About taxis ...

Don't take the taxis that wait outside your hotel (scammers). Go wave down a moving taxi on the street. Take a business card of the hotel. It will have hotel directions in Thai that you can show the taxi driver. Many taxi drivers have limited English.

Use the BTS (Skytrain) and MTS (Subway) to avoid the infamous Bangkok traffic. Many attractions are near the stations.

Don't be scared to try the sidewalk food vendors.

Um... no. Green/yellow cabs are owner-operated, so they run the gamut, but definitely have the highest risk of totally shot cabs (I've had water leaking through the roof on me and drain out through the holes in the floor!) and rip-offs, because there's nobody to maintain standards. Red/blue and all the other colors are rented to drivers by taxi companies, which maintain them to certain minimum standards and can fire the cabbies if they get too many complaints.

First off, Peter4, welcome to FlyerTalk. In a very short period of time you have proven yourself to be a very active poster, primarily on the subject of Thailand, and Bangkok in particular.

Many of Peter4's comments have been quite good, though some have been a bit wide of the mark. The notion that there is absolutely nothing to do in Thonburi and that it is the "wrong side of the tracks" is one example. Some of the points Peter4 made in that post were good (such as there not being much to do when you walk out of your hotel onto Charoennakorn Road), but others were just not right. billp ably corrected that one. That post was one example of sweeping generalizations that, despite Peter4's two-year residency in Bangkok, seem less than fully informed, vaguely prejudicial, and generally negative.

The incessant warnings about scamsters in Thailand by Peter4 and others is rather over the top. I've certainly been scammed or the target of scamsters far more often in New York than in Bangkok. Welcome to life in the big city, kids. Now, seriously: we all know tour guides have their ways to make money and can earn commissions from shops along the way-- that's true whether you're in Bangkok, Bali, Cartegena, Paris, or any number of other places. Tuk-tuk drivers make money by charging farang Western prices for transport, when an air-con taxi would be far cheaper (if you're smart and insist on the meter). Driving a tuk-tuk is pretty nasty work worth some compensation for the drivers. But riding in one can be a lot of fun-- it should be done, for the experience, at least once. Just be sure to negotiate a fair price for the ride, keeping in mind that market prices for transport are generally low in Thailand. If you can get from Siam Square to Suvarnabhumi in an air-con taxi with baggage for 230 baht plus tolls, then 400 baht for a tuk-tuk ride from Chatuchak Weekend Market to Sukhumvit is crazy--tell the driver to get lost and get yourself on the BTS.

As you may have sensed by now, Peter4's comment quoted above is what pushed me over the edge. It is grossly prejudicial. Plenty of Thais meeting the description offered are totally on the level. That kind of marketing is commonplace for thoroughly legitimate businesses that do not use high-pressure tactics if and when you do visit the shop. A lot of times, the young folks (they're usually school-aged) are giving something away to promote a product. I've been approached by folks like this who are working on school projects (the description matches many school uniforms) or working for the Tourism Authority, who made no effort whatsoever to sell me anything or get me to visit anyplace. It's quite common to see these folks at Saphan Thaksin, where tourists from the riverside hotels and locals using river transport mix near the BTS station. The approach tourists and locals in equal messure. Yes, some high-pressure salesmen, touts, and outright scamsters are out there employing tourist-friendly tactics like those described; they're ubiquitous in Patpong, as you would expect (just like in Times Square!). But the notion that "any Thai in Bangkok" fitting that description is out to relieve you of some baht is outrageous.

I know plenty of Thais who would fit Peter4's description and have no ulterior motives at all in approaching a farang with a map or one who looks slightly lost. They are just offering help or a kind word. Culturally speaking, the Thais are an extremely warm and friendly people--perhaps the friendliest I've even met (though the Balinese are a close second)--who are very welcoming of tourists. When interacting with Thais you've never met before, just use your good judgment.

I would advise those reading this thread to take all of the posters' comments with a grain of salt, including my own. Many of us on FT are quite regular visitors to Thailand, some live there part-time, and others live there full-time. In the spirit of things, I will disclose a fact that may color my own experiences in Thailand. My fiance is Thai. He or his friends are sometimes, though not always, with me as I explore Thailand or return to favorite old haunts. They know how to deal with Bangkok life and steer clear of the unsavory bits. They've taught me some things, and I've developed a decent awareness of what's right and what's not and what just needs to be chalked up to "this is Thailand." Not everyone has the benefit of that companionship or of the experience that regular visitors or residents have. I understand that. First-time visitors may have some culture shock. But it's no different than someone from the rest of America visiting New York. Just remember, you're not in Kansas anymore.

Chewie -

As I think back to many sightseeing and entertainment activities in Bangkok, a few stand out in my memory.
One of the most memorable is the Siam Niramit stage show.

If you enjoy musical shows, in extravagant Las Vegas style, then Siam Niramit would be a delightful evening for you.
It is certainly not the kind of entertainment you would expect to see in Thailand.
It's music and dancing and special effects - lots of special effects.
Professionally done, very polished.
I've seen many Las Vegas shows: Siam Niramat compares with the best of them.
I was impressed to see a show of this caliber in Thailand.

The show implies that it is about Thai culture.
Well, there are many beautiful costumes in traditional Thai style.
The music is derived from Thai traditional music -- with jazzed-up arrangements.
Even a baby elephant appears on stage.
But this is not the place to learn anything about Thai culture.
Think of it as "Disneyland-Thailand", with magnificent sets, stunning effects, and plenty of performance pizazz.
Just let them entertain you.

There were some things I didn't care for about the show -- or found somewhat odd:
The most noticable was the overlay of "politically-correct diversity", which is virtually impossible to avoid in the arts these days.
Old Siam didn't have Negros, but at least one appeared in the show for effect.
Muslims were showcased with an overly large amount of attention, compared to their level of population and their level of contributions to Siam.
Plenty of Chinese in the show, of course, but all happy and dancing, with none working hard as Chinese are wont to do.
Not a single Caucasian/farang that I recall, yet Europeans were crucial to the development of Siam as traders, as mercenary soldiers, as teachers, and as engineers and builders of the railways in Siam
But Europeans were ignored in the show, while Muslims were on display.
(Hmmm ... makes you wonder.)

This show is not for everyone.
Those who travel "Kao San Road class", will sniff in disgust at the lush performance of Siam Nirmit.
Those who worship the poor and primitive of the hill tribes, or who prefer riding trains with hard seats and no air-conditioning, will probably be repelled by the performance, and certainly by the price of tickets.

I reserved tickets at the tour desk in my hotel:
1,400 baht per person included round-trip transportation in a private van with driver, and a nice buffet dinner before the show. (price in April, 2006)
The buffet was Thai food, with spiciness nicely adjusted for Western tastes.
The buffet was ample and tasty, but nothing special.

At the show, I told my Thai girlfriend to inquire about the price at the ticket window -- while I stayed out of sight to avoid being quoted the foreigner price.
She was told the walk-in price is 1,500 baht, no buffet and no van transportation.
So your best deal is to reserve at a hotel tour desk or a local travel agent.

Siam Niramit is a thrilling show and surprising entertainment in Thailand.
I highly recommend it.
To find their home page, Google this:

"Siam Niramit" "Journey to the Enchanted Kingdom of Siam"

-- Peter
.