Bangkok’s Temples

Thailand is known to be a buddhistic country where people still practice a strong religion while also living in a very modern and trendy world.

It’s interesting to see the combination of modern, gigantic shopping malls where you can buy everything from Giorgio Armani to Louis Vuitton but at the same time you have hundreds of temples all over Bangkok where monks in orange robes meditate, pray, perform rituals and other social functions.

Bangkok truly is a “melting pot” in every sense, and it’s grounded in a very typical Thai characteristic: being able to assimilate different cultures, no matter how much they might differ, and integrate them into “Thainess”.

Currently there are around 400 temples in Bangkok, and the number of mosques is also growing, specially around the area of Bangkapi.

Generally it’s free to enter a temple, only the main tourist attraction temples charge an admission fee for foreigners – if you have ever witnessed how many tourists flood the Wat Pho temple on any given day you are not surprised though about the fact that managing such an influx of people actually needs to be funded somehow.

The Wat Pho is in fact the most famous temple in Bangkok. Here the gigantic “Reclining Buddha” can be found – it measures 64 metres in length and 15 in height and as far as I know there isn’t even one photograph that actually fit the whole Buddha inside because of the way the temple is designed.

Around the Reclining Buddha there are 108 small bowls where people can drop coins inside for good luck.

Buddhist monks from all over the world – including Tibet, Japan, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Burma and other nations come here to pray respect to the Buddha.

The whole Wat Po temple complex overs around 20 acres of land, and in fact while the reclining Buddha is almost always crowded if you just walk around a bit you might find yourself to be the only person around (specially if you come early in the morning).

Bangkoks temples are still great to explore and you will make many interesting encounters here. Many of the monks have very interesting life stories.

Bangkok Dental Clinics and Dental Treatment

Bangkok is one destination to get your smile better. The capital city of Thailand, Bangkok is located by Chao Phraya River, near the Gulf of Thailand. Well, the reason is not just shopping..!! One gets an opportunity to get the dental treatment done in Bangkok from cost effective dentists. Dentistry in Bangkok is generally very good because they have undergone lengthy general education along with specialised studies mainly done from abroad, so the crowd in Bangkok is not just there for tourism. Tourist from Australia, United Kingdom and United States of America visit Bangkok for dental treatments.

Dental clinics in Bangkok work with the mission of giving beautiful smiles to all people who visit them. Many of the dental clinics now have state of the art equipments for their patients with highly sterilized materials. Apart from general dental treatments, Bangkok is famous for cosmetic dental treatments too. There are many new cosmetic dental treatments that have started the last 10 years. With the increasing popularity of Bangkok as the final destination for dental clinics, there is definitely a rise in Dental Tourism there. There are packages offered for people looking for treatments. These packages include hotel stays and spa as well.

As people in Bangkok have realized their potential in dentistry, this industry is growing every day. In most of the clinics, there are English speaking staff. Bangkok dental clinics provide a wide range of dental treatments. This includes: Teeth whitening, dental implants, oral surgery, cosmetic dental surgery, dentures, braces, veneers etc. A person can easily get an appointment in one of the many dental clinics in Bangkok with ease and sometimes even in the same day. The best part is, you can enjoy a vacation along with the treatment here.

You can get dentists expert advice in the dental clinics here, before you finally decide on any treatment. Dental treatments in Bangkok is very cheap and many times prices can be a third of the price and sometimes even more compared to the west depending on the treatment. Many clinics here have in-house dental labs introduced with highly innovative and modern equipment.

Lately, international x ray facility is also available. Using this, the dentists can actually examine the state of somebody’s tooth before their arrival. This saves patients lots of time and thorough examination of the dental records and case history. If a patient wants to get a sure quotation with a Bangkok dental clinic, then the patient can send across his or her OPG X – Ray. So, all these facilities can only be obtained in Bangkok Dental Clinics. So, smile more when in Bangkok with best dental treatments.

24 Hours in Bangkok

Bangkok, the city that never sleeps, where hedonism reigns supreme. A city so alive you can almost feel its beating pulse as you walk the heady city streets. Welcoming more visitors than any other city in the world, Bangkok is synonymous with extremes and contradictions. Though noisy, hectic and hot, the intensity and excitement of Bangkok gets into your veins, there is little wonder many are enticed back to Bangkok, time and time again.

