Bangkok Things to do...please advise
Jan 29th, 2006 | 03:39 PM
#22
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 271
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The Tiger Temple is a Buddhist monastery not far from the Floating Market.
The monks took in a couple of tigers that were orphaned when poachers killed their mothers.
Slowly more villagers took orphaned tigers to the monastery.
At the moment I think there are 6 adult tigers & 4 cubs.
There are also other animals wandering around the monastery.
The monks took in a couple of tigers that were orphaned when poachers killed their mothers.
Slowly more villagers took orphaned tigers to the monastery.
At the moment I think there are 6 adult tigers & 4 cubs.
There are also other animals wandering around the monastery.
Jan 29th, 2006 | 04:40 PM
#24
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1
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To all tourists in and to Bangkok:
Beware if you are a Farang in BKK.
We have lived in BKK for 3 winters, and noticed that there are increasely more cases that we are billed for more than we spent in restaurants around the city. The reason is basically we are taking FARANGs (Caucasian looking friends) to dinner, thus we are rich and can afford to be ripped off.
The most common ways are: the food bills include items that we did not order nor consumed; or that the price of the item ordered is twice or thrice the menu price, and when we complained, their explanations were that we ordered a larger size, which in fact was a smaller size as we have often order the same dishes for our visiting friends.
The way to afford being billed extra, and worse feeling being cheated, is to check the items on the bill, and to insist on having the standard size dishes. It is better to order two dishes than to have a different size that has no price on the menu. In general, the restaurants in large hotels are honest. We have decided that all 'farang'-looking friends are not to be taken to tourists restaurants.
Also, do not leave any belongings in the taxi. The routine of the porter at hotel recording the taxi licence plate is useless. I have three friends who left their wallets accidently in cabs, and could never retrieve them, nor could they find the driver of the cab. Many taxi drivers are hired from outside provinces, and they make about USD 200 a month. Most tourists have more in their wallets than 3 or 4 months' wage, and that is ample incentive for the cab driver to quit their job immediately and head home.
Bangkok is not expensive if one stays away from the tourist hot-spots. But increasely, many in the tourist industry have become unscrupulous, so a little more caution is needed to keep one's vacation pleasant.
Winter-resident.
Beware if you are a Farang in BKK.
We have lived in BKK for 3 winters, and noticed that there are increasely more cases that we are billed for more than we spent in restaurants around the city. The reason is basically we are taking FARANGs (Caucasian looking friends) to dinner, thus we are rich and can afford to be ripped off.
The most common ways are: the food bills include items that we did not order nor consumed; or that the price of the item ordered is twice or thrice the menu price, and when we complained, their explanations were that we ordered a larger size, which in fact was a smaller size as we have often order the same dishes for our visiting friends.
The way to afford being billed extra, and worse feeling being cheated, is to check the items on the bill, and to insist on having the standard size dishes. It is better to order two dishes than to have a different size that has no price on the menu. In general, the restaurants in large hotels are honest. We have decided that all 'farang'-looking friends are not to be taken to tourists restaurants.
Also, do not leave any belongings in the taxi. The routine of the porter at hotel recording the taxi licence plate is useless. I have three friends who left their wallets accidently in cabs, and could never retrieve them, nor could they find the driver of the cab. Many taxi drivers are hired from outside provinces, and they make about USD 200 a month. Most tourists have more in their wallets than 3 or 4 months' wage, and that is ample incentive for the cab driver to quit their job immediately and head home.
Bangkok is not expensive if one stays away from the tourist hot-spots. But increasely, many in the tourist industry have become unscrupulous, so a little more caution is needed to keep one's vacation pleasant.
Winter-resident.
Jan 29th, 2006 | 05:01 PM
#25
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,288
Likes: 0
Interesting, Bangkok winters. I've been to Bangkok at least 20 times. I'm one of those people who always looks at the bill, and I've never been mis-charged in Bangkok.
By the way, I can't think of any country in the world where a cabbie would return a wallet containing many hundreds of dollars. I'm also interested that your friends carry more than 6 or 8 hundred of dollars in their wallets. I take along the money I think I'll need and then some, but "extra" money always stays in the safe. That you've had three friends leave wallets in cabs perhaps speaks to their alcohol intake... I would expect most people to be more careful.
By the way, I can't think of any country in the world where a cabbie would return a wallet containing many hundreds of dollars. I'm also interested that your friends carry more than 6 or 8 hundred of dollars in their wallets. I take along the money I think I'll need and then some, but "extra" money always stays in the safe. That you've had three friends leave wallets in cabs perhaps speaks to their alcohol intake... I would expect most people to be more careful.
Jan 29th, 2006 | 05:13 PM
#26
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,334
Likes: 0
Kathie,
I would agree with you 100%. I'm not sure where 'winters' is staying or doing business, but I've had not one problem with food bills or being stiffed by anyone. The Thai people are extremely gracious and friendly.
I left a cell phone in a taxi one time. No, I'd had nothing to drink. I was carrying it in a cell phone bag around my neck and it just slipped out. The cab driver returned the phone, no problem. We just called the number, he answered, and we asked him to please bring it to Suanlum Night Bazaar (where he had just dropped us off) and for a tip of 500bt, he was very happy!! So was I.
I would agree with you 100%. I'm not sure where 'winters' is staying or doing business, but I've had not one problem with food bills or being stiffed by anyone. The Thai people are extremely gracious and friendly.
