Travelbeat Editorial Review Forty-eight hours in Bangkok Story and photos by Kerry Hennigan If you're stuck somewhere with a long enough break between flights to warrant taking a hotel room for the night, why not extend it for another night and book some local sight-seeing excursions? With the aid of a bit of research and advance planning, forty-eight hours in the Thai capital of Bangkok, for example, can be a mini-holiday in its own right. An airport hotel is handy for ready access to and from your flight, but can pose a problem of if you want to duck into the Thai capital. Time spent in transit, in this very busy city, is time that could be better spent enjoying other things. A mid-city or river front hotel or holiday apartment need not set you back a fortune, and there are plenty of backpacker options for the truly budget conscious travellers. So what can one see and do in Bangkok in forty-eight hours? Travelbeat has explored Bangkok and its outskirts on longer visits to Thailand, but we still found plenty to fill two days in the city and offer the following suggestions. Book a tour or arrange a car and driver through your accommodation to visit Vimanmek Mansion the largest teak house in the world, built by King Chulalongkorn in 1900-1901 in Dusit Gardens and still containing some of the original furniture. The mansion is surrounded by thirteen other Royal Residential Halls that are open to the public as well as the Royal Carriage Museum and the Royal Elephant Museum, all set in expansive landscaped grounds (pictured above). If interested in Thai architecture, you mustn't let slip the opportunity to visit the Jim Thompson house (at right), home of the late Thai silk magnate who disappeared while on holiday with friends in Malaysia's Cameron Highlands in 1967. Located on one of the old systems of canals (klongs) that still run through parts of Bangkok, the self-made American entrepreneur's house was put together in 1958-1959 by using parts of six original Thai houses, the oldest parts dating from around 1800. The compact tropical garden is a blissful jungle oasis in the midst of the city. Plan to arrive in time for lunch at the café before taking one of the guided tours inside the house itself. Bangkok is a frenetic place in the late afternoon, so some relaxation time at your hotel around the pool or perhaps having a massage might help iron out some of the aches and pains of a body cramped by a long plane flight, not to mention ease the tensions caused by dodging the busy Bangkok traffic. The next day's itinerary could take in some other significant sights, starting with Wat Saket, otherwise known as the Golden Mount, a Buddhist temple on an artificial mound, up which you can climb by winding steps to the very top to view the shrine containing relics of the Buddha, and see stunning views over down-town Bangkok. The golden chedi on top was built after the collapse in the 19th century of the original giant chedi constructed at the site. The current one was built at the command of King Rama V on the large mound of rubble of its predecessor. The climb takes you past garden beds, waterfalls and rock pools built into the walls of the Mount, and the occasional café or cold drink stall. It's important in the hot and humid climate of the Thai capital to keep up the fluids. The Mount is the centre piece of a much larger temple complex which can be explored if you have the time. Not far afield from the Golden Mount are remnants of the old city wall and Fort Phra Sumen (c. 1783) one of the forts built to defend the Chao Phraya River. The riverfront Santichaiprakarn Park behind the fort is a pleasant, shady spot to retreat from the sun and traffic and features a beautiful Thai pavilion overlooking the river. Luncheon outlets abound in this neighbourhood which is popular with backpackers. Wander along the waterfront path a little way and you will probably come across a hotel with an al fresco café facing the river. The luxury boutique hotel Navalai River Resort and its Acquatini Riverside Restaurant and Bar is a good example (pictured right). It just might turn out that lunching on delicious, freshly-prepared food on the River of Kings in the Thai capital becomes one of the most enjoyable activities of your Bangkok stopover. Certainly it will be an incentive to stay longer next time around. For more information visit: Tourism Authority of Thailand: www.tourismthailand.org Jim Thompson House and Museum: www.jimthompsonhouse.com Navalai River Resort: www.navalai.com Back to Front Page