As Thailand’s main port of entry, many find themselves passing through on their way to smaller more exotic Thai provinces. It is also a port of call for those heading to neighbouring countries and a stopover between the South Pacific and Europe.

For those who find themselves with a stopover in Bangkok, deciding what to do in such a short time can be somewhat overwhelming. Here is an intuitive itinerary that encompasses the very best of what the city has to offer for those finding themselves with 24 hours in Bangkok.

Getting There

Getting yourself into the city from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is simple, The Airport Rail Link, is fast efficient and cheap. The high speed train runs every 15 minutes and runs from 6am through to midnight. For 150 Baht you will be in the centre of Bangkok (Makkasan Station), in just 30 minutes.

Taxi’s are available from the ground floor of the airport, Taxi’s are a convenient and cheap way to get around Bangkok. Be wary however that if it is raining or rush hour the drive into the city can take up to, and sometimes over, an hour. Always insist your driver turn the meter on and make sure you have everything with you before you exit the cab.

A Morning Shopping up a Storm

For many, shopping in Bangkok is some of the best in the world. A shoppers paradise you can literally find anything you want, be it the real deal or the very best designer knock off, Bangkok has it all. Experience the thrill of bargaining at a market or the sheer opulence of one of the designer shopping malls.

For those in the know, Siam is Bangkok’s ultimate shopping district. Here, mega malls sit side by side housing some of fashions biggest names. You could spend days wandering through the malls in Siam without seeing it all, so for those with limited time Siam Paragon, Central World and Siam Center offer the perfect mix of high street, designer and boutique brands. MBK has an infamous reputation among travellers, however unless you’re after cheap junk, we advise you give it a miss.

Platinum Fashion Mall in Pratunam is an absolute must for anyone who considers themselves ahead of the pack in the fashion game. A one stop shop, Platinum is a wholesale shopping mall specialising in fashion clothing. The hive of activity can be daunting for some, but the treasure trove that awaits makes it worth while. The more you buy here, the more you save and remember haggling is all part of the process.

Culture Shock

Take the afternoon to soak up some of the Thai culture. The Grand Palace and Wat Prakeaw is a dazzling example of Thai culture and possibly Bangkok’s most iconic landmark. The complex itself homes a 14th century Emerald Buddha. The architectural details and Buddhist monuments make the Grand Palace a tourist attraction no visitor to Bangkok should miss. The cultural heart of Bangkok this fascinating attraction offers a unique glimpse into Thailand’s past.

Up all Night

Experience Bangkok’s legendary nightlife, an epicureans dream there are an abundance of self-indulgent activities.

Head up Lebua State Tower to watch the sunset, sipping some of Bangkok’s most innovative cocktails. Sky bar is set 63 floors above the city and offers the most spectacular sparkling views of the city and beyond. The world renowned bar has been made all the more popular after its starring role in The Hangover Part 2. To avoid getting caught out, men should wear long pants and covered shoes, dress code is smart casual and you will be turned away if not adhering to the rule.

If you’re not shopped out from earlier in the day, Patpong Night Market is a must visit destination and an experience you won’t find anywhere else. The market is lined with go-go bars and filled with designer fakes, knock-offs and cheap souvenirs. Spend a few hours wandering around the market taking it all in.

For those still on the go, Bangkok’s nightclub scene is elaborate and buzzing. Slim & Flix Club is a regular among Bangkok’s hip and trendy party goers. Offering live music and an impressive drinks list, it is a must for those who love to party!

Beyond Bangkok

As Thailand’s main hub, Bangkok offers travellers the a number options for travelling onwards. The two main airports have daily flights to destinations around Thailand including Phuket, Koh Samui and Chiang Mai.

Condo Picks for Bangkok’s Phrakanong District

New condominium and apartment blocks seem to spring up every fortnight in Bangkok. Over the course of a year, it’s not uncommon to see two dozen or more well-appointed and well-located buildings materialise in the central areas of the city. This gives plenty of opportunity for anyone looking to lease or rent residential properties near the Bangkok BTS or MRT train networks.

Location, Price, Facilities, Style, Design, Views?

