Is Bangkok In Thailand?......

[theblether]

If the mods can forgive me I have posted this topic in the general forum as it is concerned with the relationship between BKK and the rest of Thailand, therefore not BKK specific.

I have spent some time in BKK in the past, and visited the sites you would expect me to see. I stepped off the aircraft one time after traveling for 23 hours and my pal took me straight to Soi Cowboy. Soi Cowboy was the last place on earth I wanted to be after that journey. I've stayed in 5 star hotels and I've stayed in 2 star hotels, I've been here sightseeing and I've been for medical treatment, so I know my way around not bad so to speak.

I was sitting in HOBS bar tonight in the Ari district talking to a friend and watching the world go by, and it struck me that I was in another world. BKK isn't Thailand, it's soulless, it's grinding, it's grey, it's noisy, and in many areas it's just another farang monstrosity with it's shopping malls and cineplex's.

After seeing places such as Tha Ton, Chiang Rai, Doi Tung, Chiang Mai and many other Northern towns I feel downhearted in BKK. I can see why some people are complaining about it on other threads, there is no sparkle in BKK, it's one giant concrete jungle.

I bet you there are many expats in BKK thinking they know Thailand well, the only way you are going to know Thailand well is to get out of BKK. It's so foreign to the the Thailand that I love it may as well be another country.

Terrible place.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Absolutely agree, but not everyone will.

IMO a corollary - the "real Thais", or at least IMO the better ones, are the rural poor.

[canuckoverseas]

Interesting perspective. I was just in Bangkok for a 10 day holiday. I work in Cairo. I went to Bangkok to enjoy the modern shopping malls, endless selection of restaurants and bars, copious electricity, and other entertainments. Everything that constitutes a thriving metropolis in the 21st century is to be found in Bangkok and the people are wonderful. In fact, Bangkok has a very unique pulse compared to say, London, Singapore, or (really soulless) Dubai. Perhaps you're just not a city person.

I've also lived in various African countries, in rural areas. I lived in Zanzibar a few years ago when the island's main power generator blew up and the whole island of a million people was in the dark for four months. Village life is the same anywhere in the world, quaint. Quaint isn't for me.

Edited April 22, 2012 by canuckoverseas

[wana]

bangkokians are as thai as the rest of them .......

bangkok is dirty,overcrowded ,polluted ,it stinks , prices are higher ,roads are congested to the point of gridlock ,whenever theres a riot between the differnt coloured shirts ,its likely to be in bkk ,the police are greedy and corrupt vultures .......unlike smaller towns where theyre friendlier

i live here ,rarely go outside it ,the city has became home to me ,ive gotten used to things not making sense and the things i used to grumble about ,are now so normal i dont notice them

until i go to singapore or somewhere civilised and modern ,where i get charged the same price as everyone else etc

then i realise how terrible bkk is in comparison ,but life ,like everything else is a compromise ......

in singapore ,id be paying 14 dollars for a beer (when your a drinker like me thats very signifigant )

i might have to pay tax

my rent would be 4 x times as expensive

if i ran a red light or parked in the wrong place i might get in real trouble (not 100 thb fine trouble like thailand )

i couldnt go to a restaurant 3 -4 times a day and eat almost anything like i can in bkk (i could but it would cost a fortune )

we can complain a lot about bangkok and thailand ,but when u think about it ,even with all its problem and dysfunctionality ,

its still a lot better than the western cities most of us left to come here ......

[brit1984]

Bangkok is as much a part of Thailand, as London is a part of the UK

Edited April 22, 2012 by brit1984

[theblether]

I would say I am a city person, I love Singapore, Shanghai and London among many others. I do agree that Dubai is souless but I'm trying to get a handle on BKK and I can't do it. I think my happiest day here was walking around Lumpini Park feeding the fish, and being surprised to see turtles in the pond. Loved that.

That was just after I had been touted to deatn at the Royal Palace and had the usual run-in with the broken metre BKK taxi driver. Where is the soul in this city? where is the joy?

I would love to find it.

[theblether]

Bangkok is as much a part of Thailand, as London is a part of the UK

London has a soul.....any time I visit London I am fascinated by the sights, and by the history. Where is it in BKK? Has it developed so fast that it's outgrown it's own roots?ps. The only city I have been to that is even more souless than BKK is KUala Lumpur. Shocking place.

[wana]

Bangkok is as much a part of Thailand, as London is a part of the UK

London has a soul.....any time I visit London I am fascinated by the sights, and by the history. Where is it in BKK? Has it developed so fast that it's outgrown it's own roots?ps. The only city I have been to that is even more souless than BKK is KUala Lumpur. Shocking place.

old men with beard in sois ,playing chess all day

tuk tuks roaring

children swimming in toxic dirty water

soi dogs allowed to sleep blocking the door of 7-11s

police in their uniform coming in to the bar to collect an envelope + case of whisky for station' nightshift

scooters with neon lights piloted by helmetless teenagers

guy goes around filling up atms with a back pack of cash

taxi driver stops in the 7-11 to get a can of beer and asks if you would like one also

some things are uniquely thai ,it just wouldnt happen like that in other countries

[payak]

I guess its in the eye of the beholder, I love bkk, see soul everwhere,

I also love the country, different feel but each region has its own unique feel for me.

