Sight Seeing in Bangkok   Express Boat Trip This is an inexpensive way of seeing life on the river and getting around.   The express boat service on the Chao Phraya River connects Bangkok with the northern neighboring province of Nonthanburi.   There are many major tourist sites along the route including the Wat Arun, and the Grand Palace.  Starting from the Wat Ratsingkhon Pier, the fare is Bht. 7 and operates daily from 6:00am - 8:00pm.   The skytrain stop Sapan Takin, is near the boat station. The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaeo (Chapel of the Emerald Buddha) The Grand Palace is a highly detailed building and contains smaller compounds within the grounds.   The grounds also include a treasure house of Thai arts and the most revered Buddha image in Thailand.   Also contained with the Royal Palace is the Royal Thai Decorations & Coin Pavilion which features a permanent exhibition of royal regalia, decorations, medals, coins and monetary units used in Thailand. Admission: Bht. 100, which includes entrance to the Coin Pavilion and Vimanmek Palace. Open daily at 8:30am - 3:30pm (proper dress is essential) The simple way to get to the Grand Palace is to hail a taxi.   On a Sunday morning, this ride should cost around Baht 200 from downtown.  During week days, it will be more, as the traffic (around the Grand Palace) is usually heavy from 6 am to 8 am.  If you fancy an adventure, then take the skytrain to the end of the line (Saphan Takin) and then take the Chao Phraya Express Boat on the river. Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) This large and extensive temple neighbors the Grand Palace enclave (a 5 minute walk) and contains a gigantic gold plated Reclining Buddha some 46 meters long and 15 meters high and with mother-of-pearl soles. This is the place to get real traditional Thai massage, whether inside the temple compound, or, in an official school just near by. Wat Arun or "Temple of the Dawn" This is across the river from What Pho, in front of the Tha Mahathat pier.   You can cross the river by a ferry that crosses every 10 or 15 minutes and costs 2 Baht. Khao San Road This is a famous hang out for back packers.   It can be an interesting place to watch the world go by and there are cheap restaurants and cafes scattered in between stalls which are selling a variety of tourist trinkets. To get there on the express boat take the same boat as you would to go to Grand Palace.   When you arrive at the Panfah Pier, you will see the Democracy Monument ahead; walk past and turn right on to Klong Road and the right again to Tanao Road.   Then carry on straight until you see Khao San Road on left hand side.   By bus: take normal bus no. 60 (cost at Baht 3.50) or Air conditioned bus no. 12 to Democracy Monument. China Town Step back in time to turn-of-the-century Bangkok, and explore the warren of lanes and alleys on foot, visiting the Chinese temples, gold shops crammed with necklaces, bracelets and rings or the old Chinese medicine shops where you can find powdered deer antlers, rhinoceros horns or tiger testicles, all guaranteed to improve you performance and keep you in the best of health. Dining out in Chinatown is also a must, the food, tasty and prepared to order, is like nothing you have ever had before. Pahurat Be sure not to miss this area where a splendid Indian Sikh Temple shares pride-of-place with a Chinese Temple, and you can find wonderful Indian restaurants, sweet shops and stores selling saris. Jim Thompson's House This is probably Bangkok's most famous house, a romantic traditional Thai house built of teak and in a beautiful garden setting.    The house is now a museum and the guided tours give a fasinating insight into the life of this colourful character. On Soi Kaemsan 2, Rama I Road - go by shuttle bus or taxi to MBK where it is within walking distance. Pasteur Institute Snake Farm Located near Chulalongkorn Hospital on the corner of Henri Dunant and Rama IV Roads, the snake farm houses a collection of poisonous snakes which are milked daily for their venom in order to produce invaluable anti-snakebite serum. Venom is extracted from the snakes everyday at 10:30am and 2:00pm on weekdays and at 10:30am on the public holidays and the entrance charge is Baht 40. Dusit Zoo Located beside the Royal Palace, the Dusit zoo contains a collection of popular African and Asian mammals and birds in an ornamental garden.   Admission is Baht 10 and the zoo is open every day from 8:00am - 6:00pm. Ban Kamthieng Located in the garden of the Siam Society on Sukhumvit Soi 21 (Asoke), this 200 year old northern Thai-style house contains a collection of traditional implements used by farmers and rice field fishermen. Open Tuesday-Saturday from 9:00am - noon and 1:00pm - 5:00pm.   Admission is Baht 20 and the house is a 5 minute walk from the Asoke skytrain station.