Obviously not all new condos and apartments in Bangkok are as appealing as each other. Inevitably, some stand out from the crowd for a whole host of reasons, some of the most common being:

  • Location
  • Price (value for money)
  • Facilities
  • Service management
  • Style & design
  • Neighbourhood
  • Surrounding views

It is never just a single factor that makes one building better than the competition. Here I have put together what I think are the overall best current choices in condos and apartments to rent around the Thai capital for the current market.

Just like all “best of” lists, my choices here are subjective. I’m sure any reader with an in-depth knowledge of the Bangkok property market will dispute some of my choices and argue that there are other buildings more worthy of the praise. I’ve not onely listed condos and apartments that I personally like the look of though, but also ones which have been given good feedback by expats living in the city. In other words, some or my top picks have been tried and tested.

Le Luk Condominium In Phrakanong

The first Bangkok condo I will look at is the Le Luk Condominium in Phrakanong. This building is located just a five minute walk from Phrakanong BTS station. Le Luk offers studio, one, and two bedroom units for rent. The building opened its doors for the first time in the summer of 2011. One of the initial attractions of this condominium is the size of the living areas when compared to the relative size of many newer projects coming onto the Bangkok real estate market.

Over the last 5-10 years there has been quite an increase in well-located, well-appointed, modern condo and apartment constructions in Bangkok. And, due to the popularity and convenience of the MRT and BTS lines, many of these properties have been located within just 500m-1km of a station.

However, the one draw-back of the current housing boom has been the shrinking living space. Condominium units, in general, have been getting smaller and smaller with each passing year. This is where the Le Luk comes into its own as an accommodation of exceptional value for money. With Studios as large as 40sqm, one bedroom condos over 50sqm, and two bedroom units over 80sqm, these units are not only well designed, bright, and airy, but also genuinely spacious when compared to many of the newer projects.

Le Luk – The Conclusion

Le Luk condominium combines the best of both worlds for those looking to reside in mid-range accommodation in Bangkok. It has both the stylish design and architectural advantages of a new building, combined with the size and spaciousness of much older constructions. Also, factor in the value for money represented in the rental price, then Le Luk is undoubtedly one of the best Bangkok condos currently on the market.

The Sky Walk Condominium Phrakanong

The Sky Walk is another condominium that has units to rent in Phrakanong. It too is within close proximity to the BTS Phrakanong skytrain station, and like the Le Luk condo above, the Sky Walk also offers excellent value for money. This building only opened its doors in 2012, but has already proved to be a big hit amongst our clients. With excellent facilities, great lay-outs, and bright open rooms (thanks to large windows), which bestow spectacular views of the city, makes the Skywalk condominium another popular choice.

Units available include studios, plus one and two bedroom options, all of which are relatively large in size for this market. The Sky Walk caters for a wide range of foreigners looking to rent in Bangkok.

A new commercial and retail building opened in the same compound provides the residents of Sky Walk easy access to restaurants, shops, and supermarkets, which makes renting a condo here even more appealing than when it first opened. And the Skywalk is also set to become one of the few condos in Bangkok that’s connected to a BTS station (in this case, the Phrakanong BTS) via a sky bridge.

Sky Walk – The Conclusion

All these things and more, make the Sky Walk a great Bangkok residential building, not least because of its location, facilities, amenities, and value for money.

Offices, Condominiums and Apartments – How Have Things Changed In The Past 10 Years In Bangkok?

Hi. I’ve been working as a real estate agent in Bangkok since 2006. In that time I have seen some changes, but surprisingly very little has changed. Let me explain.

Apartment Rental Prices Bangkok 2008 – 2018

Rental prices of most apartment buildings have increased very marginally over the past 10 years. Whereas a spacious 3 bedroom apartment in Sukhumvit area would have cost 70,000 Baht 10 years ago, it may cost you 85,000 Baht today. That’s only a 20% increase over 10 years, actually far less than inflation, and in many ways an apartment is cheaper now than 10 years ago.

Why? It’s difficult to say but I would guess that ongoing political problems, 2 coups, and a pretty stagnant economy barely kicking over at around 3% growth in GDP each year are the reasons. This level of growth may be acceptable for a world leading developed nation, but for Thailand that (let’s face it) still has some way to go in terms of development, it’s not very good.

