So many of you folks are such well-versed experts in regards to Bangkok. I just have to wonder about the favorite "delights" that you just must see/get/do when you visit Bangkok.

Say, the little things that make the experience so special for you: a haircut, massage, lunch, sunset view, a purchase at a tiny shop off the beaten path .... .

What do you do again and again? How would you spend a perfect day in the city?

oh you may be sorry you asked that question....here goes....

its that bangkok smell...

its the flowers and the flower market....buy 3 doz orchids for $2...

dim sum at the liu rest. in the conrad hotel at lunchtime...

lunch buffet at lord jim in the oriental....

the marriott pool and garden....

a/c everywhere....

harmonique for dinners...

shopping: thai stone jewelry, soi 4, sukhumvit....gaysorn ...central chitlom...fashion mall....custom made garmets at js thai silk in river city and jack in the marriott mall (monet il sarto)...craft assoc. show....jim thompson shops and outlets....

boat trips on the river....

meeting other fodorites....

wat arun...GP....repeat visits....

meeting up with old thai friends

meeting new people from around the world...

smiles and more smiles

klong tours

cheap taxis

cheap internal flights

reasonable lux hotels

fabulous international foods as well as thai foods

returning to restaurants that we have eaten at many times: tongue thai, harmonique, jim thompson cafes, biscotti, senses, loft, 8 degrees,L'Opera, gourmet gallery, gallery cafe, le delat indochine, sky bar, 360, thai family at the marriott mall, sweansons, rang mahal at the rembrandt, himali cha cha and many many more....

discovering many more restaurants on our own and with the help of other fodorites...

this is only a start....

time for others to chime in....

oh yes two more things....

making fun of gpanda and the ROS...

rhkkmk, you are a very tough act to follow!

Bob is very hard to follow! I would especially agree with the marriott pool. Also, I really look forward to getting my haircut, its like $4 and is a great experience! The thai women think its so funny that I get my haircut while we are there. Here is the weird one, my wife and I always get pedicures at the same place and the ladies paint my toenails different colors, we all have a great time!

more info on the pedicures, please--not that my hubby will ever have a nail painted--juts for me--but he'd do the massage/haircut, shave thing in a heartbeat.

#1, if you have a real Thai friend in BKK you can have a deeper experience exploring BKK, none of this overt tourist drivel that everyone swoons over!

As I go up in age, my favorite thing to do there is EAT. We like to go up the Ramintra expressway area and eat at a very nice open air restaurant that usually has live music. The food is outstanding--none of this dim-sum (sorry rhkkmk!)chinese food-based "Thai" food BS... That stuff is made for the garden variety tourist who like to sit there contented, thinking they're eating authentic Thai food in Thailand. Go ask for Yum Pla Dook Foo, Yum Pla krab, Gai Yang, Yum Moo Krob or any other real Thai dish (Stay away from things that look like your typical Chinese fare with a fancy name).

My favorites(not in order):
Ramintra open-air Restaurants
Rooftop bars
Night markets
MBK eatery
Siam Square/Silom area
Nightclubs with phillipino cover bands
Chao Phraya riverside restaurants
MBK/Siam Square/Big Mall shopping
Upscale, hi-floor hotel bars (V9, etc)
Massage at the Sofitel Centara and eating at their Le Bua outside restaurant.
Thai goodies everywhere (I'm gaining weight)

I don't partake in any naughtiness, but if I did I would never leave this place!
(Hope I didn't insult anyone here)

Everyone has different things they like to do while in bkk. Here at home in the US my best friend is from Thailand, he is the reason we started going there in the first place. Half of his family lives here in the US, and the other hald still in bkk. We have done lots a "authentic" stuff with his family and with some expat friends that live there now. We have also done a lot of the "touristy" things that many people do when they go. Some of those tourist things are actually really fun. I don't think mango insulted me with their comments, actually some of the things on their list we have done and are a lot of fun. MBK was on the list and that's where I get my haircut, I couldn't tell you which one of the places I go but its on the second floor if I remember right. The pedicure place we go to is in the mini mall right next to jacks at the marriott. I think its like $8 and it lasts almost an hour.
I forgot, we also have in room massages most nights we are there. We do it in our room because I am REALLY lazy and after the massage I don't want to do anything but sleep so its nice to pay them then roll over and go to sleep!

Why would anyone follow Bob? And it bis an act. In truth, he is a pleasant person. He just pretends to be a curmudgeon.

