Asia - In Bangkok I loved .....

For all you Bangkok Regulars, I am going to Bangkok for the first time and plan to stay for 6 night (purely leisure). What are your favorite things to do using this city as a base, I am happy to leave the immediate city for days trips, etc but do not want to be gone for more than 1 night (I don't plan to go to Chiangmai). I am thinking of doing the Kanchanaburi area for an overnight stay as I would like to see the war museums and cemetery, is this an easy day trip, or does the area have enough to do for a couple of days? As a personal preference, I don't particularly like organized tours.....I prefer to work it out myself if you like, however if anyone had a particularly great experience then please share. I absolutely LOVE Thai food, so recommendations on regular Thai places (I am not looking for a 5 star experience) from Expat.'s would be highly valued. Anything else you think that I need to know to truly appreciate this city.

Well lets see, you could get a hotel near Nana Plaza and never leave the area. Sleep all day and party all night.
Remember, you are going to have jet lag to some degree. Take the Sky Train to get around. Fast, Safe, and Cheap. Don't go to PatPong at night. look at http://www.bangkokbob.net/ or http://bangkokatoz.com/ to get some info. Have a Soapy massage, go to the weekend market Chatachuk, last stop on the end of the sky train at Mo Chit. Can't miss the place, said to be the worlds largest open market. Go to some of the Places in Washinton Sq Sukhumvit/ Soi 22 Sample the Goods, don't over pay and learn from the sites I posted. There are many those just came to mind. One more thing, when you leave just remember there is no place like Bangkok, it will seem like a good dream!
Don't believe half the ****e on the BBS sites. I'm note for telling them off, they are very dodgy places just the the internet in whole!

Here is the answer from A-Z
http://www.bangkok.com
Don't forget to visit
Emporium Sukhumvit
Upmarket, trendy with plenty of space, a cinema, cafes, restaurants and a great food court. Regular sales with discounts between 15 - 80 %. A tourist card (which you can apply for at the store) gives 5% - 10% discount off regular priced items.

For recommendations on where to eat, look at the International board on Chowhound.com --I've gotten some great BKK tips from there.

- Michael

I'll suggest the amazing Vertigo restaurant/Moon Bar atop the Thai Wah 2 tower (aka Banyan Tree BKK, on Th. Sathorn near Silom). Don't go there to eat just, just for a drink -- even that will set you back a couple of hundred baht, but the view is worth it! Unlike your typical rotating restaurant blah blah, Vertigo/Moon is actually on top of the building, exposed to the elements but with a 360 degree view of how mind-bogglingly huge Bangkok really is. Obvious caveats: don't go there if it rains, or if you are afraid of heights...

I thought the royal palace site was pretty cool (can't remember name), don't be put off if as you walk up people tell you its closed, it probably isn't.

We went to River Kwai as a day trip. It is a long journey but well worth it. We visited the Jade camp. This shows the conditions prisoners lived in and has photos and letters from prisoners describing their time there. We went on to the war cemetary which is very moving. It is beautifully maintained. (While we were there a coachload of Japanese tourists arrived and stood by the graves getting their photos taken- I felt ridiculously annoyed with them!!!)
We then went on to the Bridge where we walked across( I didn't like this bit as it was more precarious than I had thought and I am a bit of a coward!) Finally we took the train over the bridge and for half an hour beyond this- wonderful experience.
Jim Thomsons House is another place not to miss. The Grand Palace obviously. A walk around China Town is also worth it.
Some restaurants I would recommend( all Thai ones, I choose to eat local dishes when I am away-
Baan Khanitha
Cabbages and Condoms
Lemongrass( a great setting as it is actually a Thai house)
Harmonique- the pomelo salad is fantastic!

Go to
http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdining_forum/Forum10/HTML/000003.html

see my post re the Wall Street Journal near the end of the thread. I particularly recommend Suda, Rut & Lek, and Ta Yang Grou. In general I find Stan Sesser's recommendations excellent. Suda has been a long time favorite of mine, 3 minute walk from the Sheraton Grande Sukhimvit

I like Cabbages & Condoms but, I think Suda is better (but more downscale atmosphere). Suda also almost always has mango available.

Some of my best meals were eaten at the food stalls/carts.

Blue Elephant cooking school and restaurant. I took a 5 days of cooking classes in July 2003. it was FANTASTIC. Also it is a great restaurant. Much better than that cabbage and condom place. Though nothing beats street food. I had the best pad thai ever for 20 baht ($.50 US)