Asian Cruise Visits Exotic Bangkok, Thailand

Crystal Cruises' Symphony Docks for Two-Night Stay Near Thai Capital

Aug 4, 2009 Margaret Johnson

Crystal Cruises' "Exotic Asia" itinerary brings passengers to the Thai capital, Bangkok, for extended sightseeing and cultural opportunities during a two-night stay.

Crystal Symphony docked at the port of Laem Chabang, about 2 hours south of the Thai capital of Bangkok. Because the ship would be docked overnight, many passengers decided to take advantage of a night in Bangkok to really soak up Thai culture.

The Peninsula Bangkok Offer Riverside Luxury

Many luxury hotels line the banks of the Chao Phraya River, including The Peninsula, one of eight in the prestigious Peninsula group (the others are in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Bejing, Manila, New York, Chicago, and Beverly Hills). Constructed in a unique W-shape, the design provides an uninterrupted panoramic view of the Bangkok skyline from each of its 370 rooms.

After early check-in and lunch (highly recommended is Thiptara for Thai food and Mei Jiang for Cantonese), the first order of business was to hire a longtail boat for a river cruise. For a short stay in Bangkok a cruise is the best way to see (but not tour) the city most revered temples: Wat Pho, the oldest and biggest, houses a massive reclining Buddha; Wat Arun, with its five distinctive prang (towers), is also known as the Temple of Dawn; and the Grand Palace, where Rama I built Wat Phra Kaeo to house the country's most precious Buddha image.

Longtail Boats Tour Canals

Once known as the "Venice of the East" for the hundreds of canals located in Bangkok, many east of the river were filled in to make way for new roads and modern buildings. The remaining canals west of the river, however, are generally part of a longtail boat tour that takes passengers past traditional Thai houses built on stilts and with open verandas. Young monks sometimes appear when boats pass by temples.

Take Skytrain or Tuk-Tuks to Downtown Shopping

Bangkok, a bustling, sprawling city of around 10 million people, has [justifiably] earned the reputation of being a city with horrific traffic jams and road congestion. For anyone with limited time for touring, the Skytrain is the most efficient way to get around. There are two lines--the Sukhumvit and Silom lines--which intersect at Siam Square, a mulit-story mall that offers high-end shopping.

If shopping is a priority, other huge complexes in downtown include Siam Paragon with six floors of designer boutiques; Mahboonkrong (MBK) with shops and an excellent food court; CentralWorld for fashion and home decor; and Erewan Bangkok, a luxury mall with famous name boutiques and trendy cafés. The Jim Thompson House, home of an American who came to Bangkok in 1945 and who revived the Thai art of silk weaving, is within walking distance.

Travel by tuk-tuk is another way to maneuver busy Bangkok streets and comparable to riding in a Saigon pedicab. While many consider a ride in one of these open-sided three-wheelers an authentic "experience," weaving through traffic can also be a harrowing one. A caveat for tourists to avoid being "taken for a ride," literally, is to negotiate a fare before beginning as the drivers often demand much higher fares at the end.

ESPA Spa Treatment to Finish the Day

There's no better way to unwind from a day of touring or shopping in busy Bankgkok than to have a treatment at The Peninsula's spa by ESPA. Thai spa therapy is renown the world over, as is the ESPA brand, a line of treatments and products that draw upon Eastern and Western wellness and relaxation philosophies. Located in a three-story Thai-colonial building, the spa at The Peninsula fuses traditional Thai elements of relaxation and tranquility with state-of-the-art facilities and ESPA products.

One of the signature elements of the spa is the "Peninsula Ceremonies," treatments that reflect a fusion of Thai, Ayurvedic, and European therapies. Guests start in the Tea Lounge with indigenous herbal teas and conclude with steam, whirlpool, or a plunge in the three-tiered swimming pool. Full- and half-day "Spa Journeys" include a "Naturally Peninsula" spa lunch, and guests can choose to have treatments in either a private spa suite or a river suite overlooking the Chao Phraya River.

The best source for information on travel to all of Thailand is the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Check out Hong Kong and Vietnam, other destinations on Crystal's "Exotic Asia" cruise.

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Temples Line the Banks of Chao Phraya River	Young Monk Waits Near Temple	Peninsula Hotel is One of Bangkok's Most Luxurious
Peninsula's Thiptara Restaurant Serves Thai Food	ESPA Spa at Peninsula Offers Thai Treatments