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experience
There is much more to Bangkok than the famous tourist spots Driving down the famous Sukhumvit road on my way to my hotel from the newly built Suvarnabhumi airport was indeed a surprising experience. A huge number of swanky tourist-friendly hotels could be seen dotting the Bangkok skyline alongside other huge and tall constructions. Bangkok, I was told, has
one of the highest number of high-rise buildings. The number of hotels, for The first thing that struck me when I embarked on exploring the city was the presence of a large female workforce. The presence was so overwhelming that I almost assumed that the ratio of males to females in the capital was comfortably in favour of the latter. Be it restaurants, elitist shopping malls, public low-price bazaars, or public offices, one can easily notice the female presence in abundance. I later discovered that the there were almost 75-80 females in the city workforce for every one hundred men. The male-to-female ratio may indicate participatory role the womenfolk is playing in Bangkok but their low wages as compared to men is certainly an issue to deal with. I realised the effects of market economy and globalisation in Bangkok when I went shopping in search of made-in-Thailand products. My search began as I went to the famous shopping malls of Bangkok. Shopping for made-in-Thailand products is a lot of fun but a fun that requires a lot of effort in tandem. One has to draw on all of his bargaining skills to get a reasonable price. Normally, there is a strong possibility that you bring down the price by 50-70 per cent through good use of your bargaining skills. Chatuchak market is a kind
of Sunday market in Bangkok and is open on Saturdays and Sundays. It Bangkok has a tropical monsoon climate and that was a bit of nuisance for me while I roamed through the city. The average temperatures all through the year mostly remain around 30 degrees Celsius but it is the humidity that can drain you of your energy. A small 10-15 minutes brisk walk can soak you in sweat and leave you looking for something to drink. I tried various other means of transport. Meter taxis are relatively expensive but give you a very comfortable ride as they are mostly new and in spic and span condition. Tuk tuk is very much like an advanced and bigger form of our sub-continental rickshaws. It was a pleasure having tuk tuk rides with the luxury of open-air view of the city without paying too much in fare. Sky train is another means of transport in the city. This is a modern and air-conditioned elevated railway that plies between different points in Bangkok. It is much like the (underground) tube in London though its reach is very limited for the moment. All these means of transport do reflect the pace of development in the city but it also points to the ever-increasing traffic congestion in the city. During the rush hours, it becomes very difficult to travel even a small distance between any two places. Traffic congestion is of a very high scale and one finds long queues of cars and other vehicles bumper to bumper particularly in the downtown. In fact the situation is so bad that many taxi drivers often refuse to take you to your desired destinations due to traffic jams. Bangkok is famous for its
seafood and other delicacies but for someone who is not a seafood fan I cannot name many Thai dishes or sea food that they eat. I did, however, thoroughly enjoyed one of their sweet dishes called Khao Neaw Mamuang which is basically a combination of mangoes, sticky rice prepared in coconut milk. Bangkok also has restaurants like 'If it swims we have it.' You can very well imagine that it is not only fish or shrimps that are available but a huge number of other 'delicacies' that can swim before they are cooked. For cheaper options, many Thais opt for roadside food vendors for their lunches and dinners. And what is Bangkok without a massage? Bangkok is known for its massage centres. Judging from the numbers of massage centres in the city and those who frequent them, it can be safely assumed that a good massage at a good centre may not cost many Bhats (Thai currency) and is very relaxing. Bangkok's tourist-spots find a mention in countless travelogues but there is more to the city than just tourist-spots. The rich culture, modern amenities, hospitality, cultural mix, and fast-paced development are sure magnets that attract people to this city. You can enjoy your visit to the city even if you miss these spots. And before I forget, there is one thing common between Bangkok and Islamabad -- the military reigns supreme.
