BANGKOK Things to Do for First Timers (ENGLISH) • Travel Guide PART 2 • The Poor Traveler Thailand
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If you missed Part 1, or you'd rather watch the Tagalog version of this video, just search
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In this video, we'll be enumerating some of the best things to do and places to visit
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in and around Bangkok.
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Yes, we're including destinations that are outside the Thai capital but are easily
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accessible from there.
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Before we begin, take a moment to subscribe to this channel if you haven't yet, and
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hit the bell icon so you're always notified whenever we have new uploads.
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Many of Bangkok's key attractions are located within walking distance of each other.
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For example, the Grand Palace and the city's great temples are all easily accessible
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from the Chao Phraya River and can be conveniently visited in one day.
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Before you leave your hotel, though, make sure you're appropriately dressed because
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you'll be visiting temples which implement a strict dress code.
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No shorts, short skirts, miniskirts, tight-fitting trousers, torn trousers, no sandals, vests,
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sleeveless shirts, see-through shirts, or sandals—none of them are allowed.
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If your hotel or point of origin is close to a BTS or MRT station, you can simply take
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the train to Sapan Taksin Station.
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Take Exit 2 and walk to the Saturn Central Pier, buy a ticket, and board either the
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tourist boat with 50 baht fare or the orange flag boat and pay 15 baht to Tachang Pier.
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From here, travel on foot to the Grand Palace Complex.
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Go straight to the main entrance and don't entertain anyone who will tell you that it's
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close for an event or whatever.
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Just go straight to the gates and enter.
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Upon entry, a guard will check if you're adequately dressed.
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If not, enter the building to your right to buy a pair of pants.
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They used to rent these out to tourists, but perhaps because of the pandemic, they only
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sell these items now for 200 baht apiece.
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The Grand Palace ticket costs 500 baht, which also includes access to the Temple of the
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Emerald Buddha, a few other museums, and a traditional Thai dance show.
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Within the complex, you'll find numerous pavilions, courtyards, and other structures,
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but the centerpiece is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which houses the most revered
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image of Buddha in Thailand.
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And oh by the way, video cameras, selfie sticks, drones, tripods, and microphones are prohibited
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within the temple's complex.
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Taking videos is not allowed either, which is why we only took photos.
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A 10-minute walk southward will lead you to Wat Pho, best known for the largest collection
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of Buddha images in Thailand, including the enormous 46-meter reclining Buddha that
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it shelters in the main ordination hall.
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Outside are numerous ornate chedis or stupas.
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Entrance fee is 200 baht, which includes a bottle of water that you can claim from
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the automated machines inside using your ticket.
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Note that there is a dress code, and the rule is to have your shoulders, knees, and heels
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After Wat Pho, walk a bit towards the river and find this spot, where you can buy a boat
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ticket to the other side.
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The fare is 5 baht.
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What's on the other side, you ask?
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Well, Wat Arun, probably the most recognizable landmark in Bangkok with a 70-meter tall
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spire or prang, which is intricately decorated all over.
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After getting off the boat, just follow the crowd to the main gate, where you can purchase
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A ticket costs 100 baht each, inclusive of bottled water.
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Known to locals as Wat Chiang or Temple of Dawn, it is believed that King Thaksin,
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after escaping Ayutthaya, which was attacked by the Burmese, reached the place just before
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He then made the place the chief temple and once housed the precious Emerald Buddha and
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the Prabang, which is another important image, and was eventually moved to the Lao city of
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By the way, if you notice, we're putting information about each attraction on the side
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But these details might change in the future, so please double-check with authorities first
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before your trip so you could plan right.
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Aside from its ornate spires and temples, Bangkok is also best known for its floating markets.
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But the truth is, these boat-navigated markets are actually located outside the capital.
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Two of the most accessible are the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in Ratchaburi province
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and the Amphawa Floating Market in Samut Songkram.
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Each has its own charms and specialties to offer visitors.
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Exploring these entails boarding a small boat as you negotiate the market canals.
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Plenty of souvenir and food options too.
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Another market that has been attracting throngs of tourists is the Meklong Railway Market.
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Yes, railway, because it's set up along the train tracks.
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And when a train chugs along, watch and be amazed by how the vendors make way for it.
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You can also spend an hour chilling at a railway cafe or take photos of or with a train
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at the train station.
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Kluk has tours that combine Meklong Railway Market with either Damnoen or Amphawa Market.
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There are several departure times available, so choose the most convenient for you.
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We'll put the link in the description or in the pinned comment.
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At 314 meters tall, King Power Mahanakhon is one of Thailand's tallest buildings,
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housing a hotel, residential units, and tourist attractions.
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From the outside, it looks like a pixelated skyscraper,
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a design that easily captivates.
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Inside, a multimedia elevator will take you to the highest outdoor observation deck in the country,
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allowing a magnificent view of Bangkok and surrounding areas.
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But most visitors are here for the so-called Skywalk.
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Well, atop the building is an area with a glass floor that you may walk on.
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Yes, glass, creating a nerve-wracking but pretty mind-blowing experience.
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You need to wear the shoe covers provided on-site before you're allowed to step on it,
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and mobile phones and other loose items are not allowed within the glass tray area.
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This means that you won't be able to take a selfie while on the glass.
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If you're after photos, best to visit with a companion.
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If you're traveling alone, make friends with other solo visitors
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and just take photos of each other.
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Only a limited number of tickets are sold per day, so it's best to book in advance.
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And you can reserve online via Kluk.
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You can also check out other Mahanakon Experience Package options
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and choose the one that suits your preferences.
