Forget wandering down Khao San Road or frequenting a ping-pong show, there’s plenty for you to see and do in Bangkok outside of the well-trodden backpacker path. Here we bring you five unusual ways to spend an afternoon in the city that will really give you something to write home about.
Bangkok Forensic Museum
Forensic Medicine Building, Siriraj Hospital, 2 Prannok Rd, Bangkoknoi, Bangkok 10700
One for the fans of the macabre, Bangkok’s Forensic Museum requires a strong stomach and a steady disposition. Located inside the Siriraj Hospital on the west bank of the river, the museum is made up of three parts. The first is the pathology room, displaying babies affected by genetic disorders preserved in jars of formaldehyde. The second, the forensic room, displays the bodies of victims of both accidents and murders, as well as the dried body of a famous child murderer of the 1950s, supposedly to instil fear and deter copycats. The anatomical section on the third floor displays cases of dissected or deformed body parts and preserved human skeletons – it’s certainly a grisly sight for morbid eyes. Admission is free so if it’s too much to handle, you won’t lose anything – except maybe your innocence.
Bangkok Snake Farm
Thai Red Cross Institute, 1871 Rama IV Rd, Bangkok 10330
Whether you’re insatiably curious about reptiles or you hope to never cross paths with one, Bangkok Snake Farm is designed to educate and eradicate your fears of our hot-blooded friends. At 2.30pm on weekdays and 11am on weekends, there are live snake handling demonstrations carried out by carefully trained specialists who will teach you all you could ever need to know about the slithering reptiles. With everything from king cobras to boa constrictors on show, there’s even a chance to hold the snakes for yourself – it’s not for the faint hearted!
Papaya Vintage Shop
Soi Lat Pharo 55/2, Lat Pharo Rd, Wang Thong Lamg, Bangkok 10310Â
To the outside world it simply appears to be a warehouse in the suburbs of Bangkok, but to assume this would be to miss your chance of uncovering the treasure trove of whimsical delights hidden inside. Three storeys high and jammed from floor to ceiling with every knickknack you could imagine – from life size Batman figurines to art deco furniture – Papaya vintage shop is the kind of quirkily surreal emporium you could find yourself lost in for hours. Somewhere between a shop and a museum, not everything is for sale but this is a place that’s delightfully and chaotically messy, making it well worth the rummage.
Royal Dragon Restaurant
35/222 M.4 Bangna – Trad Rd, Bangna, Bangkok 10260
If you want to do something out of the ordinary during your time in Bangkok but you don’t fancy handling a snake or visiting a museum of body parts, take a trip to the Royal Dragon Restaurant. Allegedly the largest restaurant in the world, this Chinese-style seafood eatery caters for up to 5000 customers and offers an impressive range of live seafood, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and some European dishes. The 1000 members of staff are made up of waitresses on roller skates and flying waiters who soar through the air on a cable and harness to deliver your dish to your table. There’s even regular Thai dance, music and boxing shows to keep diners entertained.
VIP Cinema at Nokia Ultra Screen
5th floor of Paragon Cineplex, Bangkok 10330
Visiting the cinema might not be your top priority in Thailand, but Bangkok’s VIP cinemas are an experience that can’t afford to be missed. Boasting everything from sofa-beds to first-class lounges, this is your opportunity to act like royalty whilst checking out the latest blockbusters for a snip of the standard Western price. A great one to try is the Nokia Ultra Screen on the 5th floor of the Paragon Cineplex where helpful attendants will wait on you hand and foot throughout the film, bringing anything you order right to your seat. Tickets include a snack and drink in the VIP lounge and even a complimentary foot massage.
So there you have it, five great things to experience in Bangkok and not a tuk-tuk or banana shake in sight. If you’re backpacking around South East Asia, you’ll often find that flights to Bangkok are a frequent part of your travel so at least the next time you find yourself with a few hours to kill in the bustling city, you’ll have a whole list of unusual ways to entertain yourself.
