Yeah it was a shopping trip. Ayuthaya wasn't on plan. It came later. My next trip to Bangkok will be more cultural.

Ahhh! That's what the yellow shirts are! I saw them selling and wearing them with a logo that looks royal. I knew it has something to do with the king. And the song I heard when they stood at the BTS station might be the king's anthem, not the national anthem...or maybe there's no difference.

I agree. I watched a documentary about the Thai king during my flight back from Nepal to Malaysia some time ago. It's because of him that Thailand progressed and the way he treated his people and the poor, it was incredible. Actually that awe and respect the Thais feel for their king sort of rubbed off on me a little. Our royalty were cut off from the people. Except the Sultan of Selangor I think.

Chatuchak's a weekend market. Really should never, never miss Chatuchak. I've never been to Suan Lum night bazaar but it's worth a visit. Many people who had been there told me to go and the locals too but I couldn't fit it into my schedule. It seems that this night bazaar is gonna close anytime so if you can make it, don't miss it. Pratunam market is opened daily from 9am-midnight.

About the kickboxing, I've never been to one but according to my Lonely Planet, it says this(roughly):
The best of the best fight at the 2 Bangkok stadiums-Ratchadamnoen Stadium and Lumphini Stadium.

Ratchadamnoen Stadium
- more formal
- is the original one
bouts: 5-8pm & 8.30-midnight (Sun), 6.30-11.30pm (Mon, Wed, Thurs)
Bus: Air-con bus 503, ordinary 70

Lumphini Stadium(Sanam Muay Lumphini)
- has looser and more populist atmosphere compared to Ratchadamnoen
- more encouraging of non-Thai boxers
www.muaythailumpini.com
bouts: 6.30-11pm(Tues & Fri), 5-8pm & 8.30-11.30pm Sat
Metro: Lumphini

Admission fee
- same for both and vary according to seats
Ringside seats
- 2000Baht
- most expensive and filled with VIPs
- central action
- gambling prohibited
2nd class seats
- 1500Baht
- most tourists take these ones
- also filled with number-runners who take bets from the die-hard fans in 3rd class
3rd class
- 1000Baht
- die-hard fans
- they bet and cheer from the fenced-off bleachers (I think you better don't take these ones or you might get crushed)
- rowdiest section

Foreigners/Westerners usually pay more than the local Thais for the seats. I guess that's understandable. Most programs have 8-10 fights of 5 rounds each. English-speaking 'staff' outside the stadium, who's practically tackle you upon arrival, hand you the fight roster and steer you to the foreigners' ticket windows; they cal also be helpful telling you which fights are the best match-ups (some say welterweights between 61.2kg and 66.7kg are the best). Remember to only purchase tickets from the ticket window and not from a person outside the stadium(you don't need help to buy a ticket no matter what you're told). For more info on fighters and upcoming programs see www.muaythai2000.com (click the image then click the UK flag for English)

On maps and guidebook
I've got lots of maps of Bangkok and the best ones I find is the Nancy Chandler's Map of Bangkok alias "The Market Map and Much More" . Another quite good one is a free copy map of Bangkok(there are so many but this one is with a red main page and a big advertisement of Narry's Hotel in Phuket. It also has a map of Phuket and Pattaya). If you travel lots by BTS, then of course it makes sense to get a free BTS map at the station(for planning trips and all that). Nancy Chandler's map is not free but it's really good in the sense that it's clearly defined in different colors and small notes(of what that place has) and has a good floor plan of Chatuchak. It says also: "Detailed map of weekend market area, central shopping area, khao san/phra athit, sukhumvit road, Chinatown, Central Bangkok, Greater Bangkok, river, taxi stops, skytrain/subway routes AND tips on how to enjoy the charm of old Bangkok!!"

Getting a guidebook is not necessary with Nancy Chandler's map because it comes with a small booklet listing accommodations, sightseeing, shopping, dining, entertainment, transportation, etc. It's like whatever you need to know for your Bangkok trip, it's all in there. I bought my Bangkok Lonely Planet here coz I needed to know details and Lonely Planet's the best(but also expensive). I bought it coz I know I'll go back to Bangkok again. You can't buy Nancy Chandler map here in KL. You can buy it in any bookstore in Thailand, it's well-known.

