Jonas
Apr 21, 2008, 7:10 PM
Just back from another trip to Bangkok (my best one so far, I have to say). :)
This time I spent in Bkk almost 2 weeks and, unlike during my previous trips to SE Asia, didn't go anywhere else and stayed in Bkk all of the time... the Asian sincity is worth it :)
Firstly a brief map with some of the "main" places in Bangkok. Just to help with navigation
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2088/2430878921_1ed607cfff_o.jpg
It's not too clear where is the "central" (or downtown) Bangkok. It could be Sukhumvit road, Silom or Siam Square (which is, in fact, normally considered the center of Bangkok... although perhaps just nominally because other areas look just as lively and crowded)... or perhaps all combined making it a huuuge downtown area.
Also we can define old and new Bangkok centers.
Left of the map contains the historic city (or "old town" as we call them in Europe) with the Grand Palace, temples, museums, Chinatown and other spots including Khao San Road which is probably the biggest backpackers center on the planet (surely in Asia at least).
Firstly (after the glimpse to the Airport and the roads) the Sukhumvit area which is the primary place for tourists as it's got endless count of hotels, restaurants, nightlife spots and other attractions of all levels and prices. One of those places where life is on 24/7
1.
Arriving to Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Although this airport is massive (3rd largest single terminal building in the world after Beijing and Hong Kong) and still fresh (opened in 2006) the authorities already talk of expansion of the terminal as well as building a 3rd runway. The current capacity is 45 million passengers and it's already being reached which is a dangerous signal for a new airport. Longer term plans include 4 runways, a budget airline terminal and capacity of 100 million passengers annually.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/2431661902_129d058135_o.jpg
2.
pedestrian bridges on the upper floors connecting check-in area with taxi drop-off
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2238/2431662274_0c1bb351b3_o.jpg
3.
The main exit from the airport
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2178/2430849183_d293cf34b6_o.jpg
4.
On the right a train line under construction which will connect the airport with central part of Bangkok. It was scheduled to open this year but is likely to be dalayed to next year. Trains should reach speeds of 160km/h (about 100mph)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/2431662686_7845ba18da_o.jpg
5.
It takes about 30 mins to get from the airport to central Bangkok on a taxi... this is of course with a condition that traffic is low (which is unlikely on a regular working day). I was lucky, it was Sunday morning
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/2430849643_336a1300be_o.jpg
6.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2137/2431662976_ce92fa3400_o.jpg
7.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/2431663212_7d7ae2d965_o.jpg
8.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2430850247_d050121f54_o.jpg
9.
View from the 7th floor of my hotel
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3245/2430850497_78b7f2903b_o.jpg
10.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3081/2430850797_1455394410_o.jpg
11.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2056/2431664230_16a13afa84_o.jpg
12.
Reminded me of London... althoug there are not too many of these creatures in Bkk
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2259/2430851233_c71d1f9e35_o.jpg
13.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2097/2431664692_98269dfbaf_o.jpg
14.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2215/2430851737_57ef8acede_o.jpg
15.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2281/2431665118_1e991cb5b5_o.jpg
16.
European style facades with a more "Bangkokian" sort of architecture in the background
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2281/2431665528_4855c2a5c4_o.jpg
17.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2034/2430852431_14a165459f_o.jpg
18.
My holiday table :D
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2251/2431665966_ec849c2ed1_o.jpg
19.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3272/2430852813_d0cd38f112_o.jpg
20.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2045/2430853093_82c86567df_o.jpg
21.
Little streets (Soi) are not too convenient for pedestrians. Although they're fine for cars (especially big pick-up trucks and SUVs) :|
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2430853335_3d43fffe81_o.jpg
22.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3291/2431667072_abc6d3b0cd_o.jpg
23.
This is my hotel :)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/2430854137_99b8cba9e4_o.jpg
24.
