Bangkok

Understand

Just under 14 degrees north of the Equator, Bangkok is a tropical metropolis that is also one of the most traveller-friendly cities in Asia. A furious assault on the senses, visitors are immediately confronted by the heat, the pollution and the irrepressible smile that accompanies many Thais. Despite the sensationalised international news reports and first impressions, the city is surprisingly safe except from some petty crimes and more organised than it initially appears, and full of hidden gems waiting to be discovered. The high relative humidity and warm temperature favour the growth of tropical plants — you'll find exotic orchids and delicious fruit everywhere. Bougainvillea and frangipani bloom practically all over the city. Thai cuisine is justifiably famous, varied, and affordable. Bangkok for many represents the quintessential Asian capital. Saffron-robed monks, garish neon signs, graceful Thai architecture, spicy dishes, colourful markets, traffic jams and the tropical climate come together in a happy coincidence. It is difficult to leave with lukewarm impressions of the city.

Climate

Climate	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Daily highs °C	32	33	34	35	34	33	33	33	32	32	32	31
Nightly lows °C	21	23	25	26	26	25	25	25	25	24	23	21
Precipitation mm	9	29	28	64	220	149	154	196	344	241	48	9
Check Bangkok's 7 day forecast at TMD.go.th

According to the World Meteorological Organization, Bangkok is the world's hottest city. Located just 14 degrees north of the Equator, Bangkok is sunny at any time of the year with temperatures over 30°C 86°F.

The most pleasant time to visit is the cool season that lasts from November till February. It is both the coolest and driest period — the Emerald Buddha statue in Wat Phra Kaew even wears a scarf during this period! Don't think that's necessary though — daytime temperatures still hover around 30°C 86°F, but it does cool down into the lower 20s as it gets dark lower 70s in Fahrenheit. March and April represent the hot season, and hot it is — 35°C 95°F on average, but don't be surprised to see temperatures rising into the 40s °C around 100 °F+. This is the worst season to visit Bangkok, so plan in a lot of air-conditioned shopping mall visits and get a hotel with a swimming pool. Then there's the wet season that runs from May till October. Expect massive downpours resulting in floods all over the city, and spells of thunder at times. It's not all bad though — the afternoon showers are actually a pleasant way to cool down from the heat, and while they may last all day, usually they're over within an hour. Extreme rainfall happens in September and October, so these months are best avoided.

Whatever season you're visiting, don't take the weather lightly — temple-tramping in the scorching afternoon sun can be a challenge, so come well-prepared. Dress lightly for the weather, but keep in mind that some palaces and temples notably the Grand Palace have a strict dress code. Also be sure, and this cannot be said enough, drink enough fluids! You don't have a reason not to, as 7-Elevens and other convenience stores are abundant in Bangkok and they sell cooled beverages for as little as 10 baht. Locals get their water from "reverse osmosis" purified water machines that fill up a one litre bottle for 1 baht.

Movies

Foreign films were popular in Thailand from the get-go, but in the 1920s a local film industry started to emerge in Bangkok. The most critically acclaimed Thai movies were produced in the "three waves" of the Bangkokian film industry, the 1930s, the 1950s and the late 1990s/2000s, although movies made before World War II have unfortunately been lost. Predominant genres are action, historical epics, romance and gay/transgender movies, almost always intertwined with elements of comedy. The following are staged at least partly in Bangkok:

Bangkok Dangerous บางกอกแดนเจอรัส เพชฌฆาตเงียบ อันตราย, The Pang Brothers, 1999. The debut of the Pang Brothers, Bangkok Dangerous is a stylish movie about a hitman who finds love, and realizes how his actions are hurting good people.

Iron Ladies สตรีเหล็ก, Youngyooth Thongkonthun, 2000. This movie follows the true story of a men's volleyball team that almost entirely consists of gay and transgender players. The team competes for the 1996 national championships, and while the crowd loves them, they are being judged by other teams and match officials.

The Beach Danny Boyle, 2000. Richard played by Leonardo DiCaprio is a young American backpacker looking for adventure. In Khao San Road, he meets Daffy, who makes him believe a beach paradise exists on a secret island. While not necessarily a good movie, it is popular among backpackers; besides Bangkok, some scenes in this Hollywood production are filmed in Ko Phi Phi, a beach island in Southern Thailand.

Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior องค์บาก, Prachya Pinkaew, 2003. Martial-arts star Tony Jaa's breakthrough film and an absolute must-see for those interested in Muay Thai or fight choreography. Many places in Bangkok are featured, but don't think Khao San Road is the underground fighting den as it is portrayed.

Bangkok Traffic Love Story รถไฟฟ้า..มาหานะเธอ, Adisorn Tresirikasem, 2009. While it could be described as a typical Thai chick flick aimed at middle-class Bangkokian women, it does give a good insight in Bangkok's traffic hassle and transportation networks. The movie's acronym BTS refers to Bangkok's Skytrain, which plays an important role in the film which was released exactly 10 years after the opening of it.

The Hangover Part II Todd Phillips, 2011. American comedy movie about a group of friends that travel to Bangkok for their bachelor party. A lot of stereotypes are confirmed, but it is still a good laugh. Most scenes of the movie are shot in Yaowarat and Thonburi; the State Tower is also featured.