4 Hours In Bangkok

In Thailand's capital, modern complexes overshadow some of the oldest Buddhist temples in the world, extravagant dance performances are as plentiful as gory kickboxing matches, and sports cars compete with rickshaws for road space. Which makes it all the more alluring for visitors.

Visit the reclining Buddha at Wat Pho. Bangkok's oldest and largest temple also runs the city's most respected Thai massage school, so wayfarers can rest with a rubdown (watpho.com).

Dine alfresco at local favorite Waterside, where pla tod mun (fried fishcakes) are as fresh as the river views, and coconut milk can be sipped straight from the source (waterside-bkk.com).

Shop the enormous selection of fresh flowers, vegetables and chilies at Pak Khlong Market,a street bazaar that never closes.

Ride the ferry along the Chao Phraya River, and relive the days when Bangkok was canal-laden and called the Venice of the East.

See handlers milk venom from vipers and cobras at the Queen Saowapha Memorial Institute, a snake farm and treatment facility that turns the toxic serum into anti-venom (66-2-252-0161).