It'll be great if you can visit Ayutthaya if you're in Bangkok. It's not far from Bangkok and it's very interesting to see all the ancient ruins of a great empire(World Heritage UNESCO site) and then eat at a riverside restaurant. Along the road you'll see people selling strings of colored(natural, pink, green, etc) thingy in plastic bags. Those are sweet strands of Idunnowhat that you put on a piece of popiah-like skin and rolled. Those sweet stuff's like the Chinese's dragon beard candy. I like it. It's Ayutthaya's specialty(the locals said).
I've uploaded some photos I took at Ayutthaya and you can see them here--> Link

Yup yup...I went berserk shopping in Chatuchak. Not to be missed!

Simple English is good enough. Something like "Paad thai, two!" instead of "Can I have 2 plates of paad thai please?" Or like DrezzUp said, point if there's a picture. I also pointed many times when buying snack from roadside stalls. Sometimes not sure what meat/ingredient were those. I've met quite a number of Thais who speak Mandarin and Teochew too.

I've never tried the dining cruise but I've got some info on hand...I've got like 12 different dining cruises here on list. Dunno which you like and it's CNY tomorrow, tired to list them all. You can check some websites though
http://www.loynava.com (this one's recommended by the maps and guidebook)
http://www.manohracruises.com/
http://www.yokyor.co.th/english/cruise/index.html
If you're not in a hurry I can list them all a few days later(maybe Thurs...and only if you want).

How many people are going with you? You can check this site out if you haven't and the more ppl the cheaper it is for each person...
http://www.bangkokprivatetour.com/index_fi...ting_market.htm

If anyone's still looking for accommodation, Citin Pratunam is a good choice coz I've stayed there and like it very much for its service, location and comfort. The price is reasonable and the hotel's still new. The only gripe is that since it's new, you need an address in Thai language(can be printed from website) for the taxi driver and/or a phone no. of the hotel to call for direction(taxi driver can call with their h/p and it's also there on the website). But if you know how to go to Baiyoke Sky, it's within 5 mins walk from there. All taxi drivers in Bangkok know Baiyoke Sky. Also very good for vegetarians coz this hotel's restaurant serve only vegetarian food. Check out its website: http://www.citinpratunam.com
I sounded like I work for them.

Yeah gila I know...
I agree with Panda-man that the best is to go there and hire a boat. I think they're all fighting for tourists so you can bargain with them. If you're 2 people then it's ok. If you're alone then better not risk it hehe...but then again, I don't think it's something very difficult to do anyway since it's very famous for tourists so accessibility should be easy.

Haha no problem since it's holidays and I'm kinda free. But then my knowledge is limited. I only have my worthy guidebook as my..guide. Hmm...I think dinner cruise will be more interesting perhaps...

Oh, I'm not sure if they're at the same place...there are a few floating markets. Admission to grand palace is not expensive. I think it's better to go separately and hire a boat to the floating markets when you're at the pier. It says in the Lonely Planet that it's about 250baht per hour.

Sorry I've never been to that hotel. I guess Ratchadaphisek and Ramkhamhaeng are a bit far from the central touristy places but getting around in Bangkok is convenient. maybe might waste some traveling time. Hope someone who knows can answer you.

You can probably fit Paragon in to your last day's morning session, before you go to airport. It's opened from 10am-10pm if I'm not mistaken. And cafes are opened till 11pm.

I agree. Just for the service alone, I'm willing to pay what was stated in the meter.

It's also good to check out these sites for reviews from past visitors on the hotels that you choose to stay(if they're on the list).

http://www.agoda.com
http://www.asiarooms.com/thailand/bangkok.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g293916-...kok-Hotels.html
http://www.sawadee.com/hotels/bangkok.html (on the top left corner there's the travel reviews)

Now Calypso Cabaret charge 1000 baht per person. Talk about yucky tiger show, it's really yucky...last time we had company trip to Phuket and the guys happily went to watch tiger show, all came out half way feeling sick and shitty. Heard all the gross stuff they do.

I've been there but I went by a friend's car. I know there are taxis going to Ayutthaya, maybe you can hire a taxi for the trip coz the historical sites are spread out in many different areas of Ayutthaya. If you hire a taxi maybe the driver can drive you from site to site...

Don't know the answers to the rest but definitely worth going. You can purchase a thin booklet about Ayutthaya when you're there, it's very cheap. You can see all the different historical sites in Ayutthaya Historical Park. If you can't/don't want to go to all sites, you can refer to the booklet, select and go to the ones that interest you.