"I Want to Get Back to Nature in Bangkok." Is That Even Possible? (2.21)

While Thailand is a great place to experience the natural beauty of the tropics, Bangkok is a giant metro area and not all that appealing to nature lovers with a short time to visit. Or is it? That's the topic of this episode of The Bangkok Podcast.

Evo's still sick, but he's on the mend thanks to a doctor. Because as you'll recall from an episode just a few weeks ago, antibiotics are available over the counter here. But you know what isn't? A diagnoses of illness from a qualified physician. Luckily there is no shortage of great doctors in Bangkok. And they are quite cheap. Some people are just stubborn. Ahem. And did you see the article that claimed Thailand has the worst traffic in the world? We do a little debunking on that before we get to the heart of the matter. Finding nature in the confines of Bangkok's concrete jungle. What, exactly, should a nature lover visiting Bangkok do if they only have a few short days? That's the question Evo's friend and Finland-based travel blogger Lottie put to us. No, she doesn't really want to hit all the rooftop bars, shopping malls, countless temples, or the seedier side of tourism that form Bangkok's well-deserved reputation. We have a few ideas, including:

• Prapadaeng (also called Bang Krachao) - Bangkok's "green lung"
• Phutthamonthon - "Spiritual center of Thailand", says Greg
• Chao Phraya river - It's always breezy and cool on this big, navigable river that bisects Bangkok
• Ayutthaya - Archaeology and history only 3 hours away by train
• Lots of great parks we mention in the show, some rather hidden
• Lovely beaches not too far away, but you'll want to do an overnight, probably

So… yeah. Bangkok offers more than just shopping, sex tourism, temples, and rooftop bars. Just keep the weather in mind when you visit. Because it's always summer here. Speaking of that...

Love, Loathe, or Leave?

Holy volcanos, it's hot here. We have no volcanos, but we do leave very close to the sun, apparently. There weren't any seasons to speak of this year in Bangkok, which has an impact. Listen in to find out how we feel about it.

Want more?

If it's your first time experiencing The Bangkok Podcast, you really should get our show downloading to your phone automatically every week. If you use iOS, it's a breeze to listen via iTunes. Android users should be able get the show automatically through Google Play. But if you run into a snag, get in touch. We'll help! Drop us a line or leave a review for us on iTunes or Google Play. Oh, and we have a Facebook page! You can even Tweet to the show @bangkokpodcast or us personally at @bkkgreg or @evoterra. We'll see you next week on The Bangkok Podcast!

(Direct download .mp3)