By Tamania Jaffri Leavenworth is that queer
little town from your childhood fantasies where fairies dwell and friendly This Bavarian village is a two hours drive from the town of Seattle, in the state of Washington and I had a chance to visit it last winter with my family. The village is cosy, tiny, beautifully cupped between snow laden mountains, and a perfect tourist destination. Like every American town it has its own McDonald's, StarBucks and a Burger King. However like the whole town, even these maintain a Bavarian theme, and take an exception from their brand guidelines to write their names in ancient scripts style and the staff wear Bavarian costumes. The whole town is built around the central square, which has a merry-go-round and a centre stage for the village choir. Right next to the square is a tiny snow slope where, during the winters, you can sit on a board and come rushing down only to break your momentum by the hay stacks bordering the central square area. This area is a hub of activity for the town, as families with their children get together to tumble down the slippery hill, or to watch others enjoying themselves, laughing and getting up nursing the aches and pains from the falls. The central square is situated on the main street of the town, where all the famous inns, and shops of the village are located. Each shop is a treasure cove, some specialising in the most fascinating things: like a shop for home made soap, a shop only for hats, a shop with Leavenworth photography done by local photographers and a shop for the most famous Leavenworth Bavarian chocolates. Other shops are more general and you can pick anything from a most beautiful scarf to a door hanging angel for your house. The inns of this town
remind you of the days of Sherlock Holmes with their ancient look and feel. Outside of the town, visitors can enjoy skiing on skiing resorts closeby or take a sleigh ride besides the river, pulled by a troupe of huge German Shepherds. Various walks can be taken around the town also and in the summer season you can take a fishing trip on the river. A day roaming around town is best finished with a hearty dinner in the village restaurants located in the back streets of the town. Warm and welcoming after the cold snowy nights, guests can huddle on tables located closely and enjoy food which almost tastes home cooked. It is really a challenge to wake up early in a town as sleepy and cosy as Leavenworth and by the time you venture out, the sun is already bright on the white snow and it's time for brunch! Strolling around town, after a heavy brunch, it is very difficult to leave the fantasy world of Leavenworth and drive back to reality. With a heavy heart we decided to pack our stuff and pile in the car to drive out of town. As we bid farewell to this lovely little town, it was like letting go of your childhood teddy to make place for the brand new DVD player in the room. Nostalgia and fantasy haunt Leavenworth. The town lets you peep into your childhood for a few precious moments.
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one, definitely points towards the success of Bangkok as one of the best
tourist destinations in the world. 'Krung Thep Maha Nakhon', as it is known
by in the Thai language, is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River,
near the Gulf of Thailand. It has more surprises than just tourists-spots for
the visitors. The city is inhabited by (unofficially) almost between 15-20
million people although the official figure is much lower than this.
is a place to test your bargaining and shopping skills. It is in any case a
wonderful and interesting experience visiting this market. One can find
almost everything that we use in our daily lives at reasonable prices
although being a foreigner can sometimes be to your disadvantage. Clothes,
shoes, decoration items, pets, spices, food, medicines, electronic
gadgetries, ornaments, and numerous other items are easily and cheaply
available there.
and has preference for halal traditional subcontinental food, it was a bit of
problem. Thailand is overwhelmingly Buddhist (around 95 per cent) and the
Muslim population hovers over 4 per cent. I had to look for some
Indian/Pakistani restaurants to eat to my heart's content. You can find a
plenty of Indian and Pakistani restaurants particularly around the Sukhumvit
road. Interestingly, the food is subcontinental but the chefs and waiters are
mostly Thai. However, the ambience is traditional of our areas reinforced by
some Shahrukh Khan movie songs or Lata Mangeshkar's top numbers.
giants walk the streets. Where every day is bright and sunny, and the nights
are cold, bright and festive. Every one smiles, rejoices and skips to a
silent tune. Life slows down when you enter Leavenworth and you pace yourself
to this sleepy little town that awakens all fairy tale fantasy you have
harbored in your heart.
The wooden floors creak as you step on them and the beds are huge four poster
beauties. Most inns are maintained by the locals who manage the shops also.
The most interesting Inn in town is the one associated with the book store 'A
book for all Seasons', with rooms that have themes associated with important
literary legends like Sherlock Holmes, Shakespeare and the book 'The Secret
Garden'. The book store and the inn have been managed by the same family,
with the third generation now taking care of the operations. The book store
is built like a library where you can stroll through the shelves, sit down
with a book of your choice and enjoy coffee or a hot cup of eggnock from the
adjoining Starbucks which opens into the book store. The friendly owners
stroll around, are available for book consultation and invite you to enjoy
your book with a hot drink outside on the terrace or indoors if it is cold.