Joanna James
One of the busiest and vibrant capital cities in Asia, Bangkok is anything but dreary and is throbbing with life and new experiences. Engage in the heart of a city steeped in spirituality, fast-paced living and culture.
This is where you will find the largest reclining statue of the Buddha in Thailand, which is 46 metres in length and 15 metres in height. The statue of the Buddha is covered in gold leaf, and the hall is decorated with vivid paintings and has a line of 108 bronze bowls. Wat Pho is one of the oldest temples in Thailand and was founded before the city became a capital. The temple grounds are over 80,000 square metres, with a number of stupas (chedis) with sacred relics. You will also encounter chanting halls, formal gardens, and pergolas. The entrance gates are guarded by life-size stone statues.
The Chao Phraya River flows through Bangkok and its many canals. The river is an integral part of Bangkok, and many people depend on it for their livelihoods. Almost 50,000 people travel to work daily via the river ferry. Take a boat trip with the family to get a real feel of the capital city – the high-rise apartments, the glistening temple tops, to the wooden shacks. You can also find that many a riverside Bangkok hotel, the likes of Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort, are among the popular options.
A cooking class is an excellent way to get children acquainted with a new culture and traditions. Cooking classes can be found especially for kids as well, or both kids and adults can join in the fun together. The whole experience starts with a trip to the local market trip to purchase the ingredients needed for the menu. Following this, they return to the school to prepare the dishes on the menu. After cooking, all participants get together and enjoy the dishes made. Many cooking schools and classes can be found all over Bangkok – keep an eye on social media outlets and check with your accommodation.
Although it might be too touristy for some, it is still one of the highlights in Bangkok. As the name suggests, the Palace is indeed grand! It's exquisite and very ornate in decorations with many precious gems and gold adorning the palace. It used to be the king's residence, and at one time, the centre of government. The Palace grounds stretch up to 214,000 square metres and children will love to explore the vast surroundings. A free English audio tour is available at 10:00 am.
It is perhaps the most famous market in Bangkok and is a must-visit for all shopaholics. Chatuchak is perhaps among the biggest open-air markets in Asia. It covers over 1 km and includes over 15, 000 stalls trading just about everything from all over Thailand! The market has been there for several decades and is very popular, that it can get over 200 000 visitors on weekends! Go there even if shopping is not your thing, to just enjoy the vibe and a get taste of Bangkok. Try visiting towards midafternoon or else it can heat up towards noon. The market is quartered into 27 sections and has varied items for sale like clothes, souvenirs, herbs, handicrafts, medicine, plants, flower arrangements, wooden furniture, ceramics – the list just goes on.
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