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No Bangkok trip is complete without getting a taste of its famous or infamous nightlife.
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In our previous video, we already mentioned Khaosan Road, the backpacker mecca.
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It is crowded, loud, and wild.
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Thunderous music from nightclubs and the delicious smell of street food fill the air,
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while tourists fill every vacant seat, table, and corner.
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Aside from Khaosan, Bangkok has several other nightlife districts.
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Most clubs and bars are safe, but as in any major city, not all.
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Scams targeting tourists do exist at some establishments.
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You've probably heard about tourists entering a bar
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and then not being allowed to leave without paying a hefty price
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for a ridiculously overpriced drink.
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If you want to try Bangkok nightlife and make sure you're in good hands,
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you may join a guided tour.
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Klook has two main options, a bar hopping tour, more like a pub crawl,
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and a hangover tour where you get to visit the bars
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featured in the Hangover 2 movie, including a ping pong show.
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Again, we'll put the link to these pages in the description of this video
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or in the pinned comment.
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As for me, I chose to join the pub crawl organized by the hostel I stayed at,
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The tour started at the in-house bar and then made our way on foot
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to Khaosan Road to Bar Hop.
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I paid Php 490 baht, inclusive of a drink.
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Aside from nightlife and partying,
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Bangkok is also known worldwide as a fabulous shopping destination
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thanks to diverse markets and super low prices.
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Here, you'll find bargain centers, fashion halls,
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shopping malls, and weekend markets,
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all incredibly popular among locals and tourists alike.
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But perhaps my favorite area is Pratunam in Ratchatui District.
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It is one of the biggest wholesale garment markets in the country
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with both indoor and outdoor shopping areas
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selling all sorts of products from clothes to toiletries to medicine.
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It's also home to two giant shopping malls bursting to the seams with retail shops.
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Fashionistas will have a field day at Platinum Fashion Mall,
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housing a multi-level garment labyrinth composed of over 2,500 stores.
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Items sold here are pretty diverse.
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The first three floors are for women's fashion,
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although you could still find menswear shops every dozen of stalls or so.
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But most men's stores are on the fourth floor and kids on the fifth.
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The other massive mall in the Pratunam neighborhood
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is the Palladium World Shopping Mall or simply Palladium,
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which sells mostly tech stuff like gadgets,
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electronics, phone accessories, cameras, and the like.
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But you'll also find other products like apparel, suitcases, and jewelry.
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Most of the stores cater to both wholesalers and retail customers,
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so don't be shy if you're buying just one or two pieces.
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That said, you'll probably get great discounts if you buy more.
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What my friends and I did was to buy as a group so we could avail of the promos.
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Another sprawling shopper's paradise is the Chatuchak Market,
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which has been operating since 1942.
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Composed of over 15,000 stalls,
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it is said to be the world's largest and most diverse weekend market.
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It is also the busiest market in Thailand.
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What's in store for you here?
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You'll find a full gamut of products imaginable grouped into 30 sections.
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Clothes, of course. Lots of them.
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And books, antiques, accessories, art pieces, flowers, souvenirs,
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and home décors among others.
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So to make the most of your time,
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take a photo of this map at the entrance and let it guide you while you shop.
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Note that there are three different entrance gates.
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If you get hungry, and you will,
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you won't miss the food stalls clustered near entrance 1.
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You'll also find food kiosks inside like Muyang Meso Manta,
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serving mouth-watering and succulent muyang or grilled pork at 60 baht per 100 grams.
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You can find it on Google Maps as Roasted Honey Glazed Pork Meso Manta.
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Now that we're on the topic of food,
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I don't know about you, but for me,
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Thailand has one of the most delicious cuisines in the world.
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Definitely in my top 3 favorite countries when it comes to food.
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So I don't leave Bangkok without digging into local favorites.
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We already published a separate video describing in detail
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our most loved food places in the city,
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but here's a quick rundown of the eaters that I tried
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that have Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition.
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First up, Tip Samay, where we had the best pad thai of our lives.
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It's said to be the first store to serve the now ubiquitous noodle dish.
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It uses thinner rice noodles coated in shrimp oil.
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Don't miss Jeo Chula or Jeo for the best affordable tom yum noodle soup.
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It's crazy popular that queuing can take up to 2 hours unless you arrive early.
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But the wait is worth it.
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Its Tom Yum Mama can feed 2 to 4 persons and it's sinfully good,
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especially the crispy pork belly toppings.
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And also order their salmon salad.
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Warning though, these are spicy spicy dishes.
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So let them know beforehand if you can't handle it.
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Just tell them you want it mild.
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Olong Fried Chicken is another Michelin-recognized eatery
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located across Lumpini Park in Silom area.
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It started out as a humble street stall
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but grew to become a proper eatery serving only a few Thai favorites.
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We ordered a lot here and nothing disappointed.
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But prioritize its fried chicken and papaya salad with salted egg and dried shrimp.
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In Pratunam area, try Kuang Heng Chicken Rice and Go Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice.
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Only the latter has the Michelin citation,
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but we kind of enjoyed the former better.
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But they both serve tender and delicious Hainanese chicken.
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Kuang Heng also takes pride in its pork satay and fried chicken.
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Alright, I'll stop here because all this Thai food talk
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is making me want to book another flight to Bangkok.
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We haven't even discussed the theme parks, Muay Thai, and other shrines and temples.
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We also haven't tackled day trip destinations like Ayutthaya and Pattaya.
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Don't worry, we'll cover all that in another video.
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So if you don't want to miss that, you know what to do.
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