KHAOSAN, THE MECCA OF BACKPACKERS

Khaosan, the Mecca of backpackers

In Bangkok, there is a road of about 300 meter called Khaosan Road. Along the road, there are many guest houses, hotels, travel agents, café and bars for tourists. Most of the tourists are from America, Europe, Australia and very few are from Japan and Korea. However the majority of the tourists are backpackers who look for low cost accommodation and food.

The guest houses are really very low-cost, from RM18 (180 bahts) to RM 30 (300 bahts) For the cheapest room you have to use shared bathrooms and there is no air-condition. If you need a room without air condition but with attached bathroom it will cost you RM 25 and above. For air-conditioned room with television, you have to pay around RM 40 to RM 50 to stay in a hotel. Although the guest houses and hotels are cheap in Khaosan area, they are very clean and the services are excellent. However Khaosan Road is very noisy until midnight everyday and you may not be able to sleep at night. This is because there is a night market every night and cafes are crowded with Caucasians customers who drink and chit-chat until midnight. Some even danced on the road or show their skill with a basketball or other games, as the roads are closed to traffic every night from 7.00 p.m. onwards. Thus you can imagine, Khaosan Road is in the festival mood every night. The goods in the night market including T-shirts, bags, DVD, souvenirs etc. are very cheap.

If you want to have a good rest at night, better stay in guest houses opposite the Airport Bus Terminal, or the guest houses behind a Thai temple, because these places are quieter.

As there is an Airport Bus Terminal here, it is very easy to go to the airport or from the airport to Khaosan area. From the old Don Muang airport, it will cost you RM 10 but from the new airport you will have to pay RM 15. Air Asia flies to the new airport now. From the airport, look for the bus counter and tell the conductor you want to go to Khaosan. The airport buses there go to different places in Bangkok. To ensure you go up to the right bus look for the plate with the word Khaosan or Senam Luang. In Thailand the man on the street may not speak a word of English, but those in the travel services like bus conductors, taxi drivers and travel agents can speak English well or can at least understand what you want. Some travel agents and tourist guides can even speak English with an American accent.

Around Khaosan, there are many interesting places to visit like Democracy Monument, The Golden Mount Temple, Emerald Buddha Temple, National Museum, Senam Luang (The Royal Field) etc. The Democracy Monument looks like 2 birds spreading their wings. Senam Luang was the padi fields own by the royal family in the olden days. Nowadays, there is no more padi and it is only a large field for the tourist to visit. There are many pigeons and tourists like to feed them. The Emerald Buddha Temple is just beside the Royal Field and you have to buy a ticket for entrance.

From Khaosan, if you want to go to the nearest skytrain station (LRT or MRT) you can take a taxi and the fare is RM10 (100 bahts). The nearest skytrain station is National Stadium Station or Phaya Thai Station. If the taxi driver does not understand English, you can tell him “bai Chanchela Rotfai Far”. You can also take a boat (or water bus) from Phra Athit Pier at the Menam River which is within walking distance from Khaosan and alight at Taksin Pier. The boat fare is only RM1 (10 bahts). The Taksin Station is just about 100 meter from the Taksin Pier at Menam River.

There are so many travel agents in Khaosan area and they organize one-day trips to places like River Kwai, Rose Garden, Floating Market, Palace, Temples, Ruins of Ayuthaya (Thailand’s old capital destroyed by the Burmese) etc, The fare ranges from 400 bahts to 800 bahts and tourist guide, lunch and all transport are included. You can book a one-day tour from the travel agent one day earlier and the agent will pick you up with their van right from the door step of your hotel on the next day.

You can also book international tours from travel agents in Khaosan and bus ticket from Khaosan to neighbouring countries like Cambodia and Laos. You can travel from Khaosan directly to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh in Cambodia and also Vientiane in Laos. However you have to change bus at the border.

Khaosan, where everything is available is really the Mecca for backpackers and tourists.

Written by MOY KOK MING