Here’s Why You Should Travel To Bangkok
- 25755 Views
- May 4, 2012
- 6
Shaping Cultural Experiences
Travel has been an integral part of my life since I was a young child. I grew up in a multicultural, bilingual home in the Netherlands with a Polish mother and a Dutch father. My
- 16559 Views
- May 10, 2012
- 7
Update & BBC News Link
A brief update: One interview video will be uploaded tomorrow evening. I believe the BBC News One-Minute World News provides well-balanced reporting of news, hence why I wanted to share it. Top stories on May
- 22175 Views
- May 11, 2012
- 5
From Nigeria to Boston
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VNkCazT_T4&feature=youtu.be
When you first meet Oluwagbeminiyi Osidipe, you encounter a very vibrant, friendly, and unique personality. Oluwagbeminiyi or Niyi – as she shortened her name for simplicity – was named by her mother, who had a “very personal experience” when she had her, Niyi explained. Niyi is a Yoruba Nigerian transplant who arrived in the U.S. in 2006. As one of the most densely populated (West) African countries, Nigeria derives its name from the river that spans its land. To the South, it borders the Gulf of Guinea to the Atlantic Ocean. Originally colonized by the British, Nigeria gained independence in 1960. Its main ethnic groups are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, who speak English and their own respective languages, while major religions include Islam, Christianity and indigenous beliefs. Niyi shares her story, her views on politics, cultural differences she’s embraced with humor, and what we can learn from each other by expressing curiosity. Her message is simple: travel enriches us through its exposure to new cultures, and enables us to grow.
- 12148 Views
- May 16, 2012
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Mark Twain on Travel
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” (American author Mark Twain, Innocents Abroad).
Have you had the opportunity to travel (extensively, within your country, or even once abroad)? Can you relate to Twain’s sentiments? How does travel enrich us?
- 12363 Views
- May 19, 2012
- 19
Pleasing The Taste Palate
Food has the wonderful quality of uniting us no matter where we are. There is nothing partisan or narrow-minded about food. It simply invites us to indulge, create recipes, and share with others. Two of my favorite Polish dishes (included in collage) are pierogies and barszcz czerwony – a beetroot soup – served on Christmas Eve in Poland. How does food bring us together? What are some of your favorite dishes and why? Can food trigger memories?
- 12484 Views
- May 23, 2012
- 2
Stereotypes: Truth or Fiction?
DEFINING STEREOTYPES: “An idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation.” (Merriam-Webster). Stereotypes enable bias and preconceived notions to perpetuate, but can also reveal valid
- 11459 Views
- May 29, 2012
- 4
Annual Human Rights Report
“The world changed immeasurably over the course of 2011. Across the Middle East, North Africa, and far beyond, citizens stood up to demand respect for human dignity, more promising economic opportunities, greater political liberties, and
- 9815 Views
- May 31, 2012
- 4
Euro Crisis & Emerging Stereotypes
Brief Crisis Breakdown Since the onset of the global financial crisis, or Great Recession, in 2007, the Eurozone has feared impending growing global debt levels, as well as sovereign debt within European countries themselves. In
- 10397 Views
- June 4, 2012
- 2
Remembering Tiananmen
Today marks the 23rd anniversary of Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests in Beijing, China. Inflation, a lack of career prospects, the fall of Eastern European communism, and political corruption, are all said to have fueled anger
- 12105 Views
- June 7, 2012
- 18
Coffee's Uniting Power
A cup of coffee can bridge cultural gaps. At least, that’s what Gizem Salgicil White, founder of Turkayfe.org, believes. Her organization aims to create awareness of Turkish culture, particularly within America. Gizem is a Turkish native,
- 5456 Views
- Guest Blogger
- May 1, 2017
- 2
- Local Culture
Few places in the world can tickle all my senses the way Bangkok does. At first glance, the massive metropolis and towering skyscrapers might intimidate; the hot city roads are polluted and filled with bumper-to-bumper traffic so notorious it’s voted as one of the world’s worst places to drive in. Over the recent years, political instability and street riots have scared away tourists, which has made a dent in Thailand’s number one industry.
Those reasons are enough for some travelers to skip Bangkok altogether and head straight for Thailand’s fabled islands and beaches instead. But if you dare to look a little deeper and stay a little longer, trust me: you will find a true gem of a city in Southeast Asia.
Bangkok has long been part of the “Banana Pancake Trail”, the nickname given to the Southeast Asian route that are today well-traveled by backpackers and many other tourists from the West. Most travel far and wide to this region for many reasons: escape the harsh, cold winter and submerge their senses into the organized chaos and seek paradise in seemingly dystopian third-world countries.
Despite all that, millions of brave travelers continue to make their way to Thailand to visit Bangkok every year. If you’ve never been, or have only treated Bangkok as a stopover to other destinations, here are 5 reasons why I feel you should give it a chance:
Delicious, cheap food is abundant:




