Khao San road Bangkok
For many backpackers and free-spirited budget travellers, the Khao San road is their first experience of Thailand – a decompression chamber between East and West from where you can arrange and find practically everything. Depending which way you look at it, this modest street is either a fascinating and exciting hub of tourist activity or a seething mass of overcommercialised hippiedom. Either way you can’t deny it’s one of the most popular and intriguing parts of Bangkok , a tourist attraction in its own right that attracts both foreigners and Thais.
The opening scenes of the now legendary backpacker movie the Beach, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, gets rolling here and although the swallowing of snake’s blood by locals isn’t entirely true, it certainly does have its seedy and mysterious side. And ever since the movie, Khao San road can’t live down its legendary status. Mostly however, it’s a convenient starting point for arranging your trip around Thailand with dozens of tour agents, internet cafes, guesthouses and bars, a few night clubs and plenty of shopping – hawking everything from pirated CDs to luggage, clothing, tattoos and more.
Khao San Road is a rather dizzying frenetic place today, but its roots go back to 1982 when it was a quiet residential street with houses owned by the city’s elite, those who could afford nice places a close distance away from the capital’s important Grand Palace area. The year 1982, was, on the Buddhist calendar, the auspicious 2525, and to celebrate this date, along with Bangkok ’s bicentennial, the Thai government launched a massive campaign to attract tourist dollars.
Khao San Road is also conveniently placed for visiting the most historic part of the city – Banglamphu and Rattanokoin Isle, where many of the best attractions are located. These include, Sanam Luang, and the Grand Palace/Wat Phra Kaew compound, The temple mount, Wat Po and the Dusit area with its exemplery Vimanmek teak palace. Access to the city’s waterways, a great way to get around, are close at the area’s Banglamphu pier. River boats to the Saphan Taksin pier will take you into the thriving Silom district of Bangkok.
Khao San Road Entertainment
Early bar-closings have seen some heads on Khao San Road hit the pillow earlier than in the past, however there is still a thriving and eclectic nightclub scene here to be enjoyed. Everyone from holdouts of the Bob Marley generation to female Thai university students come out to shake their collective booties at popular discos such as Lucy’s and Gulliver’s. Step into the latter and you’ll wonder if you ever left the West – that is until a six-foot tall transvestite in a tight dress tries his/her luck with you!
Khao San Road Shopping
Given that almost all of the vendors on Khao San Road speak at least some English, this is an excellent area to do some shopping and pick up some supplies. As elsewhere in a Thai-style market, almost no prices are fixed and you are free to indulge in bargaining to your heart’s content.
Khao San Road is an excellent place to shop for any number of items including clothes, hats, shoes, Thai handicrafts, beach wear, video games, CDs. Khao San Road also has the best selection of second-hand bookstores in Thailand , often with English speaking staff to help you track down a particular title.
Khao San Road Eating
Travelling tastebuds should find some comfort on the Khao San Road, with several guesthouses offering fare for foreigners, which at times may not live up to your expectations – sausage = hotdog. Still there are some tasty eats on offer on Khao San Road in particular delicious falafels made at an outdoor stall on the street, fresh fruit of various kinds on offer everywhere.
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