Gem expert and jeweller Emma Gregory on snakes, street food and sunset strolls in the Thai capital

Emma Gregory, originally from Skerries, Co Dublin, has lived in Bangkok, Thailand for 11 years. She is a qualified gemmologist and jewellery designer and owner of Spokes Jewelry Services, a fine jewellery manufacturing company. She also serves on the board of directors of the Irish-Thai Chamber of Commerce.

Where is the first place you bring people to when they visit Bangkok?

The Snake Farm at the Red Cross Society (also known as the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute). Many people come to Thailand wanting to experience exotic animals up close, but most of these “attractions” exploit the animals and force them to live in appalling conditions. This Snake Farm is different and is a research centre that educates the population about the role snakes play in the eco-system and also produces valuable anti-venom for the greater South-East Asian region.

You can view a huge collection of live serpents up close in humane conditions. The staff are research scientists and provide a daily showcase of their venom extraction process and an excellent talk and snake handling experience. The facility is downtown and within minutes’ walk of Lumpini Park.

The top three things to do in Bangkok, that don’t cost money, are …

Visit Lumpini Park – a large park in the centre of the city where Thais walk, run, play sports and picnic. Wander, take a boat ride, feed the turtles and stick around for the playing of the national anthem at 6pm. Observe as hundreds of people in your range of view suddenly stand still as though time has stopped and then begin moving en masse as it ends. As a visitor you are also expected to stand still in a show of respect. During January and February, the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra do a free outdoor concert from 5.30pm on Sundays.

Pak Khlong Talat (The Flower Market) – although it has now all moved indoors, the flower market is still the stuff that Instagram dreams are made of and a lovely insight into the significance of floral decorations in Thai culture. Open 24 hours a day, it is at its liveliest from midnight to before dawn and is quiet in the afternoons.