[mauGR1]

I would say I am a city person, I love Singapore, Shanghai and London among many others. I do agree that Dubai is souless but I'm trying to get a handle on BKK and I can't do it. I think my happiest day here was walking around Lumpini Park feeding the fish, and being surprised to see turtles in the pond. Loved that.

That was just after I had been touted to deatn at the Royal Palace and had the usual run-in with the broken metre BKK taxi driver. Where is the soul in this city? where is the joy?

I would love to find it.

Although my visits in BKK don't last normally more than 2/3 days, i would not say that there is no soul...One Sunday morning i spent hours in Sanam Luang watching elderly folks playing football with such amazing joy and skill , that i was almost moved to tears..If you want you can find the soul of Bangkok, where maybe you wouldn't expect.

[brit1984]

I personally love Bangkok... and I also love shopping malls... we go nearly everyday to meet friends, eat lunch, buy groceries, or anything else we need (or want in my wife's case) and to give our daughter some time in the play area... sometimes we also do bowling / cinema / aquarium...

given Thailand's climate it is great to have all of this available under one roof... for the evening, Bangkok has a great selection of restaurants (on my street we have French, Italian, Japanese, Indian, Thai and more)... where as my experience of rural Thailand has been that it is rather boring (especially for Children)... but that is just my opinion and I understand that everyone will have a different opinion about Bangkok (actually that is my point)

[theblether]

If you want you can find the soul of Bangkok, where maybe you wouldn't expect.

Excellent, I'm at my happiest in Thailand pottering about watching people going about their business, the highlight of Songkran for me was helping the Chiang Mai uni students fund raising, and watching them interact with the revellers. That was a joy and a pleasure I'll never forget.

@Brit1984....what would be your perfect day in BKK? and what would you tell me to do in a day in BKK to make me fall in love with the place?

[brit1984]

Bangkok is as much a part of Thailand, as London is a part of the UK

London has a soul.....any time I visit London I am fascinated by the sights, and by the history. Where is it in BKK? Has it developed so fast that it's outgrown it's own roots?ps. The only city I have been to that is even more souless than BKK is KUala Lumpur. Shocking place.

I meant that London is as similar to the rest of the UK as Bangkok is to the rest of Thailand... I think you are saying London is a better tourist destination than Bangkok, with which I would probably agree... but from my experience they are very similar as places to live

[endure]

Saphan Kwai is a 'Thai' part of town. There aren't all that many westerners up there. I always stay there when I go to Bangkok.

[edwardandtubs]

If you want quaint little rural folk with their quaint little smiles then the provinces are for you. If you can build your own social circle with people you actually have things in common with then Bangkok is the place to be.

[ragandboneman]

Just be glad you're not in Pattaya !!!!!

Bangkok fantastic city !!!!!!

5555555

Regards

[phuturatica]

I live and work in Bangkok and the way I see it is... It may not be the nicest part of Thailand, however for me, if I lived in paradise every day I would soon take it for granted. At least with Bangkok I know I am only a train or a bus journey away to some lovely beach or other world as you put it. Bangkok keeps me down to earth and makes me appreciate other parts of Thailand more. I love going on mini breaks and holidays to other parts of Thailand as they're all different and have something new to offer.

Also, it really does all depend on where you go in Bangkok. Places like Soi Cowboy are awful in my opinion. But then again I'm female and I don't really get anything out of watching naked girls dance and trying to get business. In fact, it actually makes me feel a little bit sick. There are a few little gems in Bangkok that I have and whats more is, I have friends here which makes me feel more at home.

[barefoot1988]

no, thailand is in bangkok

[brit1984]

@Brit1984....what would be your perfect day in BKK? and what would you tell me to do in a day in BKK to make me fall in love with the place?

I am not a travel agent (and as I mentioned in my other post I don't consider Bangkok to be a perfect tourist destination) but maybe you could do the following...

Stay at one of the hotels down on the riverside (eg Mandarin Oriental) and after breakfast there, take a cruise down the river, eat lunch at a Thai restaurant (eg Blue Elephant) then go to Chatuchat to haggle for some treasures followed by a visit to one of the great spas for a relaxing/strong massage (and waxing if you need it) before heading to Vertigo for dinner and drinks... afterwards, I have heard there are various late night entertainment options...

By the way, on your first question my perfect day in Bangkok (or anywhere) would just be at home with my family (ideally with some test match cricket on the television/radio)...

[farang000999]

I can see why Bangkok would be quite intimidating for your average middle aged Westerner. One definitely does feel small here at times, especially with all the luxury cars roaming around. In rural areas, one feels more welcome and powerful I imagine.

[arthurwait]

Bangkok in the main, certainly the modern areas, is a dirty, polluted concrete jungle, but it's great. It has pretty much everything that you want and is quite frankly a saviour from Chonburi City. Now here really is a dirty shithole,but 10 minutes bike or car journey and you have the same stunning open countryside, mountains as the rest of Thailand. Unfortunately it's a lot longer for that when in Bangkok, but you can quite easily get up to the likes of Nonthaburi.

It's great cruisng up the river to old Bangkok and seeing the old buildings all for a cost of near to nothing or taking a canal boat and seeing Bangkok life away from modern developments.

Bangkok has great nightlife whatever you are into, great shopping if you like shopping. Personally it's straight to the bookshops and out if I have my way. It has plenty of friendly people if you get involved, just watch out for all the scam artