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Old Sep 17th, 2007 | 09:11 PM
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Google Maps Bangkok?

I can get Google Maps to come up for Bangkok, but all the street names are in Thai script (yeah, no surpise there).
Does anyone know if there's any way to get it to come up in English? I've looked at the "help" and can't find it.

Barring that, does anyone know of a similar website like Google Maps or Mapquest for Bangkok where I can enter an address to get it pinponted on a map?

Thanks!
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Old Sep 18th, 2007 | 09:08 AM
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maps are a real problem in bangkok....there really is not a good one....at least not one i have found...

the nancy chandler map is quite helpful for tourist activities....you can buy it at amazon, i think, or many bookstores can order it....it is widely available in bkk as well....
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Old Sep 18th, 2007 | 10:48 AM
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Bob-I was afraid of that.
I'm not looking for a printed map however.
I wanted something digital, where I could put in a specific address and it would show me where it is.

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Old Sep 18th, 2007 | 11:37 AM
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Addresses are also a bit of a problem in Bangkok - not sure you could do what you want to do even if the technology existed.
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Old Sep 18th, 2007 | 11:50 AM
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Kristina-my experience in BKK is that getting to a place is not necessarily a linear problem. Traffic considerations will often dictate the best "way" to get somewhere. Bob's plan is to take the Skytrain to a close stop and a taxi to the exact location. Taxis are very cheap.

A good way to think of BKK is as a series of clusters, e.g., Siam Square, the Grand Palace, Taksin Skytrain stop. Pretty much everything you want to do will be in such a cluster (not all named). The task is to get from one cluster to another in the easiest fashion. Basic maps are only partially helpful in this regard. As mentiomed, the Nancy Chandler Map is excellent for planning activities and can be helpful in determing which cluster you would like to go to/from. This cluster theory is unique to Pandas.
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Old Sep 18th, 2007 | 11:54 AM
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Kristine...Distant Lands has the Nancy Chandler map. Happy Travels!
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Old Sep 18th, 2007 | 12:24 PM
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Hmmmm...I guess I should have been clearer.

This is not for when I'm there, it's for NOW.

I've been researching restaurants and sometimes I come across an address but I have no idea as to what part BKK it's in. I really wanted to be able to plug in the address and have it come up on the map so I could get a better sense as to the location.
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Old Sep 18th, 2007 | 12:26 PM
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Ask the concierge at your hotel what the restaurant is near. He/she will be well-versed in using reference points idewntifiable to Farangs.
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Old Sep 18th, 2007 | 12:33 PM
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Kristina..I've run across this same problem. You just want to know if the place is anywhere nearby before you start doing research and thinking you might want to go there when you get to Bangkok.

Best I can say is to go to the restaurant or hotel's actual website. They almost always have a map to click on or will list a closeby landmark or Skytrain station.

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Old Sep 18th, 2007 | 12:38 PM
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lcuy-
Yes! That's my problem!
I'm an over-planner. I like to have a list of places, broken down by neighborhood before I go.
I've been to the websites of those that have them and some have decent maps, some don't. Not all restaurants have websites either.

Ah well, I was just hoping to do what now seems impossible. I'll just have to figure it out the old fashioned way.
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Old Sep 18th, 2007 | 12:45 PM
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The not-so-old-fashioned way would be to post your list of restaurants here and we could help you with locations and what makes sense for your itinerary. The alternative is the Nancy Chandler map which I have always relied on and is as accurate as any you will find. Do take Gpanda's advice on breaking Bangkok into "clusters" or just general areas - this works well, even for Yankee fans.
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Old Sep 18th, 2007 | 12:55 PM
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Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of the NC map. I don't know why, maybe I just don't appreciate the hand drawn nature of it.

Anyway, it's not my first trip and really, there are only a few I could not find immediately. I'm sure I'll figure them out eventually. If not, I'll ask.

Really, I was just hoping I could use the new Google Maps feature to create my own map with "pushpins" on it of the places I wanted to go.
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Old Sep 18th, 2007 | 06:48 PM
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why don't you just create such a map function and put a patent on it and we would all have to come to you on bended knees?? make it your life's work...and get rich....look at bill gates...

if i see a rest. that i think we would like i write down the name and address and just go there....who cares where it is....take a taxi...
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Old Sep 18th, 2007 | 07:23 PM
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Bob-Don't you think I've already thought of that? LOL. Wish I knew more about computer programming...

I still like to have a better idea of where I'm going. I'm not a "hop in a cab and go blindly" kind of gal.
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Old Sep 18th, 2007 | 08:25 PM
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hey, its bkk....just cause you know where you are going doesn't mean that the taxi will take you DIRECTLY there ....its bkk you fool!!! haha
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Old Sep 18th, 2007 | 10:57 PM
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Kristina -- would Google Earth help?

I've used this to look over a place before I travel there. I've inputted addresses, landmarks, etc. I am interested in and print a copy of it. However, it's not going to look like a map but a satellite view of the area. You can zoom in as close as you need to.

I've tried it with some addresses here at home so it works for my purposes.
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Old Sep 19th, 2007 | 03:26 PM
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Try the site below- its a useful one although I don't think you can punch in addresses.

http://www.moffle.com/cityguide/
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Old Sep 19th, 2007 | 04:25 PM
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Bill-Interesting website, thanks.

bkk95-Don't know if google earth will help, but I'll give it a look.
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