Soi 11. "Soi" stands for "little street" while "Thanon" = street. All sois are numbered and are called in relation to their Thanon. For instance this Soi is connected to Thanon Sukhumvit (Sukhumvit Road) thus is called Sukhumvit Soi 11. Such naming practice actually makes it much easier to understand which street is wehre in a big and crowded city with zillions of streets, highways and pathways which is Bangkok
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2236/2431667736_42083b1f4e_o.jpg
25.
Construction workers just outside of a construction site. A lot of them are from Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and other poorer countries in SE Asia seeking for a job and better life in Thailand which means they can support their families back home. It's unclear about the legality of some workers (Thailand sometimes has indeed got a very "pragmatic" attitude towards law) but another thing is that the need of workforce is currently on its high with unemployment level in the Kingdom of just 0.8% which is lowest in the world...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2299/2431668024_c3883dfac6_o.jpg
26.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/2430854945_ae99fb1845_o.jpg
27.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/2431668660_2f76ed40c5_o.jpg
28.
Soi 11
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2041/2431669018_f7fba8d7c9_o.jpg
29.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/2430855917_f1d7988c4c_o.jpg
30.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/2430856179_c3a3a18e09_o.jpg
31.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2200/2431669888_7916393215_o.jpg
32.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2204/2431670208_6cb2bf9648_o.jpg
33.
Sukhumvit Road, one of the main streets for shopping, nightife, dining and all other sorts of entartainment activities
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2072/2431670498_6084fafeba_o.jpg
34.
Souvenir shop (one of a million)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2295/2430857431_58cce199f4_o.jpg
35.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3296/2431670996_c4c953a353_o.jpg
36.
One of many Sukhumvit Sois
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2266/2431671266_3fef5fce7a_o.jpg
37.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/2431671518_7bd7e0222c_o.jpg
38.
There are about 5.5 million registered cars on the streets of this Asian megapolis
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2431671802_d765c87c00_o.jpg
39.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2413/2431672126_5ffe93a7d9_o.jpg
40.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2115/2430859095_800d5eb8d5_o.jpg
continued in 2nd part...
P.S. there will be many (and I mean a freakin' lot!) more pictures in other parts from Bkk, so if you're interested, plese keep tuned! :)
This time I spent in Bkk almost 2 weeks and, unlike during my previous trips to SE Asia, didn't go anywhere else and stayed in Bkk all of the time... the Asian sincity is worth it :)
Firstly a brief map with some of the "main" places in Bangkok. Just to help with navigation
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2088/2430878921_1ed607cfff_o.jpg
It's not too clear where is the "central" (or downtown) Bangkok. It could be Sukhumvit road, Silom or Siam Square (which is, in fact, normally considered the center of Bangkok... although perhaps just nominally because other areas look just as lively and crowded)... or perhaps all combined making it a huuuge downtown area.
Also we can define old and new Bangkok centers.
Left of the map contains the historic city (or "old town" as we call them in Europe) with the Grand Palace, temples, museums, Chinatown and other spots including Khao San Road which is probably the biggest backpackers center on the planet (surely in Asia at least).
Firstly (after the glimpse to the Airport and the roads) the Sukhumvit area which is the primary place for tourists as it's got endless count of hotels, restaurants, nightlife spots and other attractions of all levels and prices. One of those places where life is on 24/7
1.
Arriving to Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Although this airport is massive (3rd largest single terminal building in the world after Beijing and Hong Kong) and still fresh (opened in 2006) the authorities already talk of expansion of the terminal as well as building a 3rd runway. The current capacity is 45 million passengers and it's already being reached which is a dangerous signal for a new airport. Longer term plans include 4 runways, a budget airline terminal and capacity of 100 million passengers annually.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/2431661902_129d058135_o.jpg
2.
pedestrian bridges on the upper floors connecting check-in area with taxi drop-off
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2238/2431662274_0c1bb351b3_o.jpg
3.
The main exit from the airport
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2178/2430849183_d293cf34b6_o.jpg
4.
On the right a train line under construction which will connect the airport with central part of Bangkok. It was scheduled to open this year but is likely to be dalayed to next year. Trains should reach speeds of 160km/h (about 100mph)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/2431662686_7845ba18da_o.jpg
5.