I left a cell phone in a taxi one time. No, I'd had nothing to drink. I was carrying it in a cell phone bag around my neck and it just slipped out. The cab driver returned the phone, no problem. We just called the number, he answered, and we asked him to please bring it to Suanlum Night Bazaar (where he had just dropped us off) and for a tip of 500bt, he was very happy!! So was I.
Jan 29th, 2006 | 06:48 PM
#28
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 29,053
Likes: 0
marriott phuket....we ate the first lunch in the deli...thought it expensive when ordering, but when karen's smoked salmon sandwich came with perhaps 1 pound of fish in it then it was a bargain...
we ate once at the italian rest. and thought it quite good and decently priced....
we ate several times in the main dining area---the one where the breakfast is served....it was excellent at breakfast and dinner...probably the cheapest at dinner of the offerings, but the food was very good...
we also ordered pizza from one of the pool boys...and ate it by the pool...we liked the pool between the hotel and the condos...i think it is the north pool....
the day we had the car we ate lunch at mcdonalds in patong after a miserble trap by a time share group...now that's another story i will never live down...
we looked at the seafood restaurant out near to the beach but passed on it....i'm not thrilled with those beach side fish places generally....find them over priced and only so so for quality....remember i come from NE and lobster here is the best in the world, imo....
mon's is great by all reports...
we ate once at the italian rest. and thought it quite good and decently priced....
we ate several times in the main dining area---the one where the breakfast is served....it was excellent at breakfast and dinner...probably the cheapest at dinner of the offerings, but the food was very good...
we also ordered pizza from one of the pool boys...and ate it by the pool...we liked the pool between the hotel and the condos...i think it is the north pool....
the day we had the car we ate lunch at mcdonalds in patong after a miserble trap by a time share group...now that's another story i will never live down...
we looked at the seafood restaurant out near to the beach but passed on it....i'm not thrilled with those beach side fish places generally....find them over priced and only so so for quality....remember i come from NE and lobster here is the best in the world, imo....
mon's is great by all reports...
Jan 29th, 2006 | 07:02 PM
#31
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 29,053
Likes: 0
lets see if i can dig out prices:
2 sandwiches and two cookies in the delhi and water was 671 B....not sure if we bought water or drank table water...think table water....karen recorded i was crabbie....can you believe that....we had had trouble with our airport pick-up....
in the marriott cafe karen had chicken caesar salad for dinner---you make it yourself from a special salad station (we had read in the room that all the greens are treated specially so we tried or k did)....i had a burger, two beers and 2 deserts and the bill was 1377B--quite good...
breakfast was excellent and included...anything you would want really...
italian: salads, pasta dishes and desserts were again 1377B...can't be right but that is what the boss wrote here in book....
karen recorded that breakfast is $15.25 if you have to pay...
marriott cafe: split a caesar salad, both had sea bass with morning glories (a favorite), corn and shrimp in a yellow curry sauce; sticky rice and mango for 1506B...reasonable and delicious...
we also got sandwiches fropm the deli on our last day to take to the airport as we had a noonish flight...no price recorded....
2 sandwiches and two cookies in the delhi and water was 671 B....not sure if we bought water or drank table water...think table water....karen recorded i was crabbie....can you believe that....we had had trouble with our airport pick-up....
in the marriott cafe karen had chicken caesar salad for dinner---you make it yourself from a special salad station (we had read in the room that all the greens are treated specially so we tried or k did)....i had a burger, two beers and 2 deserts and the bill was 1377B--quite good...
breakfast was excellent and included...anything you would want really...
italian: salads, pasta dishes and desserts were again 1377B...can't be right but that is what the boss wrote here in book....
karen recorded that breakfast is $15.25 if you have to pay...
marriott cafe: split a caesar salad, both had sea bass with morning glories (a favorite), corn and shrimp in a yellow curry sauce; sticky rice and mango for 1506B...reasonable and delicious...
we also got sandwiches fropm the deli on our last day to take to the airport as we had a noonish flight...no price recorded....
Jan 30th, 2006 | 04:48 AM
#32
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
rhkkmk
I would say that the Tiger Temple is not more than 1 hour drive from the Floating Market.
The day we went, we did the Floating Market first, then the Royal Thai wood factory, then the River Kwai and then the Tiger Temple, so forgive me if I am hazy on the distance involved.
Rob
I would say that the Tiger Temple is not more than 1 hour drive from the Floating Market.
The day we went, we did the Floating Market first, then the Royal Thai wood factory, then the River Kwai and then the Tiger Temple, so forgive me if I am hazy on the distance involved.
Rob
Jan 30th, 2006 | 08:48 AM
#34
Original Poster
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
rob-
I'd love to see pictures from the tiger temple. We would probably only be up for the floating market and tiger temple. I have heard that river kwai etc. is not as interesting as one might have thought. We are also very short on time.
Tell what you saw there, were able to do, and how much time you spent?
Thanks
I'd love to see pictures from the tiger temple. We would probably only be up for the floating market and tiger temple. I have heard that river kwai etc. is not as interesting as one might have thought. We are also very short on time.
Tell what you saw there, were able to do, and how much time you spent?
Thanks
Jan 30th, 2006 | 09:44 AM
#36
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,860
Likes: 0
I've been to Bangkok many times and just returned from a three-week vacation this month and I personally haven't had the problems that Winterres has stated. And of course, one just has to use common sense to avoid some situations. I always check my bills...whether restaurant or shopping bills. And as far as leaving a wallet...or anything else... in a taxi...well, if that ever happened to me, I would just expect never to see it again. Happy Travels!
