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Located on the banks
of the Chao Phraya River, the traditional
lifeblood of Thailand's fertile central plains,
Bangkok is a thrilling paradox and it the very
epitome of the modern, steamy Asian metropolis. It is a city
that both preserves the old with respect and
embraces the new with enthusiasm and therefore
the attractions here for tourists is countless
which makes Bangkok one of the best travel
destinations in Asia.
 The Thai capital
city for
more than two centuries, Bangkok has in the last
20 years undergone more change than at any other
period during its history whereby the Thais call
their capital Krung Thep. Concrete and glass
high-rises have reshaped the skyline and
multi-lane expressways re-mapped the city's
thoroughfares, while a Skytrain mass transit
system and a subway still being built are
opening up new ways to experience the city.
The ultimate impact
of all the development is that Bangkok is now
better than it has ever been in which it is greener, more
comfortable and quicker and simpler to get
around. The Chao Phraya River Photo: Grand
Palace in Bangkok divides Bangkok
from the older city of Thonburi, the area where
the southern bus terminal and the Thonburi train
station are located. Furthermore, the main
railway line which feeds in and out of
Hualamphong station further divides Bangkok into
two regions, the eastern and western side. The
older part of the city, the ancient temples,
Chinatown and the famous travelers centre of
Banglamphu are found in the between the western
area of the tracks and the river. Located east
of the railway line is the newer part of the
city filled with skyscrapers, hotels, foreign
embassies, shopping centres such as Siam Square
and the commercial centre of Th Sukhumvit.
 Likewise, the
options for shopping, dining and entertainment
outlets have vastly expanded in the last couple of
decades. Now, modern luxury buys are available
as well as traditional handicrafts; Thai
restaurants are matched by others offering
virtually the whole gamut of world cuisines,
while entertainment can be as diverse as a
classical concert at the Thailand Cultural
Centre or an Irish band playing in an Irish pub.
Amazingly, at the
same time as developing as a thoroughly modern
metropolis, Bangkok has succeeded in preserving
monuments to its traditional Oriental splendor.
It is still a city of temples and palaces, of
golden spires and orange tiered roofs, of
saffron-robed monks and serene Buddha images.
Classic sights, most famously the Grand
Photo: Vimanmek Mansion
Palace
and Temple of the Emerald Buddha, remain as
magnificent as ever. In its enchanting
ambience as well as in its major sights, Bangkok
retains its own special essence. In all things
there is an element of "Thai-ness", a sense of
style found nowhere else and which indelibly
stamps the culture.
Thus Bangkok retains
a personality that is unchanging and uniquely
its own, and which allows the traveler to
discover somewhere truly different while also
enjoying all modern conveniences but is it
essential for visitors to get a copy of
the city map to guide them through the main
attractions, famous restaurants, bus routes and
bar reviews. For tourists who arrived by plane
at the Bangkok International Airport of Don
Muang, the cheapest way to get to town is by
using the economical shuttle bus which goes to
most major hotels.
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