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Over the past to centuries, it has developed into a great metropolis with a
population of over ten million. Like other modern cities in the world, Bangkok
boasts lots of massive buidlings, numerous luxurious hotels, shopping centers, and a
modern international airport.
But Bangkok has also retained its traditional charm. It is a mixture of East and
West, the ancient and the modern. Its surface has taken on the look of the present
time, while underneath the old ways are much alive in Thais everyday life.
So, despite its modernization, Bangkok is still best suited for a
glimpse of the
traditional arts, architecture, religion, and other aspects of the culture of the Thai
people.
| Old Town- Chinatown,
The old Bangkok town is the original area of Bangkok when it was first established
as the capital
over 200 years ago. Here are located the Grand Palace, The Temple of the Emerald
Buddha, the
Temple of the Reclining Buddha, two universities and several minisrties.
The town was formerly surrounded by walls. Now only a few sections are preserved
as historic sites. It is from this side of the Chao Phraya River that
one takes a boat to visit the Temple of Dawn and the canals nearby.
Chinatown is located just to the southeast of the old town. It began to take shape
at the same time of the establishment of Bangkok,
when the Chinese inhabiting the old town areas were moved outside the city walls.
The
goldshop street named Yaowarat, and the Temple of the Gold Buddha are in
Chinatown.
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Sukumvit to New Phetburi
Sukumvit Road is one of the three longest roads in Thailand, stretching right up
to the Cambodian border in the East. But what concerns us here is the section from
the inner city down to Sukumvit 63 (Soi Ekkamai) (air-con Bus station)
The cream of this district lies inside the lanes (soi) branching off the road,
where there are numerous fashionable residences
, hotels, apartment buildings and guest houses,and also a large number of really
good restaurants.
In the section from Soi Nana (Sukumvit 3 & 4) crossroads (Nana Plaza,
Go-Go's and Beerbars etc.) to Soi Sukumvit 21 (Asok Intersection)(Soi Cowboy, again
bars, A Go-Go's etc.)
, there are many shops catering to foreign tourists, where jewelry, leather goods,
ready-made garments and souvenirs are sold also tailoring, car rental and other
services are offered.
To the north of Sukumvit Road is the extension of Phetburi Road which,
is rather quiet in the daytime. After dark however, the long street is brightened
with colourful neon signs and enlivened
by people going out to enjoy themselves in dozens of entertainment places
scattered along the street.
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