TRANSCRIPT:
I’m Dew. Bangkok is my hometown; but Bangkok is quite big. Come with me, and I’ll show you around the place.
When you cross the street in Thailand, you actually have to watch your left and also your right, because sometimes the cars come both ways. Even at the crossing lights, they sometimes don’t stop for you. Just follow me and do what I do.
We call this temple ‘Wat Suthat’. It’s one of the oldest temples in Bangkok. Many clients ask me if they can take pictures with the monks and of course they can, but there are some rules. When you’d like to take a picture with a monk you should ask for permission first. Leave a little bit of space. Don’t put your hands on his shoulders or his head – no touching at all. It’s better to just stand with a little space, especially the ladies. They have to stay a little bit further apart because normally the monk is not allowed to touch any ladies. You can smile or even put your hands together, that’s the best posture to show respect to the monk.
Many people still use herbal medicines or Eastern medicines. On that side, there is the traditional herbal medicines, but on this side you also can see some Western medicines. Different generations and different beliefs – if one doesn’t work, you can go to the other ones.
This is one of the famous Thai desserts. There’s corn, coconut, jellies, water chestnut and many other things that they put together with ice – sometimes with syrup or with coconut milk.
In Thailand there are many different colours of taxis. I think it’s all the same with the same price but there are some from different companies. When you get in a taxi by yourself, you have to ask them to turn on the meter first. There are good and bad drivers. Sometimes bad drivers don’t use the meter and you might pay extra and get ripped off.
In this district – this whole street – there are many fresh street foods. Thailand is the longest buffet line in the world! There’s a lot of food all over Thailand. They have different stuff that mixes things between Thai and Chinese, Japanese, and every country from all over the world. When Thai people get something from a different country, we try to create our own things. Sometimes you see bread. We got bread from westerners and we didn’t know what to do with it so we cut it, put ice cream in it, and topped it with sticky rice.
I love to walk. I walk through the small lanes only and I will stop in different shops to try different things, different foods and take some pictures. Sometimes when I see this kind of shop I’ll talk with the owner and guests can get the stuff that they need. Thai people are very easy going, friendly, and always smiling (we are the land of smiles). Anywhere you go, you can smile to anyone. You can throw your smile and you’ll get a smile back.
This area is one of the famous places for Pad Thai. But actually, I don’t like this one. For me, I’m familiar with another place that is better! So, if you would like to try it, just come with me.
This is an area where they make monk bowls – the kind of bowls that the monks use. Can you hear? The monks will use them every morning and people offer food to the monks. These singing bowls are what people use to do their meditation. Right now. it’s only a few families that still make this kind of stuff because the factories can make it faster, but the quality from the factories is not as good.
Do you smell something? Yes, wood. Because this area is a wood area where they carve wood. They’ve been here for over 100 years from different generations and still live here.
The small cart ladies sell different kinds of stuff – they just walk around. People who are staying their house don’t have to go anywhere because the food comes to the front of the house.
You can see another type of transportation – the Tuk Tuk. But be careful before you get on. You have to negotiate the price with them. If it’s too cheap, they’ll maybe take you to another place and maybe you will have to buy some jewellery.
This canal is the canal that connects the east side and west side of Bangkok. You need a little bit of skill to get on this type of boat. Another type of transportation that I wouldn’t recommend you try, is motorbike taxis. Sometimes there’s heavy traffic so people use these kind of taxis – but if you’d like to try it you can.
I’ve been a guide for at least six or seven years. I was born here in Bangkok. Bangkok is my hometown and if you would like to see Bangkok, you should come with me.
