Bangkok's Chinatown

[Gaybutton]

I have never visited Chinatown in Bangkok, but I happened upon the following article and it sure makes me want to do some exploring next time I'm in Bangkok. Perhaps some of you have spent some time in Bangkok's Chinatown and can make some recommendations as to things to do, things to see, places to eat, and if there is any gay activity there.

 

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Weekend/GD16Jp02.html

 

 

[Guest fountainhall]

This is not much help, but I have been taken to a couple of excellent roadside eateries (canot recall names/locations). There is also one sauna. Again I have never been but from reviews it seems there are many thais of different ages and shapes, and mainly older farangs. The site has a map.

 

http://gsmsauna.tripod.com/

[Guest naughtybutnice]

I have never visited Chinatown in Bangkok, but I happened upon the following article and it sure makes me want to do some exploring next time I'm in Bangkok. Perhaps some of you have spent some time in Bangkok's Chinatown and can make some recommendations as to things to do, things to see, places to eat, and if there is any gay activity there.

 

Take a tip from a log time Bangkokian.

 

Visit Chinatown without any preconceived ideas about the area, with no recommendations as to where to eat or drink, things to do or places to see. You will then enjoy the true experience of discovering all that this fantastic place has to offer. The people are wonderful, the food is great, the sights you will never forget.

 

For once in your life try to see a place for what it truly is and try just for those moments to put on hold your never ending search for gay activity at every junction. You can be sure that an elderly farang wandering around Chinatown trying to seek out and join in any gay activity that does exist will find himself unwelcome and a figure of fun.

 

Now take my advice and make a visit to the place and soak up the amazing cultural differences that will make you think you have entered another world.

[Gaybutton]

Take a tip from a log time Bangkokian.

 

Visit Chinatown without any preconceived ideas about the area

 

Excellent post and even more excellent advice! Next time I'm in Bangkok I certainly intend to do just that. The gay stuff can wait. From what I have been reading, coupled with your post, I for one am kicking my own butt right now for not taking the time to experience Chinatown before.

[Guest naughtybutnice]

Excellent post and even more excellent advice! Next time I'm in Bangkok I certainly intend to do just that. The gay stuff can wait. From what I have been reading, coupled with your post, I for one am kicking my own butt right now for not taking the time to experience Chinatown before.

 

Thank you. I hope that you do just that and when you have visited Chinatown that you will resurrect the thread to let others know how your experience was.

 

One of the worst things that you can do if you are planning a visit there is to seek out others' recommendations. It is a place to explore, discover and have your senses assaulted by the variety of food, colour, people and smells that are there. Going without any preconceived ideas and no plans as to where you will eat, drink or shop will let you experience what so many 'tourists' miss. I visit there a couple of times a month for no other reason than to wander around and see the never ending changes that are evolving. It is a safe area to wander around alone or with a friend but please avoid visiting with a tour guide, you will miss the exoctic flavour of the place and then you will be disappointed.

[atri1666]

I mostly go there to buy gold and walk around and take some snacks. Visited one time GSM-Sauna - was easy to find in the Sua-Pa Plaza Building. I like this small sois around with the shops.

[Gaybutton]

Thank you. I hope that you do just that and when you have visited Chinatown that you will resurrect the thread to let others know how your experience was.

 

You have my word on it. I will be in Bangkok this week. Now, between that article and your posts, I'm hoping to be able to stay an extra day so that I can start exploring Chinatown and devote the entire day to it.

[Gaybutton]

I promised to add to this thread after exploring Chinatown. I can only tell you that I agree with every word Naughtybutnice wrote, and then some! I'm kicking my own butt for not having visited Chinatown before.

 

This is an area to walk through and take your time exploring. I think you could visit Chinatown every day for a year and still have only scratched the surface. There are so many narrow sois, filled with curio shops, mom-and-pop restaurants, Chinese herbal medicines, Chinese art, and "whatnot" shops that you just can't begin to take it all in. There are also loads of wholesale shops. I walked through one wholesale area that was street after street of wholesale shoes.

 

There are Chinese restaurants of every kind. I love dim sum and there are plenty of restaurants that have all kinds of dim sum choices on the menu. There are even some that sell only dim sum specialties. I ate lunch in a dim sum restaurant that was just packed with locals. This particular one specialized in dozens of different shrimp and prawn dim sum items. I doubt I could find it again in a million years, but next time I'm in Bangkok I'm going to look for it. I loved it and every choice comes with three or four pieces. Each choice was all of 15 baht.

 

There is so much to see and explore there that I couldn't even begin to describe it. And Naughtybut nice is right. I shouldn't even try to describe it. It's an area you just have to see and experience for yourself. And, I certainly recommend doing just that next time you're in Bangkok. I know I will.

[Guest naughtybutnice]

I promised to add to this thread after exploring Chinatown. I can only tell you that I agree with every word Naughtybutnice wrote, and then some! I'm kicking my own butt for not having visited Chinatown before.

 

There is so much to see and explore there that I couldn't even begin to describe it. And Naughtybut nice is right. I shouldn't even try to describe it. It's an area you jut have to see and experience for yourself. And, I certainly recommend doing just that next time you're in Bangkok. I know I will.

 

GB I am delighted you made it to Chinatown and enjoyed exploring the many sois.

 

If I had pointed you towards specific shops, restaurants or any soi you would have missed out on the magic of discovering the area for yourself. I am sure that like me you will be drawn back time and time for a further expedition.

[Gaybutton]

I am sure that like me you will be drawn back time and time for a further expedition.

 

You can count on it. I thought it was an absolutely fascinating experience. I'm only sorry I didn't have more time there. Even if exploring Chinatown is the only thing you're going to do in Bangkok, in my opinion that alone would justify the trip.

[Dick]

I realise many Thai's and some Farang for that matter think I'm crazy, but I find one of the most rewarding ways to explore a new area of Bangkok is to WALK it. I'm happy to spend those daylight hours from Breakfast to BoyBar opening exploring a new area on foot. Taking a chunk at a time, I follow the route of the Sky Train or Metro and discover what lies in and around those stations so as to build in my mind a continuous picture of some of the local geography. Next day I just take the train to where I left off and continue my walkabout.

 

That sense of discovery is ever present. Then you find youself comparing one area with another. As it was the first area I became familiar with, I tend to take Silom as my point of reference. More affluent areas v. poorer areas; the demur of street vendors; so this is where the straight toursists go; where will this Soi take me; I didn't know that! Where am I? How much? That place looks nice! How the hell do I get across this junction!

 

MBK, China Town, Panthip Plaza, etc. - instead of isolated destinations you arrive at by cab, they'll slot together like pieces of a jig saw puzzle if you get out a map and go walkabout.