Click the image to open the large map

Part 1:

Station A.

From the hotel, / first turn left / and walk to the main road, / Dinso Road. //

If you turn right there, /you’ll reach the large seat/of the Governor of Bangkok. //

Turn left just before it / into the small street. //

Especially in the morning / you’ll see countless street food stalls here. //

Employees of the governor’s office pick up breakfast or a snack for later from these stalls. //

Feel free to try something here. //

Because this is precisely where street food isn't made for tourists, //but is as authentic as / many Thais like it themselves. //

I love the dense, exotic aromas on this corner. //

The heat of the chilies. / The smoky, spicy aroma/of grilled satay skewers. //

Add curry paste and fish sauce. //

That aroma alone / wakes me up in the morning. //

At the end of this little street food street, turn right.

Stop B. Breakfast at “Kope Hya Tai

About 50 meters farther on, you’ll come to this popular traditional breakfast spot. //

From six in the morning / it’s mainly Thai people who sit here, //

who work at the nearby businesses / and are looking for a bite to eat. //

A little later, a few tourists join them, //

who are on their way to the nearby Wat Suthat Temple. //

I often stop here in the morning. //

if I want to explore this part of the Old Town. //

I especially recommend the traditional [emphasize] Kai Kra Tâ. //These are two fried eggs, / freshly cooked in a small pan. //

Well seasoned. / And on top, / some freshly chopped ingredients / are fried until juicy and tender. //

A simple dish. //

But one / that shows exactly / how good a simple morning / in Bangkok can taste. //

Stop C. Chingcha Hostel and the lovely Swing Bar

After breakfast, walk out of the restaurant and down the street towards the temple. You’ll see Chingcha Hostel on your left. //

I like to stop by here in the evening. The beautiful Swing Bar is on the sixth floor.//A rooftop bar/with a wonderful view/of Wat Suthat/ and the so-called Giant Swing.

You can find / a seat on either of the two levels. //And what’s / quite rare in Bangkok: //The prices are / really reasonable. //

Perhaps this is / just the right spot for you //to enjoy the sunset / with a cool drink / after a walk / in the late afternoon. //

This is how holidays should be. //

Please note: The hostel does not have an elevator!

Stop D) The Giant Swing

Just before the temple exit, you’ll see the mighty  Giant Swing, //known in Thailand as / Chingcha. //

From 1784 onward / every year in early December / at the beginning of the rice harvest / it was used for a festival in honor of / the Hindu deity Shiva / and a grand spectacle. //

Daring young men / swung themselves / on a kind of ship’s swing / between the tall teak poles / up to 15 meters into the air, // until they were almost vertical! Their goal: to catch a small bag / full of silver coins / with their teeth. //

Just imagine it for a moment. //

The description alone seems almost unreal today.

This spectacle in front of thousands of spectators repeatedly led to serious accidents and even deaths. //

That’s why it was finally discontinued in 1935. //

The teak poles you see today / are more recent. //

Part 2

Station E) Wat Suthat Temple

To the left of the Chingcha, you’ll see the magnificent Wat Suthat. For me, it’s one of the most impressive temples in the city.

Admission: 100 baht. //

So, about three euros. //

And I think that’s / absolutely fine. //

Especially when I compare it with the 300 baht admission fee for Wat Pho. //

What I particularly love about this place: //

You’ll see many monks / going about their daily routines. //

For example, / as they walk beneath the colonnades / beside numerous

Buddha statues / studying religious texts at small tables. //

For me, the most impressive feature / is the 72-metre-long ordination hall, //known as the [emphasize] ubosot. //

Inside, it is completely / painted with mythological/and folkloric scenes. //is / a generous donation / from our government/for the

That’s why the colors look so bright and vivid again today, //

thanks to renovations. //

Take some time here / for a while. //

What I love about this temple / is, above all, / that you still see / relatively few tourists here. //That way, you can / truly experience a temple / as a place of peace and quiet. //

Stop F) For sweet treats: Kor Panich

The small family-run shop [emphasis]/ is famous/for the city's best mango sticky rice. //This delicacy/has been made here since 1932/in the simply furnished shop. //

No frills. //

Without colorful varieties of rice. //

Here, the focus / is on pure enjoyment. //

The mangoes are top quality. //

Made with Nam Dok Mai mangoes. //

At 125 baht, / or about three euros, //

it’s considerably more expensive / than with other providers. //

But in my opinion / this price is / completely justified. // You can taste the difference / right away. //

What’s especially masterful here / is / the balance / of sweetness / and a very subtle saltiness / in the sauce. //

The coconut milk / isn’t canned either, //but comes fresh / from Chumphon / and is wonderfully creamy. //Some of this sauce / is even mixed / straight into the rice. //

Be sure to treat yourself to this delight. //

Stop G) The fairytale “Gingerbread House”

After enjoying the sweet mango, continue down the street // to the next corner / and then turn right / into Trok Nava Street. // Just before the large temple square, on the left, / you’ll come to the beautiful so-called [betonen] Gingerbread House. //

The name has nothing to do with the witch’s house from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale. //It refers to the house’s ornate architectural style, known in Thailand by this name. //

The wooden building/was built in 1912. //

The owners’ family / has lovingly renovated it / in recent years. //

Sitting here, //

in one of the rooms, tastefully decorated with antiques / and old photographs, //or outside on the lovely terrace, //and enjoy one of the delicious desserts / or sets, //

means, for me, /immersing myself deeply/in the atmosphere/of old Siam. //

This really is/no ordinary café. //

But a true one-of-a-kind in Bangkok. //

And for me / the perfect end / to a special stroll / through the Old Town. //