Bangkok, Thailand
OVERWHELMING, ELECTRIC, FILTHY:
A simple mention of the city “Bangkok” can elicit extreme reactions in people. I myself have witnessed cultural excitement, knowing smiles, and dirty puns at the mention of the name. By the time my plane touched down at BKK, I had heard enough ladyboy jokes to expect a wild time. Even though I was seeking mango sticky rice instead of sex, I am happy to report that the ‘kok did not disappoint.
OVERWHELMING:
With a population of more than 8 million, Bangkok is roughly the size of NY, and you can feel the energy of all 8 million souls emulating from the city the moment you arrive. As I rode public transport from the airport to Silom (the financial center), I was struck by the sprawling nature of the neighborhoods we were passing. Every street, building, and window seemed to host a world that I could not relate to in the slightest. Stepping off of the train was even more disarming. A wall of foul-smelling, humid heat hit me like a slap. I was shuffled down to the street, where the traffic, exhaust, and vendors created a cacophony of noises that sounded like a language unto itself, with sharp nouns and abrupt verbs, but nothing as orderly as grammar. In Bangkok things are done to the extreme. Everything from the billboards, to the rats, to the massage girls trying to draw in clients from the street were staggering in their commonality and sheer volume. I felt like I could explore Bangkok forever and not even scratch the surface of this city’s stunning, devastating, and elusive identity.
ELECTRIC:
Maybe it’s the sun, maybe it’s the heat, maybe it’s the whining music and smooth-talking thai people, but Bangkok has an undeniable energy. Sometimes it felt nice, like the swell of cultural pride I could sense at the Wat Pho. Other times it felt manic, almost dangerous, like the escapism I could sense in the partying on Khaosan Road – but whether you’re taking the fast moving elevator to the Sky Bar St the Lebua, or climbing a hidden staircase to a massage room at the back of an impossibly small spa – Bangkok’s energy never waivers, and never stops.
FILTHY:
Whether you are considering the torrid sex trade, the cat-sized rats, or the pollution in the Chao Phraya River, it is easy to see that Bangkok is not a clean city. But while filth is rarely considered a positive attribute, in the case of this southeastern capitol it shouldn’t be considered wholly negative either. It is as if the entire city has been sweating under the hot sun for eternity, and is constantly marinating in the dirt, salt, and toil of it’s people. Things are moving too quickly for anyone to take a break to tidy, so time marches forward with the city feeling grimy and slightly worse for the wear. The moment I arrived in Bangkok I felt myself swept up in the motion of it - sanitation concerns slipping from my mind as trivial occupations as I ordered food items off of the street and simply tied my hair back instead of washing it. The filth in Bangkok isn’t so much of a condition, as it is a state of mind. Call it hedonism, ignorance, or irresponsibility, but Bangkok simply can not be bothered, and when you arrive, neither will you.
THE 3 THINGS YOU WILL NEED WHILE YOU’RE THERE:
Bangkok is HOT, and you are 100% guaranteed to get sweaty. To keep yourself from stinking to high heaven, make sure you’ve got some of this anti-perspirant deodorant with you. In fact, pack this in your day bag and bring it around the city with you. I’ll bet you wind up using it more than once.
A little waist bag is a great way to carry around your essentials while keeping them close to your body. It’s much harder for a thief to grab you bag and run with it’s secured to your waist! This leather version is a stylish choice for anyone trying to look nice while still exercising a healthy dose of caution.
There are certain temples and sites you cannot visit in Bangkok with bare legs. A maxi skirt is a great choice since it is breezier than pants, and makes anyone look a little more dressed up. Make sure you’ve got one of these in your bag to avoid purchasing Harem pants on a street corner once you’ve been turned away from a Temple due to your shorts (yes, that is based on a real example).
