Travelling to Bangkok before or after a holiday at Gecko Villa? Here are some unusual suggestions of free or inexpensive things to see & do in the Thai capital.

The Corrections Museum - On the edge of Rommani Nart Park is this 1890 prison turned museum that records the dark developments of prison life and punishment in Thailand.  Displays seem almost to revel in the gruesome, and include life-sized wax figures in execution scenes and acts of torture. In cell block 9, see  the quarters in which last meals were served before entering the execution chamber. Numerous weapons used in the old penal system are on display, including the man-sized rattan ball with sharp nails pointing inwards. In juxtaposition, there is a display of beautiful handicrafts  made by inmates.

Bang Krachao - The "lungs of Bangkok" are set at a bend of the Chao Phraya river and can be reached rapidly by long-tail boat from Klong Toey. This semi-natural swampland is only sparsely inhabited, predominantly by descendants of the Mon people who migrated from Myanmar hundreds of years ago. Meandering paths thread through the mangroves & are best explored on two wheels. Several bicycle tours of the area are offered.

Temple Rubbing - Whilst throngs of tourists to Bangkok often rub shoulders in the well-known temples of the capital,  there are plenty more  to visit where foreign crowds are unseen and where no entrance fee is charged. Wat Mangkorn Kamalawat in Chinatown, Wat Indraviharn in Dusit, and Wat Patum Wanaran  (between Paragon & Central World Plaza shopping malls) are three beautiful temples that charge no admission fee.

Lumphini Park - Bangkok’s most popular public park. Visit early (say 6am) to watch folks fan dancing, practicing Tai Chi and running. At 6 p.m., there are free outdoor aerobics classes anyone can participate in. A great place to people watch over a street breakfast on the Sarasin side.

Negotiate the City’s Markets - Take the pulse of Thailand at its sprawling markets.  Thewet Market and Khlong Toey Market are both old-fashioned Thai vegetable and produce markets; Pak Klong Talad is where most 5 star hotels source their stunning fresh orchids & flowers. On Saturdays and Sundays, visit the huge Chatuchak market with its unending variety of goods, clothes, pets, shoes, antiques, art, crafts, plants,food...

Bangkok Butterfly Garden & Insectarium - Visit the butterfly garden inside Rot Fai Park to see hundreds of butterflies and other insects. The park is adjacent to Chatuchak Market.

The Bangkokian Museum - This museums has exhibits depicting typical middle-class life in Bangkok during the mid-twentieth century. The museum is hidden away on a side street off of busy Charoen Krung Road.

Royal Elephant Museum - These former royal stables have become a museum dedicated to one of the country’s most honoured animals, the elephant. See ornate palanquins (seating platforms set atop elephants) and elephant armour and learn about elephants in Thai culture.

Excellent hotel rates in Bangkok may be secured via our recommended  hotel reservations system.

In the grounds of Gecko Villa you cannot fail to notice our large "Traveller's Palms" (Ravenala Madagascarienis) - each with an impressive fan of thick leaves. These resemble enormous paddles and can grow up to 3 metres in length.

The astonishing symmetry of the plant, in conjunction with its distinctive shape and size, make this one of the tropics' most emblematic and dramatic trees, although they are in fact not palms, but are related to the orange-blossomed Bird of Paradise flowers you see around our Thai house (so both part of the Strelitziaceae family.)

The plant came to bear the mantle of the "Traveller's Palm" for reasons that are twofold. In hot and sunny climes, a weary traveller seeking to quench his thirst would know that the leaves of the tree act as giant funnels channeling fresh rainwater into the trunk of the plant, where it is stored. Slaking one's thirst was easy, as the base of the leaves could each hold around a litre of water.

In addition, if you walk around the gardens and grounds of Gecko Villa and concentrate on the palms, you may notice another of their peculiarities: the fans grow along an arc from east to west, acting as a natural compass.

Some believe that the tree has special powers, and that if one makes a wish whilst standing in front of it, this wish will be granted. When your next travel to Thailand to holiday at Gecko Villa, you may want to investigate this!

The local wetlands near Gecko Villa are almost completely hidden from view by the dense vegetation that grows around their peripheries, where tall elephant grass sprouts whispy white flowers.

Venturing out into the vast expanse of lake on a traditional wooden boat, you are rapidly transported into another world: the absolute tranquility is broken only by the lapping of the water, the daring darting of birds and flitting of waterfowl - and a magical pink carpet of lotus flowers unfurls before you.

The best time to visit this extraordinary spectacle is in December to March, with early risers the most rewarded. Book Gecko Villa early in these months and do set aside time for this boat trip!

Visit Gecko Villa for more details on Thai birding in Northeast Thailand.