Khaosan Road (pronounced kao-sarn) is probably Bangkok’s most well-known road amongst tourists and backpackers alike. However, the place is gaining popularity amongst the locals here as well. The word “Khaosan” literally means “rice grains” (uncooked that is), as the place used to be an area where people came to buy what else but rice! The road was initially popular just amongst the budget travelers, particularly the backpackers, as you can find no-frills accommodations there for dirt-cheap. You can literally get a closet sized room with just a bed in it, no A/C or anything, just a fan. Nowadays you can find a myriad of accommodations, from your box sized rooms to mid-priced homestays, and upscaled hotels.
Khaosan Road today attracts all sorts of people, and from all around the world, some more interesting than others. You still have your backpackers trudging around with their huge backpacks. But then you have these “alternative” sorts, such as hippies, bohemians, transvestites, midgets, etc, you name it!...they’re all there! It’s kind of like being in the movie “Mad Max”. I highly recommend people-watching there, just grab a seat at one of the bars that lines the street, order a cold Singha beer and enjoy the scene to the sounds of some of latest hip-hop songs or some jazz from the old days. I gotta admit, they do play some of the coolest music there, just pick a bar where the sound appeals to you.
What else can you do there?, well Khaosan Road is also famous for some of the following:
- Getting your hair braided right there on the side of the road.
- Eat some deep-fried grass hoppers, worms, scorpions, or some other insects.
- Buy some bootleg CDs and DVDs.
- Buy a wooden croaking frog this lady, she's from some tribe up in the mountains in Northern Thailand.
- Getting a tattoo.
- Getting a Henna.
- Buy some cool T-shirts.
- Try some pad-thai(stir fried noodles) for only 20 Baht.
- Watch some dude sticks his head in a crocodile's mouth right there on the road!..just kidding about this one LOL, you'll have to go to the Crocodile farm to see that, it won't be on the road though.
You can also check out the many clubs and restaurants that bespeckles the area, you won't be disappointed with the music and service at these places. The people there really knows what tourists like, trust me on this one
Hours: Khaosan Road comes to life from around 5:00 PM and onward, so try not to go there before that time, it'll be too hot and not much is happening.
How to get there:
Tuk-Tuk: Grab a tuk-tuk if you’re coming from somewhere close like the Wat Pra Keo.
Taxi: Tell the dirver “Kho-Sarn Road” and make sure they turn on the meter. All the taxi drivers know this place.
Walking: If you’re good with navigating around with a map, go for it! And you need to, print out the Thai spelling below and ask for directions from any locals.
Thai Spelling:
ข้าวสาร
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