Palace is Closed

Being home to the most important landmarks in Thailand, Bangkok is the spiritual, cultural and political center of the country. The prime attractions in the city are undoubtedly the Palace and Wat Phrak Yeow. Both of these structures are located in one complex. Almost all tourists who find themselves in Bangkok make their way to this complex. But you do not only visit the Palace and Wat Phrak Yeow for the heck of it. These structures are truly magnificent pieces of architecture worth seeing. They represent the artistry and ingenuity, as well as the spiritual devotion of the Thai people.

Because the Palace and Wat Phrak Yeow complex is a tourist magnet, it is inevitable that scammers lurk around the complex to bait their next victims.

Forms of public transport like buses, tuk tuks and taxis usually drop off visitors at the small plaza a few meters from the main Palace complex doors. Thus, expect to walk a few minutes before reaching the gate. In some cases, a local will approach you before you even reach the gate.  This person will speak good English and is usually charming and pleasant. He or she will volunteer information about the complex and Bangkok in general, and will then proceed to tell you that the Palace is temporarily closed because the monks inside are praying or conducting a ceremony.  No matter how convincing this person may be, (and believe us they will sound so sincere); chances are what they’re saying is completely false. The person’s objective in lying is to get you to ride a tuk tuk he or she recommends and to take you to shops or on a river cruise. The person will tell you that the Palace’s gate will be open in an hour or two so you might as well use the time to do other tours. Do not fall for this tourist trap. To confirm the times, go to the Palace gate and ask the security personnel in there. Once you get to the entrance of the Palace complex, you can immediately notice whether there are tourists walking around. You can also be a diligent traveler and conduct research about the visiting times before coming.

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Street Markets: To Shop or not to Shop

Bangkok is all about the electrifying nightlife and the market culture. It is surely a great place to shop for gifts and souvenirs. There are many markets to choose from, and the most popular ones among tourists are the ones that are open at night. The Chatuchak market is one the largest street markets in Asia. This attraction sells a wide range of products.  Because of Chatuchak’s fame, it has become primarily a tourist market. When you come here, expect the prices of the items to be inflated at least three times the original price.

A number of vendors in Chatuchak are not interested in full-out haggling as they rely on tourists who simply agree to purchase overpriced items. And it seems that there are a lot of tourists who are not complaining. Some of them may be clueless about the market value of the products, and others may not care too much about paying more. But if you came to Bangkok to shop without paying First World rates, then it’s better to head out to smaller street markets with more local patrons. This type of market typically offers more local-friendly prices, and stall vendors are more eager to haggle. There are also cases when the prices for the some gifts and souvenirs are sold cheaper in the mall than in street markets, as ironic as it may seem. There may still be precious treasures to be had in Chatuchak, given its huge size. But if you must shop in Chatuchak, arm yourself with the knowledge of the fair price range for the items you want to buy. This knowledge will help you negotiate a reasonable price with stubborn vendors.