The apartment rental market in Bangkok is mostly governed by expats. Thai people don’t rent at these prices, either they don’t earn enough, or are sensible enough to buy a property in the suburbs, or are part of the immensely wealthy elite and already own several blocks in central Bangkok. As the number of expats has remained fairly constant, so have rental prices.

Newly built condominium buildings have seen a rise in rental prices, and there will always be a small percentage of people who have sufficient budget and only want to live somewhere very new, something is particularly true of Japanese renters, but the new buildings will become old and once they have been constructed and a rental price has been established, you will notice that the price will stay relatively stagnant from then on.

This is actually the same with condominiums for sale. Once a building has finished construction, a sales price and rental price is established, and it will remain stagnant at this level for years to come.

But prices have been increasing in Bangkok, everyone knows that!! So am I wrong?

Condominium Sales Prices Bangkok 2008 – 2018

I don’t think I’m wrong. There are some condominium buildings that have experienced a very good level of capital appreciation in recent years, but “on average” they haven’t.

Yes, prices have been increasing significantly in Bangkok, and this is something that all developers will happily promote to you when selling you their brand new project. They will show you graphs with an upward trend in prices, and show you that prices are increasing at least 5-10% year on year.

Prices of brand new buildings have been increasing a 5-10% year on year, but not completed buildings.

This is mostly down to increases in land prices. As land prices increase (and to some extent construction costs) so have the cost of new buildings. So new buildings get ever more expensive, but are completed buildings following suit?

No. And this is why I’m not wrong. A building that cost 150,000 Baht/sq.m. 5 years ago, may now only be 160,000 Baht sq.m. In this example around 1.5% compound growth. This building was brand new 5 years ago, and a brand new building today still under construction might cost you 200,000 Baht/sq.m. which is 33% more than the new building was 5 years ago, hence the 5%++ compound growth.

But the fact remains, the building that YOU purchased 5 years ago may have increased only 1.5% compound per year.

This is the ongoing trend with Bangkok property. New buildings constantly set new benchmarks in prices, and then remain the same. With even newer buildings adding a layer on top, setting new benchmarks, and then remaining at the same level. Even newer buildings still, just keep adding another layer on top.

This is why you will find such huge price discrepancy between buildings, even if they are located right next door to each other. An example would be Lumpini 24, a new condominium located on Sukhumvit Soi 24, where prices will fetch around 250,000 Baht/sq.m. So, a 60 sq.m., tiny little 2 bedroom unit will cost around 15,000,000 Baht.

Immediately next door is an older condominium called President Park, where prices have remained stagnant at around 60,000 Baht/sq.m. So, a very spacious 3 bedroom unit of 260 sq.m. will cost you around 15,000,000 Baht.

Four times bigger, located immediately next door, but the same price! So the old adage “Location, location, location” doesn’t apply here. It is ONLY based on the age of the building.

Here is an example of a newer building for sale, 275sq.m. asking 80,000,000 Baht: http://www.property-bangkok.com/viewproperty.asp?id=587

Here is an example of an older building for sale in a similar location, 366sq.m. asking 21,000,000 Baht: http://www.bangkokcondo.org/viewproperty.asp?id=614

Yes, the new condominium is much nicer, better design with newer lobby and sparkling facilities. But is the variation in price fully justified. I mean, 4 times the price!

Baring in mind that the interior of the new condominium will age and need replacing, and if you bought in the older building you can renovated the interior to have it all brand new.

In any event, whether you buy in the new condominium or older building is neither here nor there, the main issue being raised in this article is that prices of new projects may have increased nicely, but once you have invested in your condominium unit, you may not realise the same level of growth that you were told by the developer.

The only ones really seeing huge capital growth, are the land owners. And these are mostly already very wealthy Thai people, as non-Thai’s cannot own land. It doesn’t help the majority of non-wealthy Thai people who still remain financially strapped.

Office rental prices have also remained quite static. Over the past 10 years office rental prices have increased marginally, similar to the apartment buildings. However, as most investors (both Thai and Foreign) seem fixated on condominium buildings, the price of office space for sale has also remained quite static, and arguably office units for sale provide the best option for rental returns, given that office leases are normally minimum 3 years, and you don’t need to renovate the office space like you would with a condominium, with the former requiring a whitewash lick of paint, the latter new furniture, new bathrooms, new kitchen etc.

