THE first impressions of Bangkok are usually of a city full of hustle and bustle, ancient temples, electrifying nightlife, massage parlours, night markets and the singsong speech pattern of the local folks.
Everything, it seems, can be bought, price negotiable. Divide that by the exchange rate you go by and you realise that you can get some serious bargains, provided you can find your way around this teeming city of up to 10 million people - depending on who you ask.
As time goes by, the seemingly haphazard crisscross of streets begins to make more sense and you get used to the crowd.
Best of all, you realise that this city has another side to it - one filled with boutique hotels, state-of-the-art spas and quaint restaurants.
And all you did, really, was to turn a corner.
For those who have been to Bangkok, quite a bit has changed over the past year. The ageing Don Muang Airport has been replaced by the strikingly handsome Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
An increasing number of travellers are coming for medical spa visits, plastic and laser surgery, luxe shopping and the boutique hotels sprouting throughout the city.
With the help of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, I plunged into this newer side of Bangkok.
After days of luxury spas, branded stores and fancy restaurants, I wanted a taste of how I had experienced Bangkok the very first time: staying in a little motel in the backpacker's district of Khao San, eating at a roadside cafe, drinking Singha beer, and finally ending the night with a foot massage at one of the little massage parlours - just around the corner.
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Check out:
Medical Spas THEY are a growing trend in Bangkok, offering consultations by accredited physicians (from chiropractors to dermatologists) and a gamut of spa services in beautiful, modern and relaxing environments.
Savvy Bangkok stays BIG five-star hotels now have competition in the form of boutique hotels. Intimate, luxurious and sometimes quaint, these smaller hotels add an artsy, personalised and stylish edge to your stay.
