As culturally and historically
fascinating as Bangkok is, however, it cannot be denied it is also a
sybaritic city. In their unique character the Thais combine a respect
for traditions with a joyful exuberance, a love of sanuk, having a good
time. Here the modern aspects of the capital complement the old and
offer a host of pleasures.
Not least is the joy
of dining. Thai cuisine, rich and spicy, is a true gourmet's delight
affording a huge variety of dishes to discover and relish. Seafood is
also a national speciality and fish, crab, lobsters, shrimps and more
are to be enjoyed in either spicy Thai style or in Continental recipes.
And should you ever wish for change, Bangkok has restaurants serving
just about every national cuisine deserving of the name from both East
and West.
To match the variety
of menus is the choice of eating places. From simple but good kerbside
food stalls and right up through the whole dining gamut to elegant,
expensive restaurants and dinner cruises on the river, there is something
to suit all tastes and pockets.
When it comes to entertainment
and nightlife, Bangkok has something for everyone. From displays of
classical Thai dance to cocktail lounges and discos, the choice is wide
open. Unique to Thailand, the traditional sport of kick boxing, in which
the protagonists use feet, knees and elbows in addition to gloved fists,
is especially thrilling. Bouts are held most nights of the week at one
or other of Bangkok' two boxing stadiums. This is the country's most
popular spectator sport and should not be missed -- the reaction of
the aficionados, cheering and yelling, is often as exciting as the action
in the ring.
For browser and dedicated
bargain hunter alike, Bangkok is a shopper's paradise. In recent years
smart plazas, malls and department stores have mushroomed to augment
the facilities provided by markets and ubiquitous street stalls. At
the top of anyone's shopping list should be Thai silk and gems and jewellery.
Silk is a traditional material now produced in a wide range of colours
and designs and offering excellent value. Bangkok is also a world centre
for coloured gemstones, and you will discover a superb selection of
gems and finished jewellery which, while not cheap, offer excellent
superb value for money. Other top buys include tailor-made clothing,
leathergoods, Thai, Burmese and Khmer antiques (some requiring export
licenses) and an enormous array of handicrafts in teakwood, ceramic,
bronze and other traditional materials.
Upmarket shopping spots
include numerous posh plazas such as Siam Centre, World Trade Centre,
Peninsula Plaza and Gaysorn Plaza, but this being Bangkok, shopping
options further include the anomalous. Long established on the map but
still offering hours of browsing is the Weekend Market at Chatuchak
Park, the place for everything from pets to potted plants, cassettes
to clothing, old books to younger antiques. Then there is Seacon Square
on Si Nakarin Road, Asia's largest shopping mall and the world's fifth
largest, brimming with shops, cinemas, amusement park, supermarket and
restaurants, and drawing crowds of suburban Bangkokians at weekends.
Bangkok is the "City of Angels", a magic place where possibilities are
limited only by the imagination. With its myriad thrilling sights and
scenes it is the perfect complement to Thailand's more relaxed resort
destinations.
