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Damnoen Saduak Floating MarketCity/Region: Bangkok
The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is an escape from the Western-style shopping malls of Bangkok and a glimpse into the past, revealing the centuries' old way of life of the residents whose stilt-houses perch on the canals. Visitors can explore the market with boat trips and sample the wares of local farmers as they do so. They can also enjoy the experience of floating through one of Thailand's many river villages.
Transport: Bus 78 from Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal
to Damnoen Saduak Bus Terminal
Hours: Daily 6am to 11am
Admission: Free
Royal Grand PalaceCity/Region: Bangkok
Construction of the palace began in 1782 and was completed in time for the coronation of King Rama I, and opened in 1785 to signify the end of the Burmese invasion of Thailand. The palace itself is made up of a complex array of smaller buildings, most notably the Wat Mahatat (the Palace Temple) and the Wat Phra Keow (the Royal Chapel), which houses the famous Emerald Buddha sculpted from a single piece of jade, and one of the most revered objects in the Kingdom.
Address: Na Phralan Road, Phra Nakhon
Phone Number: (0)2 623 5500
Website: www.palaces.thai.net
Hours: Daily 8.30am to 4.30pm
Admission: B 250 (adults); children free
Royal Barges National MuseumCity/Region: Bangkok
The Royal Barges National Museum houses several decorative royal barges, the earliest of which dates back to 1357. Most of the barges served as War Vessels at one point, and were subsequently used on royal or state occasions on the Chao Phraya River. Due to their age the barges are now rarely used, but their intricate designs reflecting Thai religious beliefs and local history are of great importance to the country's heritage. The barges were last used at the end of 1999 to celebrate the king's 72nd birthday.
Address: Arun Amarin Road, Bangkok Noi
Phone Number: (0)2 424 0004
Website: www.thailandmuseum.com
Hours: Daily 9am to 5pm
Admission: B 30
The Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho)City/Region: Bangkok
Situated adjacent to the Royal Grand Palace, Wat Pho is Bangkok's oldest, largest and most famous temple. The grounds of Wat Pho contain over 1,000 statues of Buddha, and the temple houses one of Thailand's most spectacular sights, the Reclining Buddha - a 157ft (48m) long and 49ft (15m) high statue that is gold-plated and inlaid with Mother-of-Pearl on the soles of its feet. In the 19th century King Rama III turned Wat Pho into a center of learning and visitors today can still have a massage and learn about the ancient art of Thai Medicine.
Address: 2 Sanamchai Road
Phone Number: (0)2 222 5910 or (0)2 226 2942
Transport: Bus 6, 8, 12 (aircon); public buses 1, 25, 44, 47, 62 and 91; or express boat to Tien pier
Hours: Daily 8am to 5pm (closed from 12pm to 1pm)
Admission: B 20
Jim Thompson's HouseCity/Region: Bangkok
American silk entrepreneur Jim Thompson deserves most of the credit for the current popularity of Thai silk around the world. His fame increased when, in 1967, Thompson disappeared in the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia under mysterious circumstances. He has never been heard of since. The house itself is an excellent example of Thai residential architecture, and inside is a display of his Oriental art and antique collection, as well as an array of his personal belongings.
Address: 6 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama 1 Road
Phone Number: (0)2 216 7368
Website: www.jimthompsonhouse.com
Hours: Daily 9am to 5pm (last tour leaves at 4.30pm)
Admission: B 100 (proceeds to Bangkok's School for the Blind)
KanchanaburiCity/Region: Bangkok
Eighty miles (130km) west of Bangkok, the town of Kanchanaburi has secured its position of infamy as the original site of the Bridge Over The River Kwai, where during World War II allied prisoners of war were used by the Japanese to build the Death Railway and thousands died at the hands of their captors. With its modern hotels and welcoming air, Kanchanaburi seems an unlikely setting, but the bridge is still in use and the graves of the Allied soldiers are testament to the town's unfortunate past. Worth a visit is the JEATH (Japan, England, Australia/America, Thailand and Holland) War Museum in Kanchanaburi, which recounts experiences in the Japanese POW camps during the War. The Sai Yok Yai Waterfall in the Sai Yok National Park is a place of idyllic beauty and makes a good excursion from Kanchanaburi; the falls are widely celebrated in Thai poetry and songs.
Website: www.kanchanaburi-info.com
Hours: JEATH War Museum: daily 8.30am to 6pm
Admission: JEATH War Museum: B 30
Doi SuthepCity/Region: Chiang Mai
Some 10 miles (15km) west of Chiang Mai lies the Doi Suthep Mountain, famous for the Wat Phrathat temple perched on the summit. Legend has it that in the late 14th century King Ku Na was looking for somewhere to house a collection of holy relics. He placed them in a howdah (canopied seat) on the back of an elephant and let the animal wander. The elephant proceeded to climb Doi Suthep, on top of which it trumpeted, turned round three times and knelt to indicate that this was the spot. Wat Phrathat can be reached either by a flight of 290 steps, or by funicular, and offers breathtaking views of the countryside.
Website: www.doisuthep.com/english.html
Transport: Songthaews (red taxi trucks)leave from in front of Chaing Mai University and in front of the Chaing Mai Zoo. They cost around B 30 per person one way
Hours: Daily 6am to 8pm
Admission: B 30, or B 50 including a return funicular ride
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