connecting flight @ bangkok

breeb

Ok, I know this isn't India, but its on the way. I have a stop over on my way to Delhi in Bangkok, for 10hrs. Anyone have any suggestions as to what I do there for 10hrs?? Can I get out of the airport and safely (time-wise) cruise around for a while? Any recommended places to head?

I should think that a lot of India bound flights stop here yeah?

__________________
Power to the Peaceful

steven_ber

As you haven’t mentioned the time of day you will be there, I will assume daytime.

As mpop says, you can get a bus to KSR, and it should only take an hour, assume 2 hours for the return esp. if Mon - Fri peak hours.

Try and find another tourist on your plane that is going to KSR and share a metered taxi (250 Baht), alternatively you could go to the train station across the road from the airport and get a train (30 minutes) to Hulampong, (sp) the main train station in Bangkok, from there a metered taxi will cost 50 Baht to KSR.

I personally would get out of KSR ASAP, it's ok if you fancy a few beers or a game of pool, other than that..... It is however a great place to have dreadlocks put in your hair.....

On the map below you will see Sanam Luang, this is a large expanse of grass to the north of the Grand Palace, sitting under a tree talking to some Thais whilst trying many different amazing fruits is a great way of passing time, sharing a bottle of Sang sip (Thai Whiskey) in the evening with the same people is also fun.

The Grand Palace and surrounding places are awesome and you could easily spend a couple of hours in there, it's 200 Baht to enter for Farang and you need your arms and legs covered up.

To the north west of the Grand Palace is Amulet Market, (scroll to the bottom of this link for a more detailed map ), around this area is an awesome place to eat, there is maybe 40 - 50 places under one roof, many where you can sit over the river to eat, the food is pure Thai and mainly for the students, so it's cheap and good, the students are from all over Thailand and the various dishes are too, I personally would not eat on the plane and head straight for this area, have a meal, then another before departing for the airport (I'm getting hungry just thinking about it)

If all this is not enough, there are some nice places around Democracy Monument to have a look at. (have a look at the canal 'speedboats' to the east of DM if you get a chance, they are by far the best way to get around Bangkok)

If all these nice things are too much, and you need a reality check, take a walk along the canal to the east of Sanam Luang, it's full of cheap hookers, homeless people and drug dealers, (especially after dark) although I wouldn't advise you to go there, it's not as bad as it sounds, I sometimes think I learnt far more about Thailand by talking to these people than anyone else.

There are ATM's and cheap cigarettes in the airport, and smiles everywhere you go.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
.
How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions.


Train information.


RAC & Waitlists explained.

steven_ber

breeb

I've just realised that your a woman, It wouldn’t be a good idea for a woman to go walking along the canal alone, the Thais may think a single female is an easy target.

breeb

Thanks guys for the info. Should be able to pass the time pretty quickly then.

maree

After the flight from Australia it would be a good idea to get the kinks out... go and get a massage somewhere. The body ones can be pretty painful if you're not used to them (they wrench you around a bit) so go for an hour of foot reflexology... brilliant (I'm having 1-2 per week living here... and one week had 3 and a pedicure!). You've got plenty of time for a facial too. If you get a taxi back to the airport stress that you want to go on the tollway otherwise it can take way too long in the traffic chaos that is Bangkok. The toll will be 30 baht I think from the central Bangkok area.

Cheers.

steven_ber

I could never understand the foot massage places all over the tourist parts of Thailand, it's a bit like a left hand massage in India

I beleive you need to take 2 seperate toll roads to the airport, the first one through central Bangkok, then one that runs above the main (busy) Bangkok - Don Muang Road, there is a seperate lower charge for this road, 20 Baht I think, if in a taxi you have to pay the toll charges.

as Maree says, you have to tell the driver, I used to say "Expressway" with the 30 Baht in my hand, they seemed to understand, I did find a lot of taxi drivers spoke no English.

maree

Steven... foot reflexology involves pressure points which equate to all sorts of points of the body supposedly so it's supposed to be the equivalent of an allover massage... they always finish up with head, neck, shoulders and arms as well. I just know how relaxed I feel afterwards whereas with the body one I sometimes end up in pain from all that manipulation and straight out wrenching. It's not just the tourist places you'll find them... all over Thailand. The place I go to just around the corner from my apartment is always full of Thai people with the odd farang teacher thrown in.

ahhh... bliss

steven_ber

I thought Thai's were not supposed to touch another persons foot?

maree

Where'd you hear that?! I know that you are not allowed to point the soles of your feet at any Buddha images as that's a sign of disrespect. But I don't know about the other.

steven_ber

I heard that the head is the highest/best part of the body and should never be touched, and that the feet are the lowest/dirtiest part of the body.

I noticed that before entering a house, Thais wash their feet by poring water on them and rubbing their feet together (no hands), I've also noticed it occasionally on Bangkok streets to help cool down (It works, an amazing way to help you cool down), I was told they don’t use their hands as their feet are 'un-clean'.

I believe it is also rude to point the soles of your feet at anyone.

It wouldn't surprise me if I got the whole thing wrong though.