Lumphini Park (photo by HENRYLITO D. TACIO)

Okay, let’s start this piece with a question: What is the world’s longest name for a place? You don’t know? Well, it’s Bangkok, according to The Guinness Book of Records. The city’s complete name is: Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.

If you don’t speak Thai like me and have a hard time understanding what it means, here’s the translation: “The city of angels, the great city, the eternal jewel city, the impregnable city of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarm.”

Charming is a word I usually use to describe a lady. But I can’t help using the term when describing Bangkok, which became the capital of Thailand in 1768. I have been to this city several times and each time, I’m enthralled by its beauty and charm. It expresses Thailand’s uncanny ability to blend the old with the new.

Bangkok embraces modern development and presents an initial picture of thrusting office towers; of world-class hotels offering deluxe comforts; of glittering shopping plazas packed with treasures of the East such as silk and gemstones; of restaurants serving Thailand’s acclaimed spicy specialties and virtually every other national cuisine.

Amid this sybaritic world, Bangkok manages to preserve its cultural heritage to an amazing degree. In the rich splendor of the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, the Temple of Dawn and other historic shrines, you see images of medieval Oriental wonder.

The Grand Palace, described as “a dazzling fairy tale of dreams,” is an array of temples and shrines. Here, you will find Chakri Palace, the Royal Family’s original home. However, the King now lives in the nearby and more modern Chitlada Palace.

Along the banks of the Chao Phraya River is the Temple of Dawn, one of Bangkok’s striking landmarks. Another notable and familiar sight is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which is considered sacred so taking of photos of the green image is strictly prohibited. There’s also the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, an amazing figure measuring 48 meters long and 15 meters high.

Bangkok is known for its large green sections within the city centre, including the large forest park between Yannawa and Samut Prakan. Regionally famous is the Lumphini Park, touted to be Bangkok’s answer to New York’s Central Park. On Sundays, the western gates are open for runners to run on to Silom Road. The park is normally closed at night due to the incidences of vandalism, robberies, and murders reported.

Once dubbed the “Venice of the East,” Bangkok has hundreds of miles of klongs (canals) snaking through the city. These klongs ensure the continuation of a riverine tradition that dates back centuries ago. For many visitors, a klong tour may provide some of the most unforgettable experiences. You will see Thai riverside houses that appear as much as the ancient houses, beautiful temples, and saffron-robed monks mediating placidly under the trees.

For food lovers, Bangkok is a treat. It offers almost endless possibilities for discovering exciting new tastes, rich in quality and variety. Thai food is pungent, spicy, and hot. The chili is indispensable in Thai cooking, and so are the herbs like lemon grass, coriander, basil, and galanga root.

If you want fried dishes, order any of the following: khao phad (fried rice with pork, chicken, sausage, or seafood), phad Thai (fried shredded noodles with shrimps, bean sprouts, peanuts, and chili), phad si eiw (fried noodles with vegetable and meat), phad priew wan (sweet and sour vegetable with fried pork, chicken, or seafood), and phad nua nam man hoi (fried beef with oyster sauce). If soup is what you prefer, ask for any of these: kaeng chued (a mild flavored clear soup made of vegetables and meat, fish balls, or chopped pork), tom yum (a hot and spicy soup with a variety of vegetables), and tom khaa kai (chicken with galingale in coconut milk soup).

Bangkok offers an incredible selection of dining places in all price ranges. From curb-side foodstalls selling simple but good food, to smart, expensive restaurants, there is something to please everyone. If you don’t speak Thai, just point to what you want and you will certainly get it. Happy eating!

Bangkok, like Metro Manila, is described as a megacity. Currently, the city is home to about 12 million people. With this number of people, transport for traveling is not a problem, according to a Thai journalist who toured me around the city. She added that air-conditioned taxis are plentiful and can be easily hailed wherever a visitor happens to be in the city.

An alternative type of taxi is the so-called tuk-tuk a three-wheeled vehicle taking two passengers (three or four in a squeeze). They are rather noisy and are open to traffic fumes, though they are extremely popular with visitors who find them quaint. Fares are slightly cheaper than those for ordinary taxis.

The bus network within the metropolis is very efficient and economical. It is a wonderful way to tour the city cheaply. Numbered buses ply specific routes. Still another way of seeing Bangkok at its best is through the Skytrain.

While in Bangkok, please observe some rules. Refrain from touching a Thai on the head; they believe the head if the most sacred part of the body. Likewise, don’t rest your feet or put your shoes on a table, and don’t stretch out your feet in anyone’s direction; these actions are considered rude.

The traditional Thai greeting is the wai, wherein the hands are brought together in front of the chin. The younger or the lower-ranking person makes the Thai greeting first. Sanuk is a Thai word describing everything that is fun, enjoyable, and that gives pleasure. This combines with the phrase mai pen rai (“Never mind”). These should remain in your mind during your stay in this country.

How do you get there? Most visitors arrive through Suvarnabhumi Airport, also known as Bangkok International. It is connected by daily flights to Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia aboard the world’s major airlines. Designed by Helmut Jahn, it has the world’s tallest control tower (132.2 meters), and the world’s third largest single-building airport terminal (563,000 square meters).

Sawadee Kaa!