Bangkok – so much to see, so much to do

When I first arrived in Bangkok, the pilot in his welcome address, said that those visiting for the first time would love it as there is so much to see, so much to do. Having been here for a few days now, I would have to agree.
Shortly after arriving at the Siam Design Hotel – a pretty cool but self-conscious boutique hotel with an infinity pool on the 12th floor – I contacted Phumurng, a friend of Malcolm’s who is a student in Bangkok. He took me to a few of the recommended spots in Bangkok, Khao San road and Silom.

SIam @ Siam Design Hotel

Khao San road
There isn’t much for me to say on this road. It is like a tackier, less interesting version of the walking street, with a number of unimpressive bars. We walked the length of the street and quickly moved off to Silom.

Silom
Silom is apparently the “Wall Street” of Bangkok during the day. During the night, there is a lot of buying and selling going on but nothing that you’d find on Wall Street! Again, there are a number shops and stalls selling clothes and a number of bars selling all sorts of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. There are a number of bars which open onto the pavement and side-walk vendors selling food. Somehow it is not as tacky as Khao San although it does something similar.

Silom – Bangkok’s Wall Street

Nothing that you’d find on Wall Street

Nope, nothing at all

Siam Square
As Silom is not far from my hotel, we made our way back via Siam Square. There are a number of high rise malls at Siam Square, which is one stop away from my hotel. (There is in fact quite a lot of high rise everything in Bangkok including the train – Thailand has come out of recession a lot faster than the West and there is construction going on everywhere.)

View of building work from Siam sky train stop

We went in to the malls only to find that they were closing as it approached 10pm. All except for the Siam Centre mall, which was having an opening party – and what a party that was! The party was full of scantily dressed male models, who spray you with perfume…

Here come the boys…!!

a live band….

Siam Center (Re?) Opening

DJs and models teetering on very, very high shoes. These guys know how to do malls – there is every designer shop that you can think of, plus a lot more. It was a pretty good “free” party, so we took advantage and “vogued” with the best of them at the Mac make-up stage.

Phumurng

Vogue!

We left and headed back to the hotel – what a cool first night in BKK.

Tags: Khao San, Siam Center, Siam square, Silom