Bangkok
is thousands of people all wearing the same color shirt on the same day for
respect to their King, it is backpackers, it is Khao San Road, it is massage
parlors, it is crowds, it is traffic, it is orange robed monks, it is hot,
it is humid, it gleams with golden temples, it is sex tourism, it is medical
tourism,
it is cheap guest
houses, it is some of the best hotels in the world,
it is an ever present ebb and flow of life - all day and all night long,
it is service with a smile - there is really no other city like it in the
world.
Travelers to Bangkok
usually describe there time in this city with the following two words: HOT, HUMID.
That's it. You leave for another tropical country which is hot and
humid, but you find out its not really that bad until you return to Bangkok
and have something to actually compare hot & humid weather to.
If you are in Bangkok during December or January, you may catch a brief
period where the nights can actually cool down into the 60's or even the mid
to high 50's. This doesn't happen every year, but we have been in Bangkok
when its actually "downright pleasant" during the day and even a bit chilly
at night.
There is absolutely no other city like it in the
world; it is so full of life...everywhere. You cannot help but be caught up
in the hustle and bustle, the crowds, congestion and food - all day and all night. This is not to be ignored but is to be
experientially jumped into full throttle.
At first glance nothing appears to be static here - 3 wheeled automobiles called Tuk-Tuks weave in and out of traffic, the sidewalks are filled with throngs of moving people and there always seems to be another skyscraper,
hotel, apartment, or shopping mall under construction. However, there are some sights that seem to remain the same year after year -
serene places like the estate of Jim Thompson, the famous Wats of Po and
Arun, not so calm places such as Khao San Road and of course the Grand Palace.
"Wat Hunting Without Map" is a favorite activity of mine when I am in Bangkok. I visit new streets that I haven't been to before, see new shops, and find new attractions.
Every time I go "Wat Hunting Without Map" I become hopelessly and utterly lost! This is fun - I never worry too much - I always carry the handy card map of my hotel in my money belt and I have the name and street memorized in case I do lose the map card.
When I randomly disappear into crowds somewhere on the streets of this huge city it may appear that I am in the middle of nowhere. Usually I am the only visible foreigner in the crowd, no one is speaking English and everything looks, smells and feels "exotic" compared to
"Western" countries.
This is exciting and uniquely refreshing.
Bangkok is a sprawling metropolis of over 8 million people. From the
center of city you can look 360 degrees in any direction and all you will
see is buildings for as far as you can see.
In general, the Thai people are among some of the nicest and friendliest people that I have met in all of my travels. They have a "way of being" with themselves and with other people that is gentle - not appearing to be angry or mad at the world.
Come to Thailand, come to Bangkok - you will have an incredible time that
you will never forget!
