Thailand - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Samut Prakan: Bangkok's Weird Neighbor Who's Actually Cooler Than You Think Let me introduce you to Samut Prakan, Bangkok's neglected neighbor that everyone drives through on the way to somewhere else. It's like that friend-of-a-friend who seems boring until you discover they have a secret life as a competitive fire dancer. Samut Prakan province sits at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River, whose name you'll mispronounce no matter how hard you try. The locals call it " Pak Nam ," which literally means "mouth of water," which is both poetically simple and geographically accurate. Unlike most tourist descriptions in Thailand, this one actually makes sense. Paknam: Where the River Meets the Sea (and History Gets Weird) Paknam is the historic heart of Samut Prakan, and it comes with its own bizarre backstory. Back in 1893, France and Siam (old-timey Thailand) had a little disagreement called the " Paknam Incident ." French warships tried sa...

Bangkok’s Shopping Malls: The Ultimate Guide for Shopaholics, Foodies, and Air-Con Addicts Bangkok’s shopping malls aren’t just places to spend money, they’re self-contained universes where you can eat, drink, get a massage, watch a movie, and maybe even buy a gold-plated rice cooker if you’re feeling fancy. Whether you’re downtown dodging selfie sticks or venturing into the suburban sprawl, Bangkok’s malls have something for everyone. Here’s the ultimate breakdown, from the iconic to the underrated.   The Downtown Powerhouses (Where Tourists and Luxury Collide)  1. Siam Paragon – The Mall That Has Everything (Including Your Future Debt)  This is where you go to feel poor. Siam Paragon is a glittering palace of luxury, complete with a Lamborghini showroom, an overpriced aquarium full of confused fish, and a food court so fancy it makes street vendors weep. If you’re not here to drop a month’s salary on a handbag, stick to the basics—Kinokuniya bookstore and Gourmet M...

Siam Square: The Hilariously Misnamed "Square" Let's talk about Siam Square, Bangkok's famous shopping district that is neither a square nor particularly Siamese in the traditional sense. It's like calling Times Square a square or Piccadilly Circus a circus, a complete misnomer that everyone just rolled with. When you hear "Siam Square," you might imagine a charming open plaza with a fountain in the middle, perhaps some old-world charm, maybe even a few elders playing chess. Nope! What you get instead is a labyrinthine maze of narrow streets, alleys, and corridors packed with shops, cafes, and enough teenagers to make you question if school is optional in Thailand. What Actually Is Siam Square? Siam Square is essentially several blocks of retail chaos sandwiched between big malls and universities. It's where Bangkok's youth come to spend money they don't have on clothes they don't need to impress people they might not even like. It's ...

Chachoengsao: The Most Random Day Trip You’ll Ever Take So you’ve heard of Chachoengsao. No? Exactly, although it's just next to Bangkok. This is the Thai province so underrated that even locals forget it exists. But guess what? It’s actually a weirdly fun little escape from Bangkok, especially if your idea of adventure involves golden toilets, giant ducks, and a temple so shiny it could blind you.   Why Chachoengsao? (Because Why Not?) This place is like Thailand’s version of that one quiet kid in class who suddenly reveals they’re secretly fascinating. It’s not Pattaya (thank God), it’s not Ayutthaya (no ruins here), it’s just… Chachoengsao . A mix of random attractions, bizarre local culture, and enough fried snacks to make your cardiologist cry.   What to Do (Because You Can’t Just Sit Around) 1. Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan – The main event. This temple houses a famous Buddha image that people pray to for lottery numbers (because spirituality in Thailand is...

The Ancient City: Thailand's Best-Kept Secret That's Not Actually A Secret Looking for the perfect day trip from Bangkok that doesn't involve negotiating with tuk-tuk drivers or accidentally joining a ping-pong show? Let me introduce you to The Ancient City ( Muang Boran ) in Samut Prakan (basically Greater Bangkok), the theme park your history teacher wishes they could have taken you to. Imagine if someone said, "You know what would be cool? Taking all of Thailand's important historical buildings, shrinking some of them down, and putting them in one convenient location." That's The Ancient City, a giant outdoor museum shaped like Thailand itself. It's 320 acres of "I don't have time to travel the whole country, so I'll just see the greatest hits in one day." The Ancient City is where you can visit 116 replicas and reconstructions of Thailand's most significant historical sites without having to endure 116 different bus rides. Wan...

Bangkok’s Rooftop Bars: Because Drinking on the Ground is for Peasants So, you’ve decided to visit Bangkok, land of spicy food, chaotic traffic, and enough humidity to make you question your life choices. Naturally, you want to escape the sweaty masses and ascend to the heavens, where the air is (slightly) cooler, the drinks are overpriced, and the Instagram opportunities are endless. Welcome to Bangkok’s rooftop bars, where the views are stunning, the cocktails cost as much as your hotel room, and the dress code is "pretend you’re fancy." Here’s your dubious guide to the best sky-high sipping spots in the city.   1. Sky Bar at Lebua (The Hangover Bar) Where: State Tower (you know, that tall one from The Hangover 2 )   Price: Selling a kidney might help. Cocktails start at ฿800 (yes, for one drink).   Drinks: The "Hangovertini" is a thing. It’s expensive, but hey, at least you can re-enact the movie scene where Bradley Cooper looks confused.   F...

Where to Stay in Bangkok: A Guide for the Confused, the Curious & the Chronically Lost Bangkok is big. Bangkok is busy. Bangkok is also a little chaotic, a lot charming, and very sweaty. But choosing where to stay? That’s where things get really spicy. Each neighborhood has its own personality, from “I came to find myself” to “I came to find cocktails.” Here's your guide to the most popular areas and what kind of traveler they’re secretly judging you to be. 1. Khao San Road & Banglamphu For : Backpackers, budget-lovers, party people, and banana pancake philosophers Ah, Khao San Road, land of $5 hostels, tattoo regrets, and 24/7 pad Thai . It's loud, it's fun, it's a little grimy, and it smells like beer and dreams. Pros : Cheap accommodation and street food Bars, live music, and buckets of mystery alcohol Walking distance to the Grand Palace and temples Easy to meet new people and have fun  Cons : Sleep? What sleep? Can feel like a chaotic gap-year festival Qu...

Bangkok: A Funny & Chaotic Love Affair That Ruins Your Sweat Glands Forever Let's be honest, Bangkok is a city that will lovingly assault all your senses simultaneously, leave you dripping in sweat you didn't know your body could produce, and somehow still have you planning your return visit before you've even left. This magnificent mess of a metropolis is everything all at once: chaotic yet spiritual, ancient yet futuristic, refined yet wonderfully sleazy. Many people love the Big Mango, but some hate it. The food may be delicious, the temples gorgeous, the shopping divine and the people lovely, but to be fair it's not all roses. The enormous crowds, the unbearable heat, the suffocating air pollution and the incessant noise may get to you. Anyway, you'll have to figure out your love -hate relationship yourselves. How Long To Stay? Four days is the sweet spot for Bangkok: enough time to see the highlights without developing the thousand-yard stare that comes f...