Here are interesting facts about Bangkok that I didn’t know,
and I’m simply sharing these fascinating things with you as part of my travel
this year with my family to the Land of Smiles- Bangkok, Thailand.
Cabs in Suvarnabhumi International Airport Are Organized
The airport alone is huge, and Suvarnabhumi is just one of two international airports in Bangkok. Upon exit of the arrivals area, we approached the taxis lined up outside. But one of the drivers said we had to print out numbers at kiosks in the corner before we can ask any of the cabs to take us to our hotel. That’s how organized they all were. There was none of the screaming at potential passengers, everything was calm and regulated.
Cabs can take you anywhere in the city, just be prepared
with your local currency and toll fees. Each cab waits for passengers under
numbered LED boards and that takes out the guesswork for your ride from the
airport. I hope our airports can learn from Suvarnabhumi, to take away the problem
of overcharging cabs.
And just by looking at the sides of the road from the cab, each block has a huge temple that stands for this or that. In our first day tour, we immediately visited four temples: the Standing Buddha, the Sleeping Buddha, the Sitting Buddha, and the Walking Buddha. In Bangkok alone, and not including the other cities of Thailand, there are 400 temples for both Buddhism and Hinduism, all while allowing tourists to visit and to make donations. I convinced my parents to limit our visits to only the relevant temples, because it would be impossible to visit all 400 in a single day.
Bangkok Is Spotless!
Now this one requires you to
visit the city to take a look at it and affirm that the Thais take cleanliness
seriously. Even I’m impressed with how clean Chatuchak Weekend Market is, where
there are so many tourists and vendors, but none were so careless with trash in
the area. Even when we bought food by the streets, like the market beside MBK
Center, or the street vendors selling in Chatuchak Market, everybody was
responsible with their own trash. I somehow wish I could boast of my city this
way. This must also be another reason why tourists like to come and enjoy in
Bangkok, because the Thais know that a clean city is easily promoted.
Thai People Admire Manny Pacquiao
Well, not only the Thai taxi
drivers but also our Khmer driver in Cambodia knows very well that Manny
Pacquiao is Filipino. I guess our Pambansang Kamao just has so many fans beyond
Philippine shores. It’s also good to be able to have common ground with these
people because we’re also fans of the Pacman, plus we get to know their
interests.
Every Corner Displays A Portrait of His Majesty, The King
TheThai people love and take
pride in their king. Make no mistake about it, which is why every corner
displays a framed photo of their venerated king. One can even hear the anthem
during regular visits to the street food corner downtown. Almost every Thai
establishment, be it a bank, restaurant, shopping mall or government office has
a towering portrait of King Rama X displayed in front. Displaying portraits of the
incumbent King and Queen Mother are a means of the Thai people showing their
loyalty to their beloved royals.
Tuk-tuks Can Speed Up, As In Really Speed Up!
If you’re connected with me on Facebook, I posted a video about a speeding tuk-tuk as we made our way to Khaosan Road to the Bangkok Library to meet up with my cousin’s friends. I even proposed for a Bangkok Drift movie as part of the Fast and Furious Series, make a feature on tuk-tuks too if you please. But getting onboard a tuk-tuk in Bangkok is just a priceless experience. No visit to Thailand is complete without a tuk-tuk ride, so all you have to do is hold on to dear life and enjoy the ride.
I’m sure though that if I stayed longer in Bangkok, I’ll be able to share more observations with you, but for now, here are just the fascinating experiences we have had in Siam.
Reminders
· When visiting other nations, we are responsible
for our own behavior and should observe proper customs as the locals do, as we
are only guests in their country.
· Be responsible travelers by disposing of trash
properly and being courteous to those you meet, especially the elderly and locals.
Note: All input are based on my personal experiences
in Bangkok, Thailand. Our group made arrangements prior to our travel dates. This
is in no way, a sponsored post.
