; but that is a story for you to glean from a friendly local, while enjoying and relaxing within the lush folds of Chuvit Garden. It is located at Nana Exit 4.
The Thailand Creative and Design Centre is both a showroom and reserve for Thai handicrafts and local designers. Interchanging exhibits there include summaries on international products and also reflects on regional creativity of local artists and traditional handicrafts. This centre is good for meeting and chatting to young Thai artists and designers. Also the comprehensive library on design related books and material is quite an interesting browse. There is a café there for grabbing a quick bite while the in-house shop is ideal for picking up some unique souvenirs.
In order to enjoy the best of Sukhumvit look for a hotel in Bangkok city that is well placed in a chic downtown district of Sukhumvit. The area is home to excellent Bangkok holiday resorts that are close to many of the sights mentioned here, as well as restaurants and shops. One of the resorts located there is the Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit 18
The Khlong Toey Market is definitely one of Bangkok's largest markets. It is one of the best places for sampling varied Thai cuisine. This is an ideal place to soak some local atmosphere. Mingle around and check out fish stalls and durian sellers; the sights, smells and sounds are typical of a traditional Thai market. Take along the cameras folks for unique shots and memories of the hustle and bustle. It is wise to visit the market early as its generally up and running between 5 and 10 am.
The park is made up of 20.8 hectares of verdant grassland. There is an artificial lake and 2km track; around which you will see joggers and cyclists. The park is built on what was once a tobacco cartel consisting of warehouses and factories. This is an ideal space in which to spend some quiet and relaxing time.
