Bangkok - Serene and Sensational
Spiritual and hedonist, modern and ancient, blatant and subtle, Thailand’s capital is a multi-layered city of contrasts. You can sample its mind-boggling maelstrom of flavours for yourself flying from Birmingham Airport with just one easy connection.
The climate, the architecture, the people, the pace, everything about Bangkok swamps the westernised senses. A frenetically commercial modern capital, Bangkok is also a timeless spiritual centre, a place where chaotic traffic hurtles past hushed temples. List its ingredients like a recipe and you’d think it would never work, but like its distinctive Thai cuisine, each contrasting element emphasises the other, producing an unforgettable experience.
Bangkok is a one of the great world cities, a conurbation of some 12 million souls at the centre of Southeast Asia, a point where influences from across the region converge and intermingle, simmered in the steamy tropical heat to produce a distinct flavour all its own. As the cultural, economic and religious capital of this ancient land, there are many sides to the city for visitors to experience, so there’s something for everyone, whatever your taste. Although a very foreign culture for western visitors, it’s relatively easy to make your way around – English is a compulsory subject in Thai schools and is widely spoken in the main shopping and tourist areas.
When to visit ... Unlike our northern temperate climate, there are three rather than four distinct seasons in Thailand. The rainy (monsoon) season generally runs from July to October. The rain isn’t constant, but when it does come it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen, even in an English summer. The cool season (it doesn’t really deserve to be called a ‘winter’) runs from November until February.
Article courtesy of Divine Marketing