Bangkok’s Stations of the Cruise

The Thai capital of Bangkok is arguably one of the top Southeast Asian getaways with its rich culture, pulsating nocturnal colonies, and mouth-watering cuisine, not to mention the vehicular traffic which can rival our own Edsa gridlock.

But fret not, as most parts of this metropolis can be navigated through its extensive urban railway systems—two government-run Metropolitan Rapid MRT routes (which include a subway), two privately-owned Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) Skytrain lines, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), and the state-run rail link to the Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

For long distance runs, Thailand has a reliable train service emanating from the Hua Lam Pong station. There are also buses, taxis, Grab, and a mish-mash of the three-wheeled tuktuk, single motorcycles, redesigned pick-ups for short distances and alleys to complement road travel.

I recently toured Bangkok’s attractions via train to test the efficiency of their mass transport system, oftentimes with a backpack and a trolley bag in tow, transferring to a different hotel everyday in opposite sides of the BTS lines.

The stations sport a passenger-friendly staircase, lifts and escalators in good condition, and a stylish concourse, without the snaking queue which is a daily scenario back home. Many of the stations are connected to the big malls, and some portions have a parallel pedestrian walkway underneath which connects to the next stop. The trains themselves are clean, trendy, spacious, has cool air-conditioning, and conducive for a joy ride using a 120-baht (P203) all-day pass.

The key to not getting lost is a good sense of direction and skill in map reading. Train map brochures are given away for free at hotels and malls, and the route map of all the train lines is posted at every station to help commuters navigate with ease.

Here are some of the key stations to remember, in no particular order, in discovering Bangkok from a vantage point of view.

Station 1: Sanam Chai MRT (Blue Line). Situated at the Rattanokosin area, you can reach Bangkok’s must-see cultural attractions in one sweep—the sprawling Grand Palace (Wat Phra Kaew), the Saranrom Palace, the Museum of Siam, and the National Museum, which are repositories of ancient Thai heritage and culture.

The iconic Grand Palace, which houses the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and once the home of the royalty, receives some 20,000 visitors daily. If the lines get too long, other temples you can check out nearby are Wat Pho and Wat Mathatat which can also give you a glimpse of the Buddhist faith and way of life, as well as its ornate architecture.

Station 2: Saphan Thaksin BTS 2. Standing at Chao Phraya River bank, you can access many of the luxe hotels and shopping centers, a live Muay Thai boxing show, and the Asiatique Riverfront, which has a night market, scores of seafood restaurants, and a tall ferris wheel overlooking western Bangkok.

The country’s 372-km main waterway, Chao Phraya is an important thoroughfare dating back to the ancient times when the river was the “highway” for passage and trading, and serves as the alternative for commuters avoiding the road traffic. You can explore the river on board the Chao Phraya Express Boat which has eight stops and can be integrated with other modes of land transport, or the water taxis which can take you almost anywhere.

The river is teeming with cruise boats with dinner and live band, or simply sightseeing tours which take guests to the spots where the bustling city originated.

Station 3: Si Lom MRT. This busy intersection leads to Lumphini Park, a 57.6-hectare green open space dotted with trees, playgrounds, jogging and promenade paths, and an artificial lake for boating. It is just among the many green spaces which serve as the lungs of the city to counter air pollution.

Also accessible via the Sala Daeng BTS station, the vicinity is known for street food stalls, sidewalk vendors, and the famous bars and night markets in Pat Pong.

The area is surrounded by embassies and landmark hotels, among them Dusit Thani which is undergoing facelift, and Anantara Siam which exudes the nostalgia of Thailand’s yesteryears.

Station 4: Siam BTS 1. This vital interchange is a shopping haven with presence of gigantic malls on almost all corners—the mid-priced Siam Center, the upscale Siam Discovery, Siam Paragon which houses the Sea Life Ocean World, and the 2,000-store budget mall MBK (Ma Boon Khrong).

Also nearby is Madame Tussauds, which features life-size wax statues of famous persons, and is regarded as the best of its kind in Southeast Asia. Across is the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, a hub for music, theatre, film, design, exhibition and performance.

A few blocks northward is the 60-year old teakwood Jim Thompson House Museum of American designer and architect, fondly called the “Thai Silk King” for pioneering the silk textile industry.

Station 5: Chatuchak MRT. Still on shopping which is a favorite Asian pastime, Chatuchak Weekend Market is a must-visit with its more than 15,000 stalls, divided into 27 sections. Also reachable via the BTS Mo Chit terminal, this is the largest market where you can buy practically anything Thailand has to offer.

You can also leisurely swing by the Children’s Discovery Museum, the Queen Sirikit Park, the Butterfly Garden and Insectarium, and the Vachirabenjatas (Rot Fai) Park.

Station 6: Phaya Thai. On my flight back home, I tried the Suvarnabhumi Airport Link, a 30-minute ride worth only 45-bahts (P 76.50). The commute and transfer from the BTS Sukhumvit Line was a breeze despite my backpack, pasalubong bag, and luggage. Each train has 3 spacious coaches which can carry 745 passengers, and runs smoothly in the scenic seven-station, the 28-km railway.

The world-class 14-year old Suvarnabhumi evokes the Thai spirit with the statues of mythological characters towering over the check-in counters, the mini prayer shrines, and a tableau depicting mythical folklore.

With Bangkok’s trendy and efficient urban train system, every station is an exciting cruise experience worthy of a rerun.