It is also a paradise for foodies, from the singular specialties of its sidewalk hawkers, to the finest cuisine from around the world served up here at stupefying low prices. It’s a genuine paradise for shoppers, from the bargains at Chatuchak, the world’s largest outdoor market, to the refined silks and jewels of this royal kingdom. “Paradise” is a word that is often applied to describe the abundance of what Bangkok has to offer. But poke under the polished tourist veneer and Bangkok rewards the explorer with magic moments amidst its free-for-all collision of old and new, rich and poor, the sacred and the profane. Most tourists experience Bangkok in similarly boiled-down little sweet or sour bits: disarming charm, dazzling smiles, exotic temples, bustling markets, choking traffic, 5-alarm peppers, pestering touts. In typical Thai fashion, Bangkok’s epic poetic title has been simplified for everyday use to its practical essence: City of Angels. Krung Thep is what the Thai call their capitol, a much-shortened nickname for what is the longest city name in the world (ask a Thai to recite the whole thing for you). Special thanks to bilatin, teddyhong, grazzy, Travello22, zack77, Squarsh, anan, fsnyc, AndrewWong, Fip, Tye, anan, JT, Larry, Allan, Greg B., Ray and Mark!