5 Myths About Bangkok You Should Know

1. The city is a dangerous place to visit
Thailand has been making front page news for all the wrong reasons in the past few years. Summarizing everything in one breath: yellow shirts shut down the airport, red shirts seizing the city centre, the flood, the terrorist in Sukhumvit, then the bombing down south at Hat Yai...can the list be any longer? However, the city itself does feel safer than what CNN often show on your TV. My mom gets really worried when she knows I'm on a business trip to Bangkok. I must say, I feel safer in Bangkok than in KL city. You know how in KL we are always reminded of snatch thieves, men on motorbikes, don't leave your wallets on the table, don't walk to the car park alone, look out for the white van next to your car, even at traffic lights your car window gets smashed. Well, in Bangkok snatch thief is not that rampant. I don't find the need to be hugging my handbag and looking out for suspicious people. As long as you keep yourself out of those dark lanes you should be safe.

2. If you buy a designer bag here, it's imitation!
I really hate it when I go home wearing something new, my friends ask where is it from? Upon saying "Bangkok", you get the "oohhhh..." and that smirk on the face. Bangkok is full of designer stores. There's plenty of malls selling genuine goods which are bloody high class like your 1st world country back at home. Siam Paragon, Central World, Terminal 21, Emporium...you get my point. Stop thinking everything bought from Bangkok is from the streets and cost only 200 bht. Stop thinking there is no genuine goods here.

3. Everything is dirt cheap
Don't buy electronics. Or designer clothes, especially imported ones. I'm speculating it's either the VAT or import tax. But I find the things more expensive than any other Asian countries I've been to. I paid at least 20% more for a video cam which I bought from the Bangkok duty free at the airport. Even the smaller handphone stores in places like MBK doesn't offer a very good price. It almost cost the same if I go to Apple's online store in Singapore or Malaysia. So on your next visit, strike off electronics on your shopping list. (However, phone and iPad accessories in MBK is a good bargain)

4. All tuk tuks are out there to scam you
I once visited Bangkok with a friend who avoids tuk tuk as if they are some big time scammers out there to squeeze every dollar out of you. I think the fear is over exaggerated. Though yes, there are some who over charge, or bring you on a detour to some gem store. Well, my advise is just be smart. Preferably, hail down a tuk tuk instead of taking those waiting on the street side. If you take tuk tuks from popular tourist places like Siam Paragon, they will charge you 100 to 200 bht for a short ride (which would normally cost 60 bht). If the price is not right, just walk away. There is no need to swear off the experience of tuk tuk just because you think they will cheat that 100 bht off you. C'mon, it's Bangkok. The experience is incomplete without riding on a tuk tuk! Places where tuk tuks are less likely to cheat you are in Khao San, or the Grand Palace - but...please haggle. Never pay more than 100 bht. For short distances, you can go as low as 50bht.

5. The floating market is beaaauuuutiful like shown in the postcards
First of all, there are so many floating markets around Thailand. The ones that a local tour guide or a hired taxi suggest to you is gonna be really touristy and disappointing. I've been to Damnoen and I felt the entire market is like a cultural show put on a stage. You get 100 foreigners with their big gun Canons over the bridge all trying to replicate that same postcard perfect shot of the Thai style canoe with the colourful fruits. Yes, it is beautiful, but let me tell you behind the scene, right next to that culturally perfect photo opportunity are hordes of tourists and tourist peddlers you try so hard to frame out of your shot. To give the floating market justice, there are some which are less known to international tourists which still manage to keep its authenticity and give you a really different experience from what Bangkok city offers. My favourite is Amphawa. You'll find mostly local Thais frequenting this market instead of foreigners. I'll spill more details on another post ;) cheers.

Taking the Slow Coach

I was in a taxi when I passed by Bangkok’s railway station and I decided I wanna experience the train ride in Thailand. That Saturday, I bought myself a ticket. For 15 bht, I hop on the train on the Bangkok - Sungai Golok route, a 2 hour ride, and a whole new experience.
I only found a seat after walking through 4 coaches. I was surprised how crowded the train was. Free seating, non air conditioned with small fans attached to the ceiling (like those you see in taxis many years ago). Immediately, I noticed the travelers were darker skin Thai; or of other nationalities, I’m not sure. But a lot of them looked like Malaysians, some bertudung, and spoke heavily accented Malay. I guess that’s because the train goes all the way to Sungai Golok, the southern tip of Thailand bordering Malaysia.

I felt uncomfortable and out of place, like I was walking alone in a complex full of rempit Malays. Before long, the scenery took my attention away. You get to see how the landscape changes as you travel away from the city. From sights of construction, you start to see farms and water canals.

The bunch of Malay boys seated behind me started talking to me. One from Bukit Gombak asked, “Ada awek kat sini?” I didn’t feel like I was in Thailand at all. In fact, I felt like it was Raya and I was on the train to balik kampung (not like I take the train to balik kampung before).

Refreshment facility? Peddlers would hop on the train to sell drinks from a plastic bucket, or packed rice with basil pork; the only thing that reminds me it is still Thailand. When the train stops at a station (quite so frequently), one could buy roasted eggs and peanuts from the street peddler, right out of the train window. As I was enjoying the roasted eggs, I could smell weed smoke, which did not bother me.

When I arrived at my station, only did I realise there isn’t a way to get to Don Wai. So I hired a motorcycle for 300 bht, and rode for another 45 minutes on the highway going 100kmph without a helmet. That was the distance between Bangkok and Don Wai, if I hadn’t taken the train. But who cares, this is the fun you miss if you use google maps or a GPS.

I would like to see more of Thailand by train, hopefully to somewhere further; and this time I will get one of those bunker beds.

The Many Ways to Get Around Bangkok

In KL, we drive

In Singapore we take the MRT, bus or walk.

In Bangkok, the options are so wide and cheap it's unbelievable. Though I have to say not all are tourist-friendly.

First of all, taxi is darn cheap here. They are less likely to con you like how KL taxi drivers do. A ride to Grand Palace from my hotel that's about 20-30 minutes costs less than 100 bht. Which is why I don't bother taking the SkyTrain (BTS) sometimes. Where else can you ride a taxi for this price?

Tuk tuk is my all time favourite. Tourists are so afraid of taking tuk tuk here in fear of being kidnapped or conned, or being sent to some tourist trap to buy gems. The fear is so exaggegarated I can't make any sense out of it. Though they sometimes cost more or equally the same with taxi, but I love the wild ride and how they freely make illegal u-turns and go against the traffic flow to cut the trip short. I have never been conned by any tuk tuk drivers. All you need to do is to negotiate the fare, and just say no if you sense that they are over charging you. There is absolutely no need to fear them as if they were mafias. Besides, tuk tuk is one of the signatures of this beautiful city. How can you miss the experience of a roller coaster ride?

For short trips, you can hire motorbikes. The riders usually wear a pink vest and their station have stools and yellow umbrellas. It is usually to get you to short destinations, like a short 10 minute walk. They charge 10bht but beware if your distance is meant for a taxi ride, the charge will be very expensive. So only use them for short rides.

The cheapest mode of transportation is the unmarked white vans. It cost me 10 bht to get from Pratunam to MBK. I really wonder how they make any money at all. It is quite impossible for tourist to take this since you won't be able to recognise the van and you don't speak the language, but it is really the cheapest option I have seen so far.

From taxi, to van, to tuk tuk, and motorbike. Why do I love this city again?