This is not to say that it is a bad idea to invest in Bangkok real estate. But you need to consider office space and commercial properties as well as residential, and you need to very carefully consider the building, as I previously mentioned, some condominium buildings have seen good growth over the past 10 years, whereas most haven’t.

You need to have a good eye. Best of luck!

Sukhumvit Road Guest Friendly Hotels in Bangkok

If you’re deciding on where to stay right in all the excitement of Bangkok’s infamous nightlife districts then it’s best to choose a guest friendly hotel in the Sukhumvit district. Specifically from Sukhumvit road Soi 1 through Soi 23.

The reason is Nana red light district is located right on Soi 4 and Soi Cowboy red light district ends on Soi 23.

Soi Cowboy is a neon light filled street with many of Bangkok’s most well-known go go bars like Long Gun and Rawhide. Nana is most famous for a building with 3 floors of go go bars surrounding an open bar area called Nana Entertainment Plaza.

Both areas are very popular tourist centric attractions with all types of tourists visiting from around the world.

So if you’re visiting Soi Cowboy and Nana then most likely you’re looking to stay in a “Guest Friendly” hotel. It’s a term for hotels in Bangkok that do not charge their guest a joiner fee for bringing a companion back to their rooms.

Non guest friendly hotels normally charge a fee of 500THB and up to 1500THB if you wish to invite an unregistered companion to your hotel room. And that’s a hefty fee.

A majority of Bangkok’s hotels with no joiner fees are concentrated around Sukhumvit district. You can easily find a comfortable budget hotel that cost around 1000THB. Maxim’s Inn on Soi 7/1 is one example of a very good basic budget hotel with no joiner fee. It’s close to the Nana BTS station and right in the middle of Nana and Soi Cowboy.

Though I recommend finding a guest friendly hotels in Sukhumvit that cost around 1500THB because hotels in that price are very good quality and are typically in the 2 to 3 star range. Boss Suites and Heaven@4 are located right on Soi 4 cost around 1500THB and really popular with guests who love to visit Nana Entertainment Plaza because it’s close.

Over by Soi Cowboy are two 4 to 5 star hotels with very affordable room rates. The Grande Centre Point Sukhumvit and Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit are new luxury hotels that cost around 3500THB per night.

And all 5 of the recommended guest friendly hotels mentioned here are really popular with frequent visitors to Bangkok’s nightlife. Which means it’s best to book a room in advance if you find a really good deal since discounts for hotels can be found frequently.

Bangkok’s Sukhumvit district is the best are to stay for partying. It’s where most of the best clubs, bars and red light districts are located. So choosing a hotel there will put you right in the heart of all the action.

Golf Vacations in Bangkok, Thailand

There can be no finer destination for your golf vacation than the Kingdom of Thailand, with over 260 golf courses and an all year round golfing climate, golf played at a relaxing pace, a refreshment stop every 4 holes, excellent golf caddies, and truly magnificent clubhouses and much more Thailand has got to be at the top of your list for a golf holiday.

Wherever you travel in Thailand you will find magnificent golf courses throughout the kingdom, the most popular regions are Bangkok, Hua Hin, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Kanchanaburi, and you will find championship courses in all of these regions.

Asia as a golfing destination is becoming increasingly popular and Thailand is Asia’s leading golf destination, the green fees compared to western rates are inexpensive and there literally 100’s of courses from which to choose.

Add to this a wide range of excellent hotels providing all levels of accommodation and a standard of service that is second to none, this combined with excellent restaurants serving fine Thai and Western cuisine at a fraction of the cost you would expect to pay elsewhere.

The Caddy Factor

The one thing that sets Thailand apart from all other Asian golf destinations is Thailand’s golf caddies, they add another dimension to your round of golf by providing excellent reading of the greens, they also mark, clean and re-place your ball, you never even have to take your ball out of the cup.

Your only responsibility on the golf course is to hit the ball apart from when you tee-up the ball that of course is after the caddy has handed you the washed ball and the tee. Many of the caddies are beautiful and would be strong contenders in a beauty contest elsewhere.

In short your caddy can add value to your Thailand golfing experience, with their friendly smiles, and fun loving nature they will surely add another ingredient to a pleasurable Thailand golfing vacation.