If you love food like me (especially spicy food), you’ll love Bangkok. From crazy street food (fried grasshoppers, anyone?), unique Thai dishes by the road (fried fish covered in Thai herbs), to Michelin-starred restaurants, you’ll be spoiled for choice. I highly recommend opting for the inexpensive food offered at Bangkok’s side streets and food courts, where I was able to get several dishes and drinks for under $5. While you’re there, don’t forget to try the local delicacies: papaya salad (my favorite), Tom Yum soup, chicken pandan, pad Thai, and so much more.
Shopping:

Bangkok is paradise for bargain hunters like myself! Bangkok has just about everything I could want and need. From high-end luxury shops to miles of stalls side-by-side at the night markets, Bangkok has infinite choices when it comes to shopping. Don’t forget to haggle at the markets but if you prefer more upscale choices, Bangkok also has several massive air-conditioned malls carrying luxury name goods. Not to be missed is the Chatuchak weekend market where there are hundreds of stalls carrying a dizzying array of just about everything: food, paintings, sculptures, handicrafts, clothing, and more. Other places I think are shopping at are the MBK Center, Siam Paragon, Central World, Central Chitlom, Em Quartier, and Platinum. For market-style shopping, definitely visit the Train Night Market and Khao San Road after dark.
Stunning temples and palaces:

Although Bangkok is a modern, metropolitan city, it has preserved its religious and historical architecture. The glittering palaces and temples are adorned with gold, intricate carvings, and design that took my breath away. The most popular temples and palaces include the Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Temple of Dawn, The Giant Swing, The Marble Temple, and Wat Pho.
The temples all make for great photo ops, which I took full advantage of. Many tour operators can arrange packaged trips a full day, several days, or half a day. There’s also the option of going on your own, so that you can choose which temples you’d like to visit – which I thoroughly enjoyed and can’t recommend enough. These attractions only have a minimal entrance fee so tours are quite affordable.

Affordable accommodations: Despite being a top tourist destination in the region, Bangkok still has an expansive selection of hotels that won’t break the bank. There are hostels with beds for just $8, and five-star hotels for just $100. Bangkok is one of the world’s cheapest places when it comes to luxury accommodations; plus, because it’s extremely competitive I was able to find great travel deals online at the last minute. Bangkok offers great accommodations at a fraction of the price you would normally pay in other capital cities.
Easy transportation: I found getting to and around Bangkok to be efficient, cheap, and easy! The train systems are clean and are simple to understand; there are enough stops to take you to most areas of interest around the city. When I needed to travel a short distance, I would just hire a tuk-tuk, or a taxi. I took the scenic route by opting for the Chao Phraya Express and traveled by river while the city’s silhouettes dazzled under the sun around me. If you want to travel to other provinces, cities, or countries, Bangkok has two airports servicing international and domestic flights. So grab your luggage and hop to it!
Bangkok has so much to offer the traveler who is curious enough to spend several days. In fact, it’s not uncommon for foreign visitors to end up moving to Bangkok because they simply couldn’t resist the charm beneath the chaos and disorder. I’m not ready for that currently, but you never know! Give Bangkok a shot – you just might end up loving it as much as I do!
Author: Diane is the co-writer of The Luggage List and currently lives in the Philippines. Equally in love with both tropical and mountain life, her travel plans are fueled by the obsession of finding the best possible views at sea or in mountaintops.
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Comments (2)
Rachelle
03 May 2017Awesome post – now I want to go!!
Nicolette
10 May 2017We totally hear you, Rachelle!