Big City Life: Bangkok Style with Teacher Becca

To teach English in Thailand it’s not only good to be prepared for the classroom, but also for the culture you’ll be joining. Good thing, we’ve got Teacher Becca to share her experience and great tips:

Let’s start with the facts. Bangkok is the largest and most populated city in Thailand. It is *the* city.

As the capital, there are numerous cultural attractions to keep you busy.

Let’s do Bangkok by the numbers:

 

•    City population is roughly 8 million

•    The city spans 600 square miles, give or take

•    It was founded as the capital in 1782

•    There are just 2 lines on the Bangkok Transit System,
making it easy to find your way

•    Bangkok is technically the world’s hottest city, with a record high of 40 degrees. Thankfully it averages around 28. Brr.

•    The city boasts the world’s biggest Chinatown

•    There are exactly 169 characters in Bangkok’s official name, which is…wait for it…

        Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahinthara Yutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udom Ratchaniwet Mahasathan Amonphiman Awatansathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukamprasit

Which translates to…

        the city of angels, great city of immortals, magnificent city of the nine gems, seat of the king, city of royal palaces, home of gods incarnate, erected by Visvakarman at Indra’s behest.

Bangkok Grand Palace

Tourism in Bangkok

Domestic and international tourism is the lifeblood that pumps through the veins of Bangkok. On average, Bangkok sees close to 30 million domestic visitors, and over 10 million international visitors every year.

That amounts to countless Baht brought in through both the official channels, and the street deals that occur regularly in the shopping, food, nightlife and entertainment sectors.

Don’t miss!

So, there is more than enough for a weekend getaway in Bangkok. If you are missing some of the creature comforts from the West, then head straight for the BTS, known as the Sky Train, and get off at the Siam Center stop.

BTS Sky Train

There you will find the famed MBK Center, which can be simply described as malls on malls on malls. It is the place to be for shopping, dining, and entertainment, ranging from high-end to boutique to street vendors.

A simple trip to the movies (in English with Thai subtitles- they know their audience!), and some familiar Western chain restaurants and shops serves as a nice air-conditioned escape from the outside world.

For the Culture Vultures

For a taste of the arts scene in the capital city, the Bangkok Arts and Culture Center is an absolute must. Free admission and the Guggenheim-esque spiral design makes this part-gallery, part-community center attraction fun for everyone.

Don’t forget to save some time for the numerous temples and of course a visit to the Grand Palace. With the king’s passing in October, it is a fascinating time to see the grounds.

Wat Pho, Bangkok Thailand

I suggest visiting the Wat Pho, just down the street, where for just 100 Baht entrance fee you get a bottle of water, a photo opportunity with the famed reclining golden Buddha, and plenty of time to marvel at the colorfully ornate decor of the temple grounds.

However you decide to spend your free time, Bangkok can guarantee something to please the eyes, despite the inescapable layer of smog.

Pro Tips:

 

• Park It:

Due to the traffic congestion and subsequent pollution, it is important to seek out the admittedly scarce green space.
Lumphini Park is a personal favorite and one of the biggest in the city, perfect for a relaxing afternoon post sightseeing.

• BTS, also known as Sky Train:

It can be tricky to get a taxi driver to turn on the meter, and with some of the worst traffic in the world, the BTS is a great alternative.

Payments can only be made in coin, but helpful English-speaking tellers are plentiful in the stations. A single journey will cost you between 15 and 52 Baht depending on how many stops, with a day pass at 130 Baht. Grab one of the free maps from the stations and you will be good to go.

• The Maew’s Meow:

“Cat” is one of the easier (one of the only if we’re being honest) Thai words for me to remember, and Thailand is full of them!
If you want to check out one of the famed Cat Cafés, of which Bangkok has 11, then I suggest the Caturday Café.

It’s walking distance from the shopping district and BACC, and serves Western food.

Then of course there’s the Hello Kitty Café and Unicorn Café but I don’t want to bore you with that right meow…

Sleeping cat at Caturday Cafe in Bangkok

Until next time,

Teacher Becca

Are you inspired to jet off to Bangkok? Don’t forget that i-to-i not only helps you teach English in Thailand, but offers supported travel.
You could be part of the next Thailand adventure. Visit our Paid Thailand TEFL Internship page for full details.

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Comments

  1. Frieda

    Help me how to apply cause I am very interested in this program.

    • Sarah Oxley

      Hi Frieda, Great that you’re interested in the Thailand internship. You can read more about it here and get the guide with the full details here.
      For this particular program you must hold a degree course and a passport from one of the following countries: UK, IE, USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand.

      To teach English in Thailand all you need is a TEFL certificate, which is included in the programs mentioned or you can get qualified and plan your own trip. Give us a call, if you have any further questions or message us via Facebook or Twitter. Always happy to help.

      Your i-to-i team

  2. tanti

    no degree. can i appky?

    • Sarah Oxley

      Hi,
      You can apply for the Thailand Experience products or get TEFL certified and make your own way in Thailand, as not all schools are looking for degree holders. For the Thailand internship, you would require a degree.

  3. Dim

    Very cool blog, lots of good tips! Yes. Bangkok is definitely heart of Thailand. It’s a massive, bustling metropolis which also has many English teaching opportunities. As you mention, the hustle and bustle and pollution can become a bit much for some people. Even though Bangkok is the main city in Thailand, there are loads of English teaching opportunities in the rest of the country too! Thailand has one of the highest current demands for English teachers, and the government is actively encouraging foreign English speaking teachers to assist with this huge demand. For some extra tips, as well as other helpful links, I strongly recommend checking out http://jobs.movinhand.com/teaching-english-abroad/thailand/. Safe travels!

  4. Neil Morris

    Sounds great, I just did one one of those China experiences with NER ( https://www.nooneliterecruitment.com/teach-english-in-china ) and think this would be a great next step. Can you hook me up with any openings for September? Cheers

    • Rebecca Potts

      Hi Neil

      Thanks for getting in touch. We have a Paid China TEFL Internship which departs in August, you can find out more information in the guide here.

      If you have any other questions about the internship or other TEFL trips we offer please get in contact with our TEFL advisers.

      Thank you
      Your i-to-i team

Comments are closed.

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