A Fun Day Exploring Downtown Bangkok

You know you must be getting something right with your days out when others comment on how much fun you seem to have and say they would love to come along next time. That is exactly how Fah came to join Steve and me, meeting us at our usual songthaew drop-off point.

The Show Inside Bangkok Planetarium

Not that this was any problem. Fah was fantastic company, always keen for a laugh and to socialise. She had heard about our budget adventures around Bangkok and wanted to see parts of her own capital she'd never experienced.

We took our regular route into town, catching a bus to Bangkapi before boarding the Saen Saep canal boat and alighting at Thonglor Pier, just as Steve and I had done on a previous trip. The old bus waiting just past the bridge along Thong Lo Road took us down to Sukhumvit Road, where we got off to enjoy our first attraction of the day.

Bangkok Planetarium

A couple of months earlier, Steve and I had headed to the Science Centre for Education, otherwise known as Bangkok Planetarium. It looked interesting, off the beaten track, which is the sort of thing we enjoyed finding, and it was only 50 THB (£1.10) to get in, which we definitely liked.

However, when we arrived, we found it was closed for renovation. That day we made do with lunch from a street food vendor and then ended up going round the Thai Railway Museum at Hua Lamphong.

The good news this time was that the planetarium was open and our timing was ideal for the midday show. The bad news was that lots of parents and their young offspring also had the same idea.

It was an entertaining show covering the history of the universe, projected in 360 degrees across the domed ceiling as the images moved seamlessly overhead. Well, the bits I saw were certainly good, despite the kids moving around and making the noises that young kids and babies make. That said, my two friends said I had nodded off at one point and started snoring.

Steve Enjoying his Day Out

Time for Lunch

Nobody with even a little money is likely to go hungry in central Bangkok. The choices at lunchtime are excellent, with additional carts setting up on the pavements to offer food to those needing nourishment.

We decided to take a bus along Sukhumvit Road, which, while slow, was extremely cheap. Another advantage of being out around lunchtime was the number of food and drink promotions available in nearby bars and restaurants. One on Soi 33/1 was doing lunchtime specials, which was just what the doctor ordered.

Graffiti Park

Not wanting to subject Fah to the full walking itinerary that we were used to, we took the BTS Skytrain to Ratchathewi station, from where we backtracked slightly at street level to show her another place we had already been to.

Chaloemla Gardens, or Graffiti Park, as it is also regularly known, is quite a sight, providing an open space occupying the site of a former building. The tall walls surrounding it are covered in some quite superb artwork which blends in with the local community.

It has spread to adjacent buildings on Soi Phethaburi 18, while in the centre of the garden is an open futsal court. On our visit, someone had even left a football behind, allowing Fah and me to have a penalty competition while Steve filmed. It was fantastic fun.

Graffiti Park

Time to Refresh

Of course, such activity left us with a thirst, and the ideal opportunity to visit somewhere Steve and I had earmarked for a while. Feat Lab was not cheap, but the choice of beers on tap was excellent, as was the service and ambience.

The barman happily talked us through the range of beers on tap. Another customer from the Czech Republic struck up a conversation and told us about several similar establishments he had visited during his stay, rating Chitbeer on Koh Kret as his favourite.

Back to Bangkapi

Being only a short walk from Saphan Hua Chang Pier made the craft bar an ideal stopping point before catching the Saen Saep canal boat back to Bangkapi ahead of the evening rush.

We had found Drama Café there that opened at 5 pm each day, served drinks at a very fair price, played music, and allowed us to take food in from the market stalls over the road. More drinks flowed before we caught a bus back to Minburi to see Taew and tell her all about our adventures.

Cheers! Fah and I Relax

A Grand Day Out

To me, the ingredients of a great day out are good company, discovering somewhere new, trying new food and drink, and having a laugh along the way. Bangkok offers all of that in abundance, and this trip was another reminder of why I never tire of exploring the city.

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