Lauren Shantall spent a freewheeling 24 hours in the Buddhist metropolis of Bangkok to search out the highlights of this fascinating oriental destination. Here's where to head for when the sun goes down...

6.30pm – 8pm
Need a drink? Some adult company? The Sky Bar, aka Sirocco, atop Bangkok’s second tallest building, the State Tower, elevates the sundowner to a new level with its unparalleled, 360-degree views of the city below. The best things about this spot are the dress code (no shorts or slops), the stylish, minimalist décor with evocative lighting and the fact that the bar is completely open to the night sky with a mere sheet of glass protecting you from the plunge. If you’re afraid of heights, hit the blue note at Cy’An for high style in a swish environment. This popular eaterie and watering hole is in the Metropolitan Hotel. Call a taxi to get you to your next stop — the last river ferry leaves at 7pm, and anyway, it’s probably wiser after all those heady cocktails.

8.30pm – 9.30
Dine in legendary style at the famous Oriental (www.mandarinoriental.com). Rumoured to be the city’s best hotel, The Oriental is easily its most gracious, thanks to sensitively restored colonial architecture. Plus, there’s the added historical cachet endowed by the slew of famous authors who have graced its halls over the years — everyone from Joseph Conrad to Barbara Cartland has been here and done that. Choose from a range of world-class dining options.

9pm – 11pm
Hedonists will not be pleased to hear that Bangkok is no longer quite the ‘anything goes’ stop-over that was frequented by American GIs who needed to escape the ravages of the senseless war in neighbouring Vietnam. These days, the hill tribes of Thailand’s mountainous North are being encouraged to farm organic coffee instead of opium poppies; Chinatown’s gambling dens have all gone underground; and most of the city’s night-time venues obey the government’s 1am curfew that’s been put in place to lend a veneer of respectability to the high life.

Nonetheless, there’s still plenty of raunchiness to be found in Patpong, the district that maintains its infamous reputation for titillating go-go bars. If you don’t go in for unusual strip shows, there’s another dubious attraction nearby: the Patpong night market specialises in pirated goods. You’re guaranteed to find a convincing knock-off and you may even pick up a bargain if you stay on your toes and haggle with a smile. Prices have been known to drop from 2500 baht to 150 baht in less than five minutes.

11pm – 12.30am
A haven for backpackers, Khao San Road is a neon-lit strip riddled with internet cafes, bars, stalls and tattoo parlours. At night, it’s a spectacle to behold. Less than elegantly wasted farangs (foreigners) get down with equally inebriated Thais to the sounds of local cover bands. Sing along with a Singha beer in hand at the Red Brick Bar, until closing time.

12.30am onwards
The party continues at Bangkok’s best, Club Narcissus. Like its classical name, the building is a prime illustration of the Thai fascination with neo-classical flourishes. You’ll see this kind of architecture throughout the city. Narcissus is where the beautiful people like to play, shaking their hip booty to a regular stream of international DJs of the calibre of Paul Oakenfold.

6am

If you’re near a wat at this time, watch as the monks emerge with their begging bowls for an age-old morning ritual. Unable to earn salaries, they are brought food by the people who live in the vicinity of the temple. Everyone donates something, even the poorest person.

6.15am – 8am
Every morning in Lumphini — Bangkok’s oldest and largest park — a large community of people gathers to perform tai-chi. Lumphini Park is alongside Ratchadamri Road, near the financial district. Feel free to join in if you know the forms…

8am – 9am
Nothing but a leisurely, luxurious breakfast will do. You deserve it. Thais happily eat any kind of dish at any time, so there are no particularly ‘breakfasty’ items to seek out. You could very well end up with a fried green curry, which is bound to kick-start any morning-after. If a fusion-style buffet beckons, head for one of the international hotels — they are a mainstay of the country’s gourmet scene. There’s the Marriot, the Hilton, the Plaza, the Hyatt…

    Travel notes
  • Best time to visit: In peak season (November–March) the humidity is low and days are sunny. Travelling during monsoon season (June–October) will guarantee a daily deluge, and ferries and boats to the outlying islands stop running due to inclement weather.
  • Currency: The Thai Baht; approximately THB3.4=R1.
  • Visas: South Africans do not need a visa for a trip of less than 30 days.
  • Health: The Hepatitis A vaccination is advisable. Malaria prophylactics are not a necessity. Drinking water should be purified.
  • Food & Drink: Thais cook and prepare food with purified water, even in the humblest of street food stalls, which makes it safe to eat the delicious food on offer from the many street stalls.
  • Getting around: For long-distance journeys, take an overnight sleeper train or fly. For short distances, the meter taxis are affordable and air-conditioned. Tuk-tuk drivers will rip you off whenever they can.
  • Need to know: The southern provinces of Yala, Narathiwat, Pattani and Songkhla, and the Thai-Myanmar border regions are volatile. Visitors to the south should exercise caution.

Article courtesy of Horizons, BA/Comair's in-flight magazine published by Touchline Media.


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