Bangkok Golf

Bangkok is a modern vibrant city of towering office blocks, ribbons of expressways, teeming traffic and a Skytrain, the elevated mass transit system that threads its way above Bangkok’s main thoroughfares. Yet alongside these futuristic trimmings lie the ancient traditions that visitors love so much – glittering temples and palaces, barefoot monks in orange robes, old wooden buildings, and ceremonies like the magnificent Royal Barge procession on the River of Kings.

Bangkok is the business, financial and political centre of Thailand. Yet it remains a fun place to visit; a renowned city of entertainment, cuisine, night markets and shopping for the whole of Asia. Hospitality is legendary. All are welcome and many come.

In Bangkok alone there are over 60 golf courses in the greater Bangkok area, the most popular being Thai Country Club, Alpine Golf Club, Navatanee Golf Club, Amata Springs Country Club, all championship courses that have hosted PGA tournaments.

Summary

No matter where you go in Thailand you will find a host of activities to whet your appetite for adventure, from elephant trekking, river rafting, mountain biking, sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving or just plain sightseeing, whatever you desire you’ll find in Thailand.

I have been in the golf tourism business in Thailand since year 2000 and there can be no truer testament to golf in Thailand than the number of clients I have who return year after year to relive their golfing experiences in Thailand.

5 Tourist Attractions Bangkok Is Famous for

Bangkok, as a tourist destination, needs no introduction. Steeped in history, culturally liberal and astounding in term of modernism, Bangkok stands out from the rest of the world. The country has so much to explore that a tourist may be baffled on what to see and what not to. Though the city greets you on arrival with a countless of sights and attractions, here are top 5 thins Bangkok is famous for.

The Grand Palace: Perhaps the most recognized historical place in Thailand, this place is a perfect instance of architectural brilliance and historical legacy. It has a cluster of many beguiling buildings, which are pertaining to royal families of Thailand. The sheer size, exuberant atmosphere and stunning collection of artifacts in Grand Palace will surely delight your senses.

Wat Arun: This grand temple is widely recognized for its towering spires with impressive lineation. It was built in 19th century is truly a masterpiece of Thai style of architecture. The main USP of the temple is its architecture beauty and the fine craftsmanship, though the breathtaking sunset views and a great collection of religious particulars are worth exploring.

Floating Markets: Small boats laden with a variety of goods, especially the fruits, vegetables and coconut juice, jam packed of tourists negotiating with local vendors and ferries aplenty waiting for tourists to take on ride – floating markets near Bangkok have become quite a tourist attraction than a market place. One can hire a guided boat to enjoy the atmosphere and extravaganzas of these so-called the markets on water. To enjoy the atmosphere without haggling over prices, try relaxing on a guided boat tour of Damnoen Saduak market. Some popular Floating markets near Bangkok are Taling Chan Market, Bang Ku Wiang Market and Damnoen Saduak.

Chinatown: Popular as the cultural powerhouse, Chinatown in Bangkok is a must-visit for those interested in culture, history, ethnic foods and rewarding shopping. Come here to explore those magnificent Chinese temples, sample delicious Chinese cuisines or to shop till your pocket allows with its endless rows of shop-houses! Interesting cultural scenes would give you the memories of lifetime. Sync your holiday with a major Chinese festival like the Chinese New year, and you’ll be shocked to see the fun and gusto in this part of Thai capital.

Soi Cowboy: From the time when an African-American cowboy opened the first bar here, this place has been a hot favorite of fun-lovers in Bangkok. Flashing neon lights of trendy bars and discotheques, colorful streetscape packed of fun-loving backpackers and beautiful Thai girls hollering out ‘helloooa, welcome’ – the atmosphere at Soi Cowboy night market leave you stunned. This area is for open-minded and night-birdies. So if you happen to be a family-traveler, it’s better to escape visiting there.

Gold Investment in Bangkok

For hundreds of years, gold in Thailand has been used in ornaments, utensils and religious amulets. In ancient times, statues in many Buddhist temples were made of thick golden layers. Wealthy nobles and merchants wore ornaments of bracelets, chains and rings.

When Bangkok was built over 200 years ago, gold was as popular as ever. As Bangkok grew in population and prosperity, small time merchants, mostly of Chinese descent, would purchase chains or bracelets with any spare money, as a hedge against bad times. If conditions got difficult, they would trade the precious chains for cash to continue the business. People who had emigrated from chaos elsewhere to relatively peaceful Bangkok knew firsthand that the bar, not paper, is a true store of value.