Getting a massage in my hotel room. Call the Wat Pho School of Massage and they will send one or two people to give massages in the comfort of your a/c hotel room.

in no special order:
1. The graciousness of the people. The fact that they really want you to enjoy yourself.
2. The smells
3. The food and flower markets
4. klong rides -- especially if you can get away from the main klongs
5. Jim Thompson House
6. jim Thompson fabrics & store
7. having clothes made at Cotton House
8. Everything about the Oriental Hotel but especially the service, my old friends there, breakfast on the verandah, tea at the author's lounge, Peking Duck at China House and lunch at Lord Jim.
9. Prasart Museum
10. Wat Arun
11. Ratt
12. The doggie spa on the outskirts of bangkok
13. the food
14. the river of kings
15. watching life on the river-- especially watching it come to life in the morning
16. Paying respect to the king (obviously not in person)

i forgot to mention egg foo young.....

Hi all-I keep writing notes on all of your wonderful suggestions. I can now say we leave NEXT week for Bangkok. We wukk be 8 nights in BKK. I'm not sure if I can touch the surface of what all of you have suggested.
I too have a dear Thai friend. She will be comming 4 days after me . The rest of her family lives in Tahiland ||& I am honored to be included with her |& her family for a birthday party for her on a river boat her brother has hired. It should be a wonderful experience.We will be in BKK October 5-13th-We then fly to Bali for a week -back to Thailand for a week in Pattaya & then a 5 day tour of Northern Thailand. Last night in |BKK before our flight home. Thank you all again for all your wonderful suggestions & help-It is muach appreciated-Chris

It's hard to come up with a finite list!
In no particular order,

- the warm and welcoming Thai people
- spa treatments at Face
- Thai food, both cheap and more expensive, in atmospheric restaurants and atmospheric holes in the wall
- visiting wats, both old faves and at least one I haven't been to before
- the Erawan Shrine
- meeting old friends and new in Bangkok
- being pampered in the hotel where we always stay
- watching the life of the river, from afar in our high floor room or at river level in the water taxis
- shopping for Thai crafts, both old and new, for silks and jewelry
- feeling the pulse of the city, riding the skytrain or walking the sois
- drinks in the lounge at sunset, talking with new Fodors friends or old friends we see each time we're in Bangkok
- the crush of Chinatown

Yes, you guys reminded me of the other beautiful qualities of Thailand:

Thai people
The smells of Bkk
Old school asian infrastructure designs
Neon/flourescent street lights at night
No sterile environment/feel of the west
The beautiful plants and animals
Positive/gracious attitudes of most Thais

RHKKMK- I see what you did there! Egg fooey young! Yechhhhh!!

:]

good eyes mango....strange the literate cambridge people did not pick it up....

"Nightclubs with phillipino cover bands"

Tell me more - where and when?

No one mentioned having a drink at Sky Bar, on the top of the State Tower building. It's a fantastic view of the city, and it's all outside, in the fresh night air! A little pricey, a dress code is enforced, but it is a great way to end an evening of a nice dinner (maybe The Bed restaurant) and then that fabulous night view.

Try the Huntsman (basement at the Landmark Hotel on Sukhumvit) for a really fantastic Philippino band. They can do everything from Queen to Andrea Bocelli. The food there is also good.

There are lots more good bands. You will find live music everywhere. If you go to Suan Lum Night Bazaar you will find live entertainment in the big food/beer garden area. So much fun!

Another favorite that did not get mentioned on anyone's list is a night at Tawandang German Brewery (the ORIGINAL Tawandang... there are now at least two). The fantastic food, the live stage show, the Thai people having a wonderful time, dancing in the aisles... always a good time.

Carol

rhk- I'm quite sure to be far more literate than 99% of "Cambridgers". I let my hair down on here, so you'd never guess!

Degas- I once was at a Thai pub (or such) up in the Ramintra expressway area. There was an all-female philipino band that played American rock covers all night. They were fabulous and really could belt'em out. I was intrigued and impressed. The Thais seemed to love them as well. You may want to check out the bangkok gig guide for groups. Sadly, I can't remember their name. It was certainly a memorable experience!

C- I plan to do the Tawandaeng Brewery in Ramintra this October! Its supposed to be the best

ttt

What is this ttt?
Why is degas dragging all her/his own old posts back to the top?
Is is a celebration? Someone's birthday? Am I missing something here?

Perhaps it's still September 2007. I'm very confused.

dogster - I'm hatching a secret plot to travel again to BKK. Just looking for more inputs. TTT means to the top.