Its Good on Soi Rambuttri

The Soi Rambuttri Tour, Bangkok March 22nd 2012

New Siam Guest House

Main Rd intersecting Rambuttri. Turn Right for KS, its next on left

This is the Soi Rambuttri

Rambuttri Directory, Banbgkok March 22nd 2012

Guest Houses on the first part of Rambuttri, the end closest to the river and tourist information office. A good place to get reviews and info on the names you see here is to Google or goto the Thorntree Forum and ask there. In some cases you may need to expand the photos by just clicking on them.

Secret Garden

This is down a lane, on the left, going towards Khao San Rd.

The corner of the first straigh

A second lane, on the left going towards KS Road

The Soi Rambuttri

Not much floor space for 3.50 GBP per night

The Khao San...Rambuttri Street Bangkok March 22nd 2012

Tell the taxi driver ' Khao San road' and they may well drop you off at Rambuttri, quite some distance away for those not acquainted or orientated with the Khao San area. This happened to me back in January and thus began my first Bangkok experience. As it turns out, Rambuttri wins over Khao San road, being the quieter area and the better chance of getting a good nights sleep! The street is long, about 3 times longer than KS road, intersected halfway by a main through route.

The whole Khao San area, which includes Rambuttri , is famed for having the biggest concentration of budget accommodation in one relatively small area, thus gaining a reputation as being a backpackers paradise. Alcoholoic backpackers like it because the booze is relatively cheap whilst those here for the cultural experience find Khao San an ideal launch pad for those tourist trips and experiences offered in abundance.

Shared facilities..

 Accommodation standards vary considerably, ranging from 100 baht for a dorm bed upto 1890 baht for a hotel room. The whole place is really geared for backpackers, people on the move, staying short term therefore little attention is given over to home comforts in most places, not all though. As a guide then based on my experiences January then March 2012: single rooms are generally priced at 150 baht, doubles at 280, 250 then 350-400 baht. For this, it's a fan room ( no air con). Probably won't be a TV either and the decor might be a little on the neglected side. Floor space will be at a premium and showers generally located towards the end of a corridor but do have lockable doors! Hot water is a hit and  miss affair, mostly cold, but it's easily gotten used to in this climate. I did find a 400 baht room that came with air-con and TV (television, not transvestites) when I was in Bangkok January, The Green House was the place, on the left, about 1/3 third way along. Personally, I haven't needed air con or hot water. A cold shower last thing with a bottle of chilled water to drink, has been sufficient to cool my body temp for a good nights sleep. When comparing baht prices with the British Pound, I use a rate of 45 b to £1. Although not the official rate, this takes into account associated ATM charges (150 b flat)' UK conversion charges and other UK card use charges.

New arrivals at night tend to pick on the closest bed, then search around and make comparisons in the morning. But for the lower end of the scale, it's going to be pretty much same as the last place. Visitors looking for all the home comforts in a nicely decorated room can find a few hotels in the Khao San area, not many though, most being located well into the Southern part  of the city centre area. Others are dotted around different districts - Sukhumivit has some smart places, but it's way out of the central area, so pick on somewhere close to a sky train station, and make sure all credit cards are enabled and valid in Bangkok.

The MBK Ladyboys

Glitzy, Glamorous and Fun, Ladyboys at MBK, Bangkok March 21st 2012

Glitz, Glamour and Smart Shopping

Siam square,  MBK and some Ladyboys, Bangkok March 21st 2012

Today's agenda, well there really isn't one. Just under a week left in Bangkok and the list of things to do has dwindled to practically zilch. I could cover the same ground again, and I might just do that with the Air force museum, or I could splurge a bit and take on those Thai cultural experiences that could leave finances rather dented. The Tiger temple is one such experience, where there isn't actually a temple, but a group of Monks that have a few domesticated tigers, and I'm sure you can imagine the tourist circus that follows. Plenty of cash required just to go and fondle a doped (allegedly) tiger, about 1,200 b minimum, then more to get close and personal and that prize photo. There is an option to go by train, but then getting to the actual tigers complex is a pain, not easy at all, so I've read anyway.

A last minute decision, to go and look around the MBK shopping centre, the place in town for bargain hunters according to a website, a cinema there to. The express boat down to the Central pier, also called Sathorn Taksin, 30p and as always crowded to the roof. Siam central is the station that gives access to the plazas and squares, 60p is the fare from the Sathorn Taksin Sky Train station. The view of Bangkok's concrete and glass jungle is quite impressive from up here,  Worth seeing from the  different perspective as buildings and architecture not noticed before make my photographic hall of fame!

A mass exodus at Siam central, it's also the connecting station for the south to north line and the airport line, worth noting and could save a hefty taxi fare for the budget conscious traveller. On the right, a connecting walkway to Siam Centre whilst on the left, down to street level and into Siam Square, no sign of the MBK yet. A quick look at Siam Centre whilst I'm here, Siam Paragon too since its just next door.

Very Nice and Expensive!

Siam centre is the place to get those gadgets and get connected. Laptops, notepads and tablets along with thousands of the latest 3rd and 4th generation phones. Nothing is cheap here though - all branded goods, all priced to just a fraction below prices paid in the UK, some considerably more even.  Latest Blackberry is here for £450, although there is a scheme where tourists can get back the VAT. Four floors of consumer electronics, busy with mainly Thai teenagers haggling over the latest smart phones and fashionable gadgets.

Next door, the Siam Paragon. Home to Imex cinema, a seal-life centre and exhibition space. Add to that, 5 floors of exclusive luxury shopping and this is where folks who have that passion for indulgence let it all hang out! Only one problem, the place is  largely empty. The Prada shop, empty, as is the Armani shop and most of the others. Food court in the basement is doing brisk trade though, most dishes quite reasonably priced between £3-6, and a good variety of local and Japanese. I need to make a hasty exit before the temptation to purchase that Rolex watch actually turns into reality!

Off to find the MBK shopping centre, renowned as a shopping experience for the more Ordinary folk of Bangkok. It's massive, 4, maybe 5 floors of garments, watches, electrics, home and house, and ladyboys. The fashion and garments are all on the first floor, and an all to familiar setup. Row upon row of 'I Love Bangkok' t-shirts, all the same designs, all the same price. Occasionally a stall with something different, but the prices nothing to write home about, similar to UK prices in many respects.

A lot of music pumping out from the basement - those night club classic floor fillers from the late 90's. Down to see whats around, maybe some bargains. More of the same really, with one big difference - Ladyboys! Of all the places to see a ladyboy show, well, not a show in the real sense, Just a bit of larking around promoting the MBK fashion show. Glitz and glamour, dynamic but without the overkill. No outrageously colourful frocks, nothing particularly revealing, infact it's all very tastefully done. Russian tourists are bemused, having their photos taken. Quite a crowd gathering, watching the flamboyant show and kids are even joining in. As much as I want to stay and explore the place further, I need to get back for the last boat, otherwise an expensive taxi ride back to Khao San.