Bangkok Handbook

by Carl Parkes

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1566911591
• ISBN13: 9781566911597
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing
• Length: 170 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 7.4"

Customer Reviews

For what it's worth...

I first traveled to Thailand in 2001 and am now planning my long-awaited second trip. I leave in a few weeks and am browsing the different Thailand books available in bookstores, but I will also definitely be bringing the Moon Handbook: Bangkok guide I brought with me in 2001. During my first trip to Thailand (I taught English for three weeks within the Bangkok vicinity) this book was the perfect guide. Since my trip was so long ago I unfortunately can't remember specifics, but I do remember being impressed by it and thinking during my trip that I couldn't have asked for a better guide to Bangkok. It provided a thorough guide to the city and it was easy to understand, well-written and the content was well laid out. For whatever it's worth, I wanted to write a review and give it five stars because I think it deserves it. I, also, would love if it Carl Parkes wrote an updated version. I'll need to bring along a more updated book with me for this trip because I don't think it's a good idea to rely solely on an out-of-date book, but I'm sure I'll be consulting the Moon Handbook again.

Better than Lonely Planet

I brought both this book and Joe Cumming's Lonely Planet guide with me. I was glad I hauled both with me across the Pacific (you can never have too much information), but Carl's book was my clear favorite. The Moon guide always seemed to bring me a bit closer to the Thais than the Lonely Planet guide -- it seemed like Carl is closer to "going native," or perhaps more empathetic than Joe. What a shame that it seems to be the less popular of the two. Bring them both, but if you only want to buy/carry one, make it Carl's Moon Guide.

great cultural education but make time to visit Chiang Mai

Carl Parkes provides a great cultural education and writes well about Thai history. You'll be informed and your table manners won't offend your Thai hosts (they use forks and spoons but not the way that we do). More photos and maps would be nice (the D-K guide to Thailand will fill those gaps). But the big shortcoming with the book is the subject itself: Bangkok. Sophisticated and curious travelers to Thailand always say that their favorite spot is Chiang Mai in the north! You've got to fly through Bangkok to get there so you still may want to carve out a week to see Bangkok and environs. But do try to get to the north (Parkes also wrote the Moon Thailand Handbook, which will be useful if you do decide to visit Chiang Mai).

From a Bangkok expatriate

I first picked up the initial edition of Bangkok Handbook in 1992. As I worked in Bangkok for 7 years in the 1980s and I was a bit curious as to how deep this guide would go. While most guide books cover all the basic sights and things to do they often fall short in really getting under the surface. This book did indeed have things to teach me. I ended up taking some of the walking tours myself and used the map of the river stops extensively.I like my guides to give my some good historical and cultural information in a concise but insightful manner. Take Thai temples. First time visitors are typically struck by their stunning beauty. But what do all the architectural forms mean? What aspects of Buddhism are contained within their design? You could read whole volumes on this at your local university. The Handbook, however has a two page spread that will get you up to speed fast with an understanding of the basic terminology and historical usage. To my mind this is what separates the Handbook from the more popular Lonely Planet travel survival guides. These "backpacker bibles" may be very good at where to get the cheapest rooms and meals, but really fall short on what you are really seeing while you are there.Bangkok is both heaven and hell. It's city of fabulous restaurants, fantastic shopping, pristine temples and frantic sex. It's polluted, noisy, smelly, ill-planned and hot, hot, hot. And It's traffic is world famous. We used to joke that you could do anything you wanted in Bangkok; you just couldn't get there. (Over the last few years with the advent of many new tollways and since Dec. 99 the overhead trains this has really abated.) I've used Parkes book a lot - along with my reprint of the "1928 Guide to Bangkok" which is great for my historical expeditions. And I have found myself in Thailand every year since I've left in 1990.

Very Informative

This book not only got me around, but I learned a lot along the way.