If you’re lucky to sit on the right side of the plane on the right flight on the right time of the day with the right weather conditions… you might see something like this:
What you see shining here is the Chao Phraya river, also known as the River of Kings. It separates Bangkok in two halves – the right (eastern) half is where most tourists will spend most of the time, and it’s also the area that’s more developed, whereas the left (western) half is more a residential and business area.
The only place on the western side of the Chao Phraya that’s a real tourist attraction is the Wat Arun temple, opposite of the Wat Po temple. But the river is also a great way to go sightseeing in Bangkok:
Going on a dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya river can be great fun, because you get to see Bangkok from the river by night and can enjoy some nice food at the same time.