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YAOWARAJ is one of the
most colorful parts of the city,
as most Chinatowns anywhere
tend to be. Chinese
immigrants made Bangkok
their home long ago, even
before inhabiting this district
upon being moved from their
previous settlement along
the Chao phraya River. During
the late 18th Century,
many merchants lived in a
small trading colony but were
made to vacate the quarter
when King Rama I, the first
ruler of the Chakri Dynasty,
decided to relocate the capital
to Rattanakosin Island on
the east bank. The traders
moved to the site which is the
current location of Yaowaraj. |
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• Wat Traimit - famed for its five-ton
golden Buddha
• Wat Chakarawat - an amalgam of
buildings dating back to the Ayutthaya
period
• Wat Pathuma Kongkha - one of
the city’s oldest temples that predates
Ayutthaya and at one point was the
site of executions for criminals of royal
lineage
• Nakorn Kasem (Thieves Market)
- contains just about anything
to fix your house or car, as well
as second-hand household items
and electronics
• Wat Mangkornkamalawas - the
Mahayana temple where local
Chinese go to pray, and one of the
principal centers for the annual
Vegetarian Festival
• Wat Kanikaphon - built by a
former brothel |
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The district is laden with exotic food options,
market stalls selling fresh goods, and the hustle
and bustle of residents going about their daily
business. During the day, one can come across
alleyways full of produce, shops selling herbal
teas and medicinal brews, wholesale clothing
storehouses, kitchen supplies, knick-knacks,
hardware stores, jewelry, and miscellaneous
goods. Come nighttime, the neighborhood is
transformed into a maze of bright neon signs
advertising all the restaurants that line the streets
amidst the curbside vendors cooking noodle
soup, fresh grilled seafood, wontons,
black sesame paste-filled dessert
dumplings in hot ginger broth, or a
medley of other Chinese snacks. A
particularly good vendor is Lek & Rut
Seafood, a red-and-pink themed sidewalk
restaurant also famously known
as the ‘first store in Yaowaraj’.
Some of the sights which can be found
in Chinatown and its vicinity
include:
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Besides being Thailand’s most preferred
shopping venue for the teenagers,
Siam Square is also a hub
for a huge range of traditional fast
food eateries. Young shoppers with
a sweet tooth can choose to indulge
themselves in one of the myriads
of bakeries, ice cream parlors and
caf?s at Felice Gelato. |
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This shopping area is crammed with
medium to high-priced eateries as well
as American fast-food outlets. Whether
you crave Thai, European, Chinese
or Japanese foods, there is a place
for you somewhere in this fashionable
area. Traditional Thai restaurants are
flanked by gaudy fast-food franchises
and Japanese suki parlors. Go to Soi 1 if
you are looking for conventional Chinese
restaurants including shark fin. For great
Isaan food and people watching, head to
Som-Tum Nua in Soi 5. |
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Sweet sin is one of the more popular
stores, serving all things made
from chocolate including the famous
chocolate fondue which is served
with local tropical fruits and lumps of
pound cake. And if hunger kicks in
after shopping, shoppers can easily
find eateries with different specialties
that range from mouth-watering
noodle soup shop to steaming dim
sum and from simple Thai food to
luxurious shark fin soup dinner.
Siam Square is opposite side of
Siam Discovery Center, Rama 1
Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok |
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