The BMA has been destroying the charm of old Bangkok for the last 25 years trying to make it look more like Singapore, which it never can/will be.
Yes, 30 years ago the internet was shiite, mobile phone signals were also shiite, TVs were very small and expensive, new books were too expensive, VHS tapes were the way to go, cable TV programming was hopeless, no online hotel booking, no maps, no online reviews, couldn't find a decent croissant anywhere, there was hardly any edible yogurt, traffic was unbearable, no mass transit, buses belched black diesel smoke into the sky, two stroke motorcycles burning oil, a dollar only got you 25 Baht, but fark me, everything was cheap as chips and the place was fantastic. I would turn the clock back in a heartbeat!