T R AV E L
My THAILAND
Viking’s Head of PR Bryony Gammon, who spent three years living in Bangkok, shares her tips for visitors to the city
74
VIKINGCRUISES.CO.UK | SPR ING 2020
evenings, the skyline lights up with the glow of rooftop bars. It is definitely worth getting up early to explore Lumphini Park, where you can join local people for one of the free aerobics classes or a morning jog. Watch out for one of the free outdoor concerts and take a picnic – a magical way to spend an evening. Don't be afraid if you spot one of the giant monitor lizards ambling along the path – they are perfectly friendly. No visit to Bangkok would be complete without going on the Chao Phraya river – take a boat from the pier near Saphan Taksin to one of the five star hotels or book a river tour. It is fascinating to see how local people live along the khlongs (canals). On many of the Viking shore excursions and onboard in The Restaurant, you will have the chance to sample Thai dishes. My favourite discovery was som tam – spicy papaya salad. On the Southeast Asia & Hong Kong itinerary, guests can join the Executive Chef on a tour of a local
market and then participate in a cooking class once back on board. Viking guests can also opt to visit Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site just outside Bangkok. The trip includes a visit to Bang Pa-In Summer Palace, a collection of pavilions in a variety of Thai, Chinese, Italian and Victorian architectural styles set in a very well manicured garden. If you time your visit to coincide with a Thai festival, you will be able to gain a fascinating insight into the local culture. Songkran is Thailand's most famous festival. It marks the beginning of the Thai New Year and people celebrate by splashing water on each other – like a nationwide water fight. My advice is to leave everything at home and put your possessions in a watertight bag – you never know who is hiding just around the corner to throw water all over you! Such sanuk...
Clockwise, from below: Som Tam Tai, a popular and favourite Thai food dish; Vendors selling produce at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market; Bryony makes friends with an elephant
PHOTOS: © ADOBE STOCK; GETTY
O
ne of the things I loved most about living in Bangkok was the people. They are some of the friendliest and most hospitable people I have ever met, but what I appreciated most was their sense of sanuk (pronounced ‘sanook’), which, roughly translated, means fun. As a sprawling metropolis, Bangkok can feel like an overwhelming place. However, I would encourage visitors to get off the well-trodden tourist path, hone in on one particular neighbourhood, meet the locals and embrace the frenetic pace. Instead of taking a taxi, take the Skytrain or a tuk tuk, or if you are feeling really brave, ride side-saddle on a motorbike taxi. Learning a few words of Thai is much appreciated by local people, even if it is just Sawadee ka (hello). There are more green spaces in Bangkok than you might think. In Benjakitti Park near my favourite neighbourhood Asoke, you can hire paddle boats or bikes and, in the
