Snaking from the "tourist ghetto" of Khao San Road to one of the best views across the river, this route is a great way to see some of Bangkok's most important attractions and learn the history behind them. Done entirely within the boundaries of Rattanakosin - aka, the man-made island where Bangkok was first founded - you'll gain an appreciation for why Bangkok is such an intoxicating city, full of stories that are in turns inspiring, amusing, and heartbreaking. We'll start on Khao San, one of the best people-watching spots in the world, and walk up the Paris-inspired Ratchadamnoen Avenue to learn how it's played a role in nearly every major political upheaval in modern Thai history. We'll pass the iconic Democracy Monument and Mahakan Fort on our way to the Giant Swing and two extremely important temples that helped give Bangkok its texture when it was founded. From there we'll stroll through some old-school back sois, through a serene little park with a tragic monument, and finish with a beer in hand looking across the river at one of Bangkok's oldest temples. Along the way we will: • Learn the history behind the Democracy Monument, perhaps the most ironically named monument in Thailand • Hear what Bangkok is doing to tackle the yawning wealth gap and lack of social programs that prevent people getting help (hint: not much) • Discover the sad history of an historic village that was no match for Bangkok's expansion plans - while walking in a park where it used to stand • Get a grisly update on why a door you'll walk through is called the Ghost Gate • Pass by one of the only Michelin-starred street food restaurants in the world. Sorry, reservations must be made weeks in advance - you're on your own there • Gaze up at a monument that was used for deadly Brahmin rituals before being struck by lightning and nearly torn down several times • Visit the historic Wat Mahatat and Wat Ratchabophit, which are closely linked to Bangkok's founding and provide some fantastic photo opportunities • Stroll through a royal cemetery and its many monuments to some of Thailand's most cherished Kings and Queens, ancient and modern • Get the chance to test your photography skills by seeing if you can find the spot a photographer stood in 150 years ago to snap one of the oldest photos of Bangkok I've seen • Hear my view on why the Grand Palace and Wat Po are probably worth skipping - although you may vehemently disagree. At the end of your walk you'll have a greater appreciation of where Bangkok came from and how it grew. As for where it's going? Not even the Thais know that.