A city-lover’s city, sprawling Bangkok is in perpetual urban overdrive, a place where the senses are engaged at every turn. From its lively street life and non-stop commerce to the serenity of its many Buddhist wats, or temples, Bangkok’s charms beckon. But the city’s true heart and soul isn’t in bricks and mortar. Instead, it lies in the warmth and friendliness of its people. Smiles are given freely, help is offered readily, and even when a language problem is encountered, good will prevails. Mix with the locals at Sao Ching Cha, the Giant Swing monument and absolutely the best neighbourhood for street food, from silky noodle soups to pungent curries. You can easily spend a day wandering the vast Chatuchak Weekend Market, its weekend acreage choked with home goods and curios, well priced even before you bargain. And for a respite from the din, travel up the Chao Phraya River to Ayutthaya, where magnificent ruins of temples, palaces and crumbling Buddhas hint at the glory of the former Siamese capital, sacked by the Burmese in 1767.