|  The
Lonely Planet guidebook for Thailand recommends two walking
tours for Bangkok. This first route meanders through Bangkok's
busy Chinese and Indian market districts  and is best explored on foot since vehicular
traffic in the area is in almost constant gridlock. Depending
on your pace and shopping intentions, this lengthy route could
take from one to three hours.
Be forewarned that
the journey should only be undertaken by those who can withstand
extended crowd contact as well as the sometimes unpleasant sights
and smells of a traditional fresh market. The reward for tolerating
this attack on the sense consists of numerous glimpses into
the 'real' day-to-day Bangkok, away from the glittering facade
of department stores and office buildings along Bangkok's main
avenues - not to mention the opportunity for fabulous bargains.
(If you plan to buy anything, you'd better bring along either
a phrasebook or an interpreter as very little English is spoken
in these areas.)
The walking tour
starts at Wat Mangon Kamalwat, a Chinese temple on Charoen Krung
Road (New Road). Heading 100 metres south west down a small
lane, you cross Yaowarat Road which is the main street for Chinatown.
Keep going until you meet the famous Sampeng Lane. For this
tour you turn right but there are plenty of other markets in
the area to explore. Sampeng is a good place to buy a variety
of cheap products. The tour finishes at Pahurat Clothes market.
For full details
and a map, please buy the excellent Lonely Planet guidebook
for either Thailand or Bangkok. |