Early Bangkok precious metal traders were concentrated in the Yaowarat district of Bangkok, as well as the Silom section by the Chaophraya River. When you visit these two areas, you will still see some old two-story buildings where the ground floor shops, painted bright red, are lined up with glass case cabinets filled will yellow metal chains of all sizes. They also carry rings, bracelets, amulet casings, and pins.

The more established shops also carry bullion of various sizes, from half ounce to kilogram pieces. Established shops are trustworthy. Tang To Kung and Hua Seng Heng are the two top yellow metal merchants in Bangkok. These two giants have branches all over Bangkok and in other provinces.

Today these merchants are really metal traders and brokers. They sell gold in jewelry format and bullion formats. They will also buy back them from their customers in both formats. When they buy back from you, there is a small transaction fee, at current prices approximately one hundred baht per half ounce. A half ounce of the yellow metal in Bangkok is about twelve thousand five hundred baht today. So a hundred baht transaction fee is pretty small when you trade bullion for cash.

For foreigners in Thailand, one confusing aspect of Thai bar is the system of measurement. The weight unit for Thai gold is called baht. One baht is about half an ounce or 15.16 grams. Adding to the confusion, the Thai paper currency is also called baht. Thus one bar baht is about twelve thousand five hundred baht. It sounds confusing, but it is nonetheless accurate.

Gold in Bangkok is of high grade, though somewhat less than standard international investment grade. Bullion is 96.5% pure. By contrast, Swiss bullion is 99.99% pure. A jewelry such as a wrist watch bands might be a bit less pure to enhance the sturdiness.

The price of the bar is set daily by the Thai Gold Traders Association. Practically all bar transactions are done in cash. You walk into a metal shop, tell them how many baht of the yellow piece you want, and pay them in cash. By the way most metal shops do accept credit cards as well.

With all the uncertainty in international markets, it might not be a bad idea to have some bullions stashed away for a rainy day. It has stood the test of time as a store of value. It will continue to be popular in Bangkok for a long time to come.

Bangkok Oil Massage: Get The Healing Touch Of Nature

The oil massage in Bangkok can act as a healing touch! Such massages are a substratal source of physical and mental well-being in stressful and hectic lifestyle. Essentials oils are an indispensable ingredient of oil massage in Bangkok. As an inseparable item of aromatherapy, oil massage of Bangkok is adorned with a brimful of benefits.

As it is said before, essential oils are commonly used in oil massage, available in Bangkok. Essentials oils are mainly extracted from various parts of a tree, such as, flowers, leaves, branches, bark and so on. Every type of essential oils has own effect. These oils can be used solely or in combined form.

In Bangkok, for massaging, the pure form of essentials oils is not used; instead the oils are diluted with carrier oils. As carrier oils, one can opt for olive oil, peanut oil, coconut oil, avocado oil etc. But before taking any oil massage, remember different carried oil provides different effect. So, choose your massage oil carefully, as per your needs.

Such oils massages can be beneficial both in physical and mental angles. Some of its physical as well as mental advantages are stated below,

Physical advantages:

oOil massage can be taken for alleviating pain and getting relaxation.

oLeading a stress-free life is possible with this massage

oImprovement of blood circulation is another benefit of this massage

oThis massage can be taken for the improvement and flexibleness of body postures

oThe healing touch of the massage works perfectly to recover any muscle injury and body ache.

Mental advantages

ooil massage provides peace of minds

oIn case of removing mental stress and depression, oil massage can be taken.

oEnhancement of emotional outlook is another advantage of oil massage

oMany persons in Bangkok opt for oils massage for removing anxiety

oWith oil massage, a person’s social involvement can also be increased.

In this context, a question may come to the reader’s mind. It is about the side effect of oil massages. Undoubtedly it can be said that oil massage treatments are completely free from any bad effect, as the oil, used here is completely natural. But while taking the massage if any irritation occurs, it is advisable to stop applying the oil right at the moment.

Lastly, it can be said that the oil massage, available in Bangkok assists people to lead a stress-less lifestyle. These days, when hectic and busy time schedule leaves us with enormous tensions and pressures, oils massage of Bangkok reinstates as well as reinforces our physical and mental health.

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