Two things one should not miss to see in Bangkok

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Generally people from India visit Bangkok only for two purposes, which are shopping and go go bars, but believe me there are other exciting things to see in Thailand. Before my visit to Bangkok, even my perception about the place was same like everyone, as this is the picture of the place we have in mind. I started my trip with a perplexed mind, thinking that it is not a safe place to visit (as mentioned in many travel blogs), however I wasn’t nervous, coz I have been living in New Delhi for almost a decade, n I knew that If I could survive there, then I can survive anywhere in the world, I would say it’s a blessing in disguise for being an Indian sometime.

So before the beginning of my trip, I started looking for some information about the place, and I always had in my mind that I never want to follow the same old routine like every traveler to Bangkok does, that’s is go for shopping, walk around Pattaya beach or go to walking street or Patpong night market to visit go go bars. And to my excitement, I found some interesting places to visit; two most exciting ones were Tiffany show in Pattaya( suggested by my girlfriend ) and Samut Songkhram .

After touching down Bangkok, the very next day we headed towards Pattaya. I was very excited to watch the Tiffany show, as they claimed it to be the first ever truly transvestite cabaret show in South East Asia. Before that I have never seen a ladyboy, and didn’t know how they look like, never thought they would looks so pretty and graceful. We bought a ticket for 1100 baht, and at first I had a feeling that it was bit expensive for just a show, but the moment I enter the grand theatre with its huge faux marble lobby, I knew it is going to be worth of the money I paid for the ticket.

The performers made their entrance dressed in dazzling costumes with a spectacular light and sound in the background. The performers’ looks so real and at any point of time they never looked like a lady boy, I could not still believe that it was true. It was a nonstop entertainment with the beautiful ladyboys making their entrances dressed in everything from long sweeping ball-gowns and plumes of feathers, to elaborate headdresses and skimpy polka dot swimwear, performing on various musical themes ranging from Siam's history told through graceful Thai dance, a traditional Korean fan dance, Broadway show tunes, Bollywood musical depicting traditional Indian dance and many more. It was one evening I would never forget in my life.

After the show the audience get a chance to pose for the picture with those pretty lady boys, all we need to do is just smile, pose and pay them some money, say around 10-20 Bahts. Even I wanted to pose with them, but it was so crowded that I finally had to give up this idea. Hoping to go back next time, and sure click a picture with them.
Second most exciting place I have encountered in Thailand near Bangkok was this market called Samut Songkhram around 70 kms from Bangkok, where a train literally runs through the market. It was such a spectacular sight to watch, and I got to know about the place when Last year I saw a Youtube link showing a train which runs through the market and it simply look amazing as well as unbelievable. As the caption under the video didn’t mention about the place, I started wild guessing about the place, thought it would be somewhere in Veitnam, Cambodia or Laos, but never imagined it would be in Thailand, near Bangkok. I really wanted to visit this place and feel how is it like, when you see the real train running through the market as it is seen in the video or pictures, for most of the time, there is no room for a train to pass and one could hardly notice the track while shopping in the market. It was an adventure in itself.

It starts like this, as soon as the market vendors hear the signal, they start to push back their stalls which are on the wheels and as well as their canopy would be rolled back. It’s amazing to see how fast they manage to do it; it takes less than a minute! The train arrives and passes by safely with everything remaining intact on both side of the market. The train takes few seconds to pass by and the very next moment everyone start pushing back their stalls and the canopies, and get back to work as if nothing had happened. The local vendor told me that there are only about four trains passing through every day, so it doesn’t bother them much but he said that they need to be quick on their feet and mind as soon as they hear the signal. Everyone has a different reaction to it; the vendors hardly with reaction as it’s a daily routine for them, but the visitors reacts with awe, as most of us have never seen such incredible thing in life. Even for me it was one of the most incredible things to watch in my life.

Beside that one must enjoy the night life at Khaosan road, a wine n dine at Red sky @ Centera Grand to enjoy the 360 degree view of Bangkok city, shopping at Chatuchak weekend market and Damneong Saduk floating market and watching firefly near Amphawa.

Overall it was a wonderful trip, people were friendly enough though language is the problem, food was awesome and believe me it is one of most attractive and safe tourist destination provided we follow the safe route , hope to go back again and explore some more such exciting things in the future.

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