Thursday, December 06, 2007 The lure of Bangkok By Nelia G. Neri
ONE can never get enough of Bangkok - not when one is a shopaholic, a foodie, or a travel buff. There is always something to discover/re-discover/look forward to/go back for/whatever - in the so-called city of angels.
For shopping addicts, how can anyone go wrong making the rounds of the night markets, the bargain centers or the weekend Chatchuchak market? For those who go for classy shopping there are malls like the modern Siam Paragon and many others besides.
On the other hand, foodies have all the choices at their fingertips - from food hawkers on the sidewalks to mid-range restos to five-star hotel dining outlets. Yes, food offerings are countless, not to mention the wide array of the most luscious fruits that side of the globe. A new discovery during our visit last month was the Don Wai Market in the outskirts of the city. Not the usual tourist market, the place is a haven for those who love Thai dried goodies like fish, squid, fruits, pork, beef. There are all kinds of tastes to choose from - from the super spicy to the moderately tangy to the perfectly seasoned for Filipino taste....all are yummy!
As for the travel aficionados in search of fun, culture, adventure and more fun, Bangkok has a variety to offer by day or by night.
The culture vultures as well as the curious and the adventurous are sure to enjoy the Rose Garden with its "Living the Thai Culture" showcase and its sports and leisure facilities.
Animal lovers will have a field day going on a safari at Safari World and viewing the large collection of animals and birds. Over at its Marine Park, the main attractions are the shows featuring sea lions and dolphins.
Another interesting place to visit is the Sampran Crocodile Farm. Not only do you get to see so many crocodiles upclose, you also get an opportunity to have a close encounter with elephants....yes you can sit on a kneeling elephant and have your photo taken. And the elephant show is impressive!
For those enamored with underwater creatures, the Siam Ocean World at the basement of Siam Paragon is the place to go. The world-class aquarium gives a fascinating view of life underwater featuring 400 species of sea animals including sharks, fishes, sea jellies, rays, etc.
Night entertainment in Bangkok is unbelievably extensive ranging from the totally innocuous to the interestingly cultural to the provocatively sensational.
Hands down it is the Siam Niramit show which is getting the most raves with its state-of-the-art special effects. It is a spectacular show detailing the history of the enchanted kingdom of Siam. It is a must-see. Also in the complex is a Thai village showcasing the culture of the different provinces.
Bangkok, with all it has to offer, is definitely a tourist lure. From its gleaming, beautifully designed airport to the humble sidewalk stalls all over the city, there are come-ons difficult to ignore. On the forefront in promoting Bangkok is the Trikaya Cultural and Academic Travel Services under managing director Kasemsak Bhamornsatit.
Philippine Airlines has added three more flights a week to the daily Airbus 330 trips to Bangkok and now has a total of 10 flights per week. In tandem with Worldwide Travel and Tours, PAL sponsored a familiarization trip to Bangkok last month led by PAL passenger sales manager Chris Lebumfacil and Worldwide Travel's Wilford Po who took the place of the agency's lady boss Zenaida Chua.
Participants were Riza Lyn Reynes of Best Travel, Chris O of Golden JC Holiday, Caren Lipardo of Land and Sky, Mary Jade Barredo of Wanderlanes, Mary Jean Jamero of Travel Ideas, Steve Alfafara of Wings Travel, Emmanuel Lee of 8 Wonders, Isidro Cardenas of Wow Travel, and from Dumaguete, Pablo Turtal of Gateway Travel, and Sampaguita Martinez of Why Not Travel.
