Tourist Mecca of Khao San Road

Khao San Road is located in the budget area of Banglamphu, in central Bangkok. It is served by many public bus stops as well as by the inexpensive river ferry. The ferry station that is nearest to Khao San Road is the Phra Athit station. The ticket costs about THB10 and serves run about every 10mins or 15mins. The Democracy Monument is your nearest major landmark so be sure to locate it soon after arrival as it is a useful point of reference.

A standard journeys across town on a motorcycle taxi will cost around THB60 but fares are always negotiated and return journeys are always better value. The motorcycle taxis wait at the city end of Khao San Road and can be easily spotted with the drivers wearing fluorescent safety vests. Once a price has been arranged and the destination agreed on, the passenger hops on the back of the bike and puts on the helmet that the driver will hand them. The ride is fast and frenetic, so hold on and keep your legs tucked in close.

Bangkok is not a very good city for walking since it is enormous and the heat and air pollution are not too conducive to long strolls in any direction. Attractions like the Grand Palace and the temple of the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho are very worth visiting and the river ferry stops at these destinations. The river ferry itself is a fun and memorable experience with churning polluted river water and frantic ferry staff herding monks, tourists and Thai commuters into overcrowded but quite safe vessels.

There are more places to eat and drink on Bangkok's Khao San Road than it is possible to count. There are no real upscale places but anyone after a THB10 plate of delicious Pad Thai will not have to walk very far from the hotel’s front door. Plenty of hawker stalls selling Pad Thai, pancakes and other treats line both sides of Khao San Road and their food is cheap and tasty. People with longer hair can have it beaded and braided right here on the street and there are ample tattooists and body painters working in the area also.

Various other treatments such as fish spas are also available. These involve putting you feet in large tanks of water and having tiny fish nibbling the dead skin from your toes. It is supposed to leave your skin smooth and fresh plus remove bad odours. This process tickles incredibly though and the site of giggling tourists with wet feet is now common on the Khao San Road.

Other things to buy on Khao San Road include CDs and DVDs which are all copies and all good value – but technically illegal. In the side alleys of Khao San Road are terrific second hand bookstores. Their collections are vast and they are a great place to visit to grab something to read for upcoming long train or bus journeys or long stretches on the beaches in the tropical south.

Crystal White is a freelance travel writer and now lives in Bangkok. Find out what to do or see in Bangkok, she recommends; www.1stopbangkok.com/what_to_see/khao_san/ and www.1stopbangkok.com/what_to_do/

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