Bustling Bangkok

Are you planning a trip to the “Land of Smiles?” Are you looking to spend several days in Bangkok, but want to get a little adventurous and head to some spots that may not be listed in your travel guide? Perhaps you are a longtime resident of Bangkok and are looking for some new sights to see. Here are some Bangkok destinations that are off the beaten path:

• Ko Kret Island – Nestled in the middle of the Chao Phraya River at the northern part of Bangkok, lies Ko Kret, a small island. Ko Kret Island is famous for the community of Mon people and the extensive array of pottery that they make. The Mon are believed to be the first inhabitants of Thailand. Ko Kret is amazing in that despite being part of the Bangkok metropolis, you feel like you are in a different world. It’s perfect for people looking for a Bangkok experience that is far removed from traffic jams and crowds. You can make a nice loop on a raised platform trail around the island, and check some beautiful greenery, buy some souvenirs or exquisite pottery, or grab yourself a cup of herbal tea.
• Khlongs – Bangkok has an extensive network of khlongs, or canals. This has even earned Bangkok the nickname, “The Venice of the East.” At one time, this was the primary avenue of transportation in Bangkok, as people would travel in boats in the khlongs to get around. While many of the original khlongs have been filled in to make way for city development, there are still multitudes of functioning khlongs. In some parts of Bangkok, it is even faster to travel by boat in the khlongs than taking a car due to the frequent traffic jams, which the city is notorious for having. You can hire a guide to take you on tour in the khlongs in an interesting “long tail” boat. You can also take one of the Khlong “boat taxis” for an economical way to see the city.
• Wat Traimit – Wat Traimit is a Buddhist temple that is located at the end of Yaowarat Road in the Chinatown area of Bangkok. While Wat Traimit is not as remarkable as some of the other beautiful temples in Bangkok, it is worth visiting for what it houses: a solid gold Buddha, valued at around $35 million.
  The story behind the gold Buddha is as amazing as the Buddha itself. In the 1800s, a Buddha statue that was covered in stucco was transported to Bangkok from another region in Thailand. Later, in 1955, the statue fell to the ground and a small section of the stucco plaster chipped off, revealing some gold. Workers removed the remaining stucco to reveal the magnificent gold Buddha. It is believed that the Buddha was originally from the Ayutthya region of Thailand, former home of the Royal Palace. In order to prevent the statue from being stolen by invading Burmese armies, monks covered it in stucco. In all likelihood, the monks at the original temple housing the statue were killed, with no one left alive to know about the true nature of the Buddha statue.

Bangkok isn’t the only location filled with tremendous off-the-beaten path destinations. If you are interested on finding some additional information and resources on travel, check out some of the best travel blogs.