| Bangkok has many fabulous attractions which make | | | | all of Thailand. As well as the main chedi, there are |
| excellent day-trips. One of the most popular day-trips | | | | numerous bots, Buddha images and other structures |
| from Bangkok is the 110 km trip to the picturesque | | | | nearby. This area is mostly visited either on a day tour |
| Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, which is in | | | | from Bangkok, or sometimes on route to |
| Ratchaburi province. Bangkok is famous for its | | | | Kanchanaburi. |
| floating markets. You will find them at Ton Khem, and | | | | Kanchanaburi is home to the River Kwai and its |
| there are others at Hia Kui and Khun Phitak. | | | | infamous bridge. The building of the bridge in 1943 was |
| Organised tours to Damnoen Saduak will probably also | | | | part of a wartime project to link existing Thai and |
| include a visit the Rose Garden and the chedi at | | | | Burmese railway lines to create a direct route from |
| Nakhon Pathom. The Rose garden is set in large | | | | Bangkok, Thailand to Rangoon, Burma (now Myanmar) |
| landscaped tropical gardens but is mostly visited for | | | | in an effort to support the Japanese occupation of |
| the 'cultural show' that's put on there - Thai traditional | | | | Burma. Over 100,000 conscripted laborers and 12,000 |
| dance, Buddhist ordination ceremony, muay thai (Thai | | | | prisoners of war died during the whole project. |
| boxing), elephants at work, and takraw (a common | | | | To the northeast of Bangkok in Minburi are both the |
| sport in Thailand). | | | | Suwan Siam Water Park and the Safari World Park. |
| Also in the grounds is a luxury riverside resort, | | | | Easy to combine in one day trip, the water park is set |
| thousands of rose bushes and hundreds of exotic | | | | in large landscaped gardens and has surf, whirlpools, |
| birds. Close to Rose Garden are the Thai Human | | | | fountains, waterfalls, large water slides and flumes. |
| Imagery Museum and the Samphran Elephant Park. | | | | Other family attractions here are children's playgrounds, |
| The human imagery museum is a Thai Madame | | | | colorful aviaries, an open zoo and botanical gardens. |
| Tussauds with images of famous monks and all the | | | | With more than 150 acres, Safari World is the largest |
| Chakri dynasty kings. The Elephant park has a variety | | | | wildlife park in Southeast Asia. There are almost a |
| of elephant and crocodile shows ( featuring these | | | | hundred different animal species, including giraffes, |
| animals wrestling, performing in various ways, including | | | | zebras, elephants, lions and tigers. The marine section |
| tug-of-war). | | | | has trained dolphin shows and an aviary section with |
| Nakhon Pathom, around 60 km west of Bangkok, is a | | | | eagles, macaws and parrots. There are various |
| town famous as the reputedly the oldest in Thailand | | | | shows available (including dolphins, birds, seals and |
| and the place where Buddhist missionaries first | | | | monkeys). This is best visited on a tour, as the wildlife |
| entered Thailand from India. It is a typical provincial Thai | | | | section is for vehicles only. Though the park also has |
| town with only the gold encrusted Phra Pathom Chedi | | | | coaches you can go through on, most taxi drivers can |
| giving a clue as to its celebrated past. | | | | be persuaded to take you through it if pay them a little |
| This is a massive 127m high, making it the word's | | | | more for it. The other sections can be visited on foot. |
| largest Buddhist monument, and the most important in | | | | |