| Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, is a | | | | In a city famous for its luxury accommodations, |
| vacationer's paradise. Sights and shopping abound. | | | | The Oriental has a charming 130-year history. |
| Beware; the city is crowded and the traffic is | | | | Among other famous guests, many authors have |
| pretty appalling. On the upside, however, is an | | | | stayed in its rooms. The hotel offers lectures, a |
| excellent public transportation system that allows | | | | cooking school, a spa, and dance performances. |
| visitors to get around easily. Bangkok's many | | | | The Bridge on the River Kwai |
| attractions include the following: | | | | Visit the Jeath War Museum to learn about the |
| Grand Palace | | | | history of the bridge that inspired a book and |
| Grand Palace contains over 100 buildings and | | | | movie. It was built by POW's held by the |
| courtyards, and provided inspiration for the story | | | | Japanese during WWII, and was known as the |
| The King and I. Tourists can walk through the | | | | "Death Railway". |
| many buildings and see the lavish, gilded decor. | | | | Wat Pho |
| Any trip to the Grand Palace is capped by visiting | | | | Among many wats, or temples, to be seen in |
| the Wat Phra Kaeo: the Temple of the Emerald | | | | Bangkok is Wat Pho, the largest. Wat Pho is a |
| Buddha. The statue, carved from jade, sits atop a | | | | complex, in close proximity to the Grand Palace. |
| 34-foot golden throne. | | | | The giant gold reclining Buddha is especially |
| Aythaya | | | | impressive. |
| This former capital of the dynastic rulers lies 50 | | | | Wat Arun |
| miles north of Bangkok. It can be reached by | | | | The stunning and unusual Temple of the Dawn |
| river on a luxury cruise. The ruins of the former | | | | may be best viewed from the river. Its distinctive |
| kings' palace, with its canals, are worth seeing | | | | appearance comes from the fact that its walls |
| as-is, and are also currently being restored. | | | | are covered with a mosaic of broken Chinese |
| Chatuchak Weekend Market | | | | porcelain. |
| This 30-acre market is one of the world's largest. | | | | Any traveler can find something to love in |
| Thousands of booths selling nearly everything at | | | | Bangkok. The glittering temples, the bustling |
| bargain prices runs along under awnings. Since it is | | | | energy, the museums, shopping, and luxury hotels |
| outdoors, the crowds and close quarters can get | | | | offer a selection of experiences that will make |
| pretty hot, so consider going in the early morning. | | | | travel to Thailand unforgettable. |
| The Oriental | | | | |