Deciding where to stay on a first time visit to Bangkok can be somewhat overwhelming. It’s a vast city of almost 10 million people occupying almost 1,600 square kilometers. Its neighbourhoods are spread far an wide although an excellent public transport network ensures that visitors can easily get around. Accommodation ranges from 5-star luxury hotels overlooking the Chao Phraya River to basic backpacker hostels along the Khao San Road. With so many places to choose from it’s fair to say that there is something to suit every pocket in Bangkok, it’s just a question of researching the city’s main neighbourhoods and deciding which is most appropriate for you.

Having only heard glowing references to Thai food I found myself underwhelmed after my first few days in Bangkok many years ago. What nobody had told me was that you aren’t supposed to eat the lemongrass! Once I’d corrected this ‘schoolboy error’ I came to love the food of Thailand which is often best enjoyed from street vendors who operate from food stalls on the pavement with a few tables alongside. Vegetarian. chicken, pork and shrimp dishes are the most commonly prepared with a combination of aromatic ingredients such as garlic, shallots, coriander, galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, fish sauce and palm sugar. Thai people enjoy spicy food so you’ll often find a small bowl of spicy fish sauce (Prik Nam Pla) on the table. Made from lime juice, fish sauce and fresh chillies this innocuous looking accompaniment should be treated with respect!

My main memory of visiting Bangkok for the first time more than 20 years ago is one of seemingly endless taxi rides. We arrived at the old Don Mueang Airport after an eventful flight from Kathmandu. The main in-flight entertainment was watching a group of Nepalese men consume copious amounts of red wine and brandy during the flight. As we approached Bangkok the poor cabin crew had quite a job of seating these jolly passengers whose white suits were now covered in red wine stains and were incapable of finding their seats. Certain