Bangkok

Last year Sree had a lay over at Bangkok and HongKong. These were the two destinations he wanted us to travel together. We could not make it together, however, I got a chance to make an official trip to Bangkok, beginning of this year.

Before we even made it to the place, I had a chance to research some history of the place, to help our MD prepare a welcome presentation for the event.

Bangkok was instituted as the new capital in 1782 by king Chakri. By 1860 many European countries and North America had trade treaties with Bangkok. Vietnam War marked a major period of change in the history of Bangkok as money poured into the country from abroad and improvements were made to the city’s infrastructure. The great reform occurred in the reign of King Rama V (1868-1910) who brought the nation into modernization in various aspects, including administration, education, justice, communications and public health. In just over 200 years, Bangkok has grown from a small collection of villages scattered among canals and rice paddies alongside the Chao Phraya River to an enormous sprawl of a capital.

Our stay was arranged at Hilton Millennium which is also alongside the Chao Phraya river. There are many hotels, restaurants, floating markets and night markets alongside. The river is a major transportation artery for many water taxis and ferries. Mobility between restaurants and hotels are by the ferries.

Night markets, floating markets and the shopping malls are the-things-to-do in Bangkok, apart from of course, the various other things the place is known for.