I mentioned earlier that I would write about our Bangkok trip in a separate post. Or maybe save it for a picture collage. I don’t know — I’m really behind. We traveled to Bangkok and then straight on to India, which means there are so many food stories, but I’m still trying to organize the pictures and events in my head in a way that makes sense. Oh well.
That said, I’m incredibly proud of my son, Nikhil, who (with a fair amount of cajoling) managed to update his own blog about our trip on the way home. Don’t ask why it took me two full weeks to even start writing about it.
In any case, I figured his recap, along with the short movie I put together of our food adventures in Bangkok, would sum it up — not completely, but enough to give you a taste. I’m realizing that bite-sized recaps might be the only way I actually catch up.
If you’re planning a short visit to Bangkok like we did (three days and two nights) and want to see as much as possible, I highly recommend hiring a tour company to plan your itinerary. We went with Tours with Tong, run by Ms. Tong, an enterprising woman with a fascinating story of her own. We found her company through glowing reviews on sites like TripAdvisor and Fodors, and I can confidently say it lives up to every star it’s been given.
We were lucky to have an amazing tour guide named Jintana, who customized the entire tour based on our schedule, interests, and dietary restrictions. Truly a five-star experience. One of the things that fascinated me was hearing Sanskrit influences woven into Thai words and names. I couldn’t help but notice that Jintana sounds close to the Sanskrit word Chintana, meaning “thought.” When I asked her about it, she said Jintana means “imagination,” which felt beautifully aligned.
Here’s a fascinating tidbit Jintana shared with us while narrating the splendor and history of Bangkok. Did you know that Bangkok’s real name is Krung Thep, meaning City of Angels? And that this is actually just the shortened version?
The full name is:
Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.
(Try saying that twice, fast)
It’s officially recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest city name in the world. What’s even more impressive is that many locals can recite it — usually through a song. Translated into English, it roughly means:
The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city of God Indra, the grand capital endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city with an enormous Royal Palace resembling a heavenly abode, ruled by a reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn.
At this point, I’ve already made this post longer than intended, so I’ll let the pictures and videos speak for themselves.
We did a combination of public-transport city touring and a private car tour, and honestly, it was the perfect balance. Using buses, trains, ferries, and lots of walking gave us a real feel for the city, while having a car and guide made longer trips — like the Tiger Temple, the train market, and the floating market — far more manageable within our limited time.
Here’s a short vlog capturing our Bangkok food adventures:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhQm_cdsaLw]
And here’s another vlog from the Train Market, which is an absolute must-see. Watch as fish, fruit, and vegetable vendors set up directly on the train tracks. When the train approaches (three times a day), they calmly move everything aside to make way. As soon as the train passes, it’s business as usual. Entrepreneurism at its absolute best.
And there you have it — a quick recap of our trip. It doesn’t come close to capturing the sheer number of things to see and do in Bangkok, or the richness of its culture and heritage. From temples and palaces to the intriguing connections between Hinduism and Buddhism reflected in street names, people, and royal history — and the striking contrast between monastery life and the buzzing nightlife of Sukhumvit — Bangkok is layered, complex, and endlessly fascinating.
It’s a city I would love to explore again.