It takes about 30 mins to get from the airport to central Bangkok on a taxi... this is of course with a condition that traffic is low (which is unlikely on a regular working day). I was lucky, it was Sunday morning
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/2430849643_336a1300be_o.jpg
6.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2137/2431662976_ce92fa3400_o.jpg
7.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/2431663212_7d7ae2d965_o.jpg
8.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2430850247_d050121f54_o.jpg
9.
View from the 7th floor of my hotel
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3245/2430850497_78b7f2903b_o.jpg
10.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3081/2430850797_1455394410_o.jpg
11.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2056/2431664230_16a13afa84_o.jpg
12.
Reminded me of London... althoug there are not too many of these creatures in Bkk
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2259/2430851233_c71d1f9e35_o.jpg
13.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2097/2431664692_98269dfbaf_o.jpg
14.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2215/2430851737_57ef8acede_o.jpg
15.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2281/2431665118_1e991cb5b5_o.jpg
16.
European style facades with a more "Bangkokian" sort of architecture in the background
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2281/2431665528_4855c2a5c4_o.jpg
17.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2034/2430852431_14a165459f_o.jpg
18.
My holiday table :D
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2251/2431665966_ec849c2ed1_o.jpg
19.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3272/2430852813_d0cd38f112_o.jpg
20.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2045/2430853093_82c86567df_o.jpg
21.
Little streets (Soi) are not too convenient for pedestrians. Although they're fine for cars (especially big pick-up trucks and SUVs) :|
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2430853335_3d43fffe81_o.jpg
22.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3291/2431667072_abc6d3b0cd_o.jpg
23.
This is my hotel :)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/2430854137_99b8cba9e4_o.jpg
24.
Soi 11. "Soi" stands for "little street" while "Thanon" = street. All sois are numbered and are called in relation to their Thanon. For instance this Soi is connected to Thanon Sukhumvit (Sukhumvit Road) thus is called Sukhumvit Soi 11. Such naming practice actually makes it much easier to understand which street is wehre in a big and crowded city with zillions of streets, highways and pathways which is Bangkok
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2236/2431667736_42083b1f4e_o.jpg
25.
Construction workers just outside of a construction site. A lot of them are from Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and other poorer countries in SE Asia seeking for a job and better life in Thailand which means they can support their families back home. It's unclear about the legality of some workers (Thailand sometimes has indeed got a very "pragmatic" attitude towards law) but another thing is that the need of workforce is currently on its high with unemployment level in the Kingdom of just 0.8% which is lowest in the world...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2299/2431668024_c3883dfac6_o.jpg
26.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/2430854945_ae99fb1845_o.jpg
27.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/2431668660_2f76ed40c5_o.jpg
28.
Soi 11
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2041/2431669018_f7fba8d7c9_o.jpg
29.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/2430855917_f1d7988c4c_o.jpg
30.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/2430856179_c3a3a18e09_o.jpg
31.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2200/2431669888_7916393215_o.jpg
32.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2204/2431670208_6cb2bf9648_o.jpg
33.
Sukhumvit Road, one of the main streets for shopping, nightife, dining and all other sorts of entartainment activities
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2072/2431670498_6084fafeba_o.jpg
34.
Souvenir shop (one of a million)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2295/2430857431_58cce199f4_o.jpg
35.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3296/2431670996_c4c953a353_o.jpg
36.
One of many Sukhumvit Sois
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2266/2431671266_3fef5fce7a_o.jpg
37.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/2431671518_7bd7e0222c_o.jpg
38.
There are about 5.5 million registered cars on the streets of this Asian megapolis
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2431671802_d765c87c00_o.jpg
39.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2413/2431672126_5ffe93a7d9_o.jpg
40.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2115/2430859095_800d5eb8d5_o.jpg
continued in 2nd part...
P.S. there will be many (and I mean a freakin' lot!) more pictures in other parts from Bkk, so if you're interested, plese keep tuned! :)