From Two Wheels to Four, Colorful Buses, Boats and Trains, Bangkok is a City on the Go

Bangkok.  Traffic congestion.

Bangkok.  Traffic congestion.  The two words are pretty much interchangeable but nowadays there are ways around the city’s packed streets, to the point where the city’s notorious traffic jams have actually eased a bit.  Exploring Bangkok has never been this varied and colorful!

First, introduce yourself to Bangkok’s two rapid train systems, the BTS and MRT.  If you are traversing around town (especially to the city’s numerous shopping malls and markets) these will be your best friends in Bangkok.

The BTS is an elevated rapid transit system which opened on December 5th, 1999, much to the relief of Bangkok’s residents.  If this date sounds familiar, it is the King’s Birthday, father’s day and a major Thai holiday all rolled into one.  Some Thais even claim that this is the country’s gift to the much revered King.

The MRT is Bangkok’s subway system, which opened on July 3rd 2004.  The MRT route dissects through Sukhumvit (Bangkok’s shopping and entertainment district), Silom (Bangkok’s main commercial and business district) and to the main train station at Hua Lamphong.  The MRT connects transits to the BTS on several stations.

Bangkok has just welcomed its newest rail link member, the Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link, which opened in mid-August 2010.  The rail links to both the MRT (where luggage can be checked in) and BTS, giving visitors another alternative to and from Bangkok’s airport.

Taxis are also readily available.  Sometimes it seems like the roads are filled with them.  The cabs come in a multitude of colors (mostly bright) in green, yellow, orange, pink, red, blue and any other color that can temporarily blind the eye.  They are all metered, so no need to worry about bargaining.

Of course one cannot escape Bangkok’s notorious and iconic three-wheeler, the tuk-tuk.  This is a good method of traversing around Bangkok’s congested streets.  Not only will you be exposed to the city, you will also get to experience a bit of ‘Thainess’ while you ride through the winds.  Make sure to negotiate the fare before riding.

Local buses (which also come in a variety of colors) are quite common.  This is the preferred choice of transportation for many. It is cheap, but confusing especially for visitors.  However, if you are looking to integrate with the Thais, are not in a hurry and enjoy being the center of attention, this is the mode of transportation for you.

One of Bangkok’s newer entries to the wide range of transportation mode is the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), which opened on May 29th 2010.  This is the city’s version of a dedicated bus lane and each bus is painted to look like green and yellow bugs.  You definitely can not miss them!

If you are feeling adventurous, give motorcycle taxis a try.  You can easily find these guys at junctions or corners of small streets with their orange, green or purple vests.  Most of these guys are ‘programmed’ to go short distances and might refuse long journeys.  Negotiate the price, hop on and hang on to your hats!

Why not travel by boat?  Once called the Venice of the East, Bangkok is also a city of canals, with a huge river dissecting through its center.  This is a fun way to beat the traffic!

Why not go bicycle?  It might seem crazy at first, but once you venture away from the busy streets, you will find a new and colorful world of small temples, local markets and the unseen residential areas of the city.  Cyclists are treated as people, so you can go in and out just about where ever you want!

Exotissimo also allows you to traverse the city on a Segway, a unique two-wheeled, self-balancing electric transport vehicle.  This is a fairly new piece of equipment, introduced to the public in 2002.  You will surely get a lot of interested faces from onlookers that you pass by.  Contact us for your Segway!

Travel in Bangkok has never been this easy and plentiful before!  Since you are in the big city, why not explore the surrounding area a bit?  Exotissimo’s Bangkok and Central Thailand tour allows you to discover the cultural, historical and natural richness of the region.  Visit out tailor made page if you want to tweak this tour or any other listed programs to suit your holiday needs.

www.exotravel.com/

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