I was thinking about this today and trying to narrow down what I consider the best things about living in The City of Angels. Of course, everyone will have a different list. Some people’s top three might be Nana, Soi Cowboy, and Patpong, although admittedly that does rather limit the discussion a bit. My first instinct was to say the abundance of Mary Jane, the impressive selection of African women around Sukhumvit, and the humble 7-Eleven toastie. A combination which probably tells you everything you need to know about my priorities and why I am unlikely to be hired as an advisor to any tourism board. But joking aside, when I think about it properly, I keep coming back to the same few things. First is the sheer convenience of the place. Whatever you need, whenever you need it, there is usually a way to get it. Food delivered at midnight. A pharmacy open when it should not logically be open. A replacement phone charger at two in the morning. Bangkok often feels like a city of abundance designed by people who dislike waiting. Second is the relatively low crime. That does not mean crime does not exist, because obviously it does. But compared with many large Western cities, Bangkok still feels remarkably safe and comfortable to move around in. I think most of us might take that for granted after a while. Third is the climate. Yes, it is hot. Yes, it is humid. Yes, occasionally walking outside feels like entering a giant air fryer. But I will still take that any time over scraping ice off a windscreen in the dark while questioning my sanity. And if I had to add a bonus category, it would probably be the cost of living. Not because Bangkok is as cheap as it once was, because it is not. But compared with many Western countries, it is still possible to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle here without needing the income of a hedge fund manager. I deliberately left out the friendliness of Thai people because that almost feels too obvious. If Thailand were full of unpleasant people, I suspect many of us would never have stayed long enough to discover all the other positive things we like about it. So what makes your top three? And if your answer contains 3 red light districts in it then at least have the decency to be honest about it.
