Bangkok

Situated on the banks of the Chao Phraya River leading to the Bay of Bangkok, the greater Bangkok (known in Thai as Krung Thep) metropolitan area comprises more than 933,000ha (2.3 million acres) and is home to more than 12 million people, making it one of the largest cities in the world.

Sitting just two meters (6.5ft) above sea level, Bangkok is interspersed by a series of canals (klongs) that has resulted in it being dubbed the "Venice of the East". In ancient times these canals were used to shift cargo from one part of the city to the other whereas today they form an important part of the city’s mass transit network with tens of thousands of people traveling to work each day along them.

Get Me To travel tip: For a totally different view of the city take a trip along the canals outside of peak travel times. The Klong Saen Saep boat service runs from Bang Kapi to near Democracy Monument via Pratunam and Klong Tan with about 30 stops along the way. The boat operates from 5.30am to 8.30pm daily and depending on how far you travel tickets will cost less than one US dollar. Bangkok experiences a wet season from July through October with temperatures averaging 29C (84F)and humidity at 90 percent, while the hottest time of the year is between March and June with temperatures averaging around 34C (93F), but often reaching 40C (104F). The hottest time of the year is April, the time of Thailand’s famous Songkhran water festival.