Bangkok is everything you'd expect from the capital of Thailand: it's
noisy, crowded, colorful, exciting, infuriating, and smile inducing.
There are ancient sites to be visited and modern shopping malls that
have a kitschy yet high-end ambience. Bangkok can be overwhelming as its
lifeforce smacks you in the face, but it's a fascinating city that
represents Southeast Asia's tension between the developed and developing
worlds.Bangkok also serves as a gateway to many other parts of
Thailand. From here, you can hop a short flight to Phuket, Chiang Mai,
Koh Samui, and other popular destinations. You can also board a train or
hop on a bus for little money, and visit national treasures such as
Ayutthaya, Lopburi, and many other gems of the country.