Walks in Bangkok
May 1, 2016, 8:49 am
#1
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Walks in Bangkok
I read this in another thread and thought it was worth a thread of its own.
Bangkok is not an easy walking city. Crowded, uneven sidewalks and lots of traffic. Besides parks there are few places where you can comfortably go for a stroll.
My favorite starts at Lumpini Park. At the NorthEast corner there is an elevated crosswalk to cross Witthayu. But you can continue walking East behind the police kiosk. It stays elevated (goes up and down a half dozen stairs a couple of times) and continues over the highway. Goes down to ground level around the southern end of soi Nana at the tobacco institute. Continues at ground level nearly to Queen Sirikit Park. (Suk soi 12, IIRC) Never crosses a road a ground level. Away from traffic. If you include the walk on soi 12, you can get from the Suk Grand Sheraton area to Lumpini Park on foot without ever crossing a road or dealing with any traffic whatsoever.
I knew you could walk from Chit Lom to Siam Square. That used to be one of my favorite morning walks, until my ankle developed arthritis. I didn't know it went all the way back to Phloen Chit.
I did walk from northernmost BTS station, to the next station south, some months ago. I was doing a navigation run, to find the hotel that hosted the monthly Radio Amateur Society of Thailand meeting. I didn't realize the two stations were 1.6 km apart...
I did walk from northernmost BTS station, to the next station south, some months ago. I was doing a navigation run, to find the hotel that hosted the monthly Radio Amateur Society of Thailand meeting. I didn't realize the two stations were 1.6 km apart...
My favorite starts at Lumpini Park. At the NorthEast corner there is an elevated crosswalk to cross Witthayu. But you can continue walking East behind the police kiosk. It stays elevated (goes up and down a half dozen stairs a couple of times) and continues over the highway. Goes down to ground level around the southern end of soi Nana at the tobacco institute. Continues at ground level nearly to Queen Sirikit Park. (Suk soi 12, IIRC) Never crosses a road a ground level. Away from traffic. If you include the walk on soi 12, you can get from the Suk Grand Sheraton area to Lumpini Park on foot without ever crossing a road or dealing with any traffic whatsoever.
May 1, 2016, 7:04 pm
#2
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That walkway ends at Soi 10, but you can go right, across a rickety bridge and get into the Thai Tobacco Company and Queen Sirikit Park. There is a gate on Soi 10 which is closed to vehicles but you can shimmy through. There are quite a few feral dog packs roaming the more remote patches in the Tobacco Co. so be careful. The open cesspool adjacent between the expressway and Soi 4 has a gazillion mosquitoes and the stench is intense. Not sure how much of that is due to the chemical runoff from the Thai Tobacco Company? (While their main plant has moved up to Ayutthaya they still run batches in this old property. I drive through here often, a good shortcut between Rama 4 and Sukhumvit, and the chemical smells are incredible.)
Stay off this walkway after dark; there are assaults nightly.
Stay off this walkway after dark; there are assaults nightly.
May 4, 2016, 9:14 am
#3
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
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It's rather easy to find unoccupied sidewalks in Bangkok, and the fact that sidewalks exist there is even better. (I longed for them during my time in Jakarta, and half of the sidewalks in China are slippery/have rusty bars sticking out of them/are filled with electric bikes)
Another perk to wandering about Bangkok is the discovery of different street food.
Another perk to wandering about Bangkok is the discovery of different street food.
May 4, 2016, 1:45 pm
#4
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Ours doesn't include much scenery...
Starts at Oriental Residence on Wireless Rd, left toward MBK (opp direction from Sukhumvit), once we reach Grand Hyatt intersection use the BTS Skywalk to Siam Paragon. If we're energetic, up/down to bypass BTS station and continue to MBK.
When I stay at Grande Centrepoint, Ratchadamri, do pretty much the same route....starting with Grand Hyatt intersection and skywalk.
Starts at Oriental Residence on Wireless Rd, left toward MBK (opp direction from Sukhumvit), once we reach Grand Hyatt intersection use the BTS Skywalk to Siam Paragon. If we're energetic, up/down to bypass BTS station and continue to MBK.
When I stay at Grande Centrepoint, Ratchadamri, do pretty much the same route....starting with Grand Hyatt intersection and skywalk.
May 5, 2016, 1:17 am
#6
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Why isn't bkk a nice walking city?
I guess it depends on what one means by "nice"?
Heat, humidity, blazing hot sun today, vats of boiling oil used for frying, rain/flooding (we can only hope), soi dogs/poop, rats, dodgy footpaths, motorcycles driving on the footpath, cars parked on the footpath, low hanging wires.
No doubt it is interesting, exciting, thrilling - would make an awesome video game - but nice? Meh.
Parks for outdoor exercise are OK, and some of the larger shopping malls (Mega Bang Na for example) may offer ample space.
Outdoor space is at a premium here.
Brand-new Chatuchak bike lane becomes street food hub, parking lot
http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2016/05/0...ub-parking-lot
I guess it depends on what one means by "nice"?
Heat, humidity, blazing hot sun today, vats of boiling oil used for frying, rain/flooding (we can only hope), soi dogs/poop, rats, dodgy footpaths, motorcycles driving on the footpath, cars parked on the footpath, low hanging wires.
No doubt it is interesting, exciting, thrilling - would make an awesome video game - but nice? Meh.
Parks for outdoor exercise are OK, and some of the larger shopping malls (Mega Bang Na for example) may offer ample space.
Outdoor space is at a premium here.
Brand-new Chatuchak bike lane becomes street food hub, parking lot
http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2016/05/0...ub-parking-lot
May 5, 2016, 4:59 am
#7
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Well I guess if you put it like that.... lol
I think it's pretty nice. Some people think the fact that no one speaks English and the fact that nothing is written in English in Japan is a nice thing, because they think getting lost is a way to getting cultured. I think that's idiotic. But I guess that's how you feel about my infatuation with the chaotic tranquility I find in Bangkok.
I think it's pretty nice. Some people think the fact that no one speaks English and the fact that nothing is written in English in Japan is a nice thing, because they think getting lost is a way to getting cultured. I think that's idiotic. But I guess that's how you feel about my infatuation with the chaotic tranquility I find in Bangkok.
May 6, 2016, 11:15 am
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May 13, 2016, 6:24 pm
#14
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I haven't been in the Pratunam area for quite some time. Went through in a taxi yesterday. Saw what seemed to be an extension of the raised walkway at Ratchprasong intersection all the way up to Platinum Mall. When did that happen???
May 13, 2016, 8:55 pm
#15
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That new overhead walkway has been under construction for ~ six months.
While the newer, wider portion crossing Ratchadamri Road is open, the portion running north/south is still not open. It looks like it at least goes over the Khlong San Saeb, where previously the sidewalk was so narrow people had to walk in the road.
I think it is part of a larger project called "Rajprasong Skyline"?
While the newer, wider portion crossing Ratchadamri Road is open, the portion running north/south is still not open. It looks like it at least goes over the Khlong San Saeb, where previously the sidewalk was so narrow people had to walk in the road.
I think it is part of a larger project called "Rajprasong Skyline"?