I moved to Ekkamai against my will at the start of covid as my wife switched jobs. It has been ok, but ever since the wealthy tourists returned, all I see are broke Russians, Backpackers (I don't mind them), and suspicious Westerners with baby strollers who don't even seem to have enough for a bus ticket to Pattaya.
Just today I saw an almost shirtless couple in their Mid-30's taking every seat at the Gateway Ekkamai with their 2 children and being politely told by staff to move if they didn't order anything. The wife was complaining how badly they are being treated, while the useless hubby had face of a millennial saying nothing but probably thinking.... "How dare they!". How do these people scrape money for a ticket to Thailand one wonders. The saving grace of that armpit of Bangkok is probably lonely Japanese women waiting for their hubby the get back from work and an occasional retired guy with a smile on his face enjoying Thailand. Those old guys always put a smile on my face too. The rest probably think how they made it in this hooker central posting selfies from their AirBnb condo. The only place worse I can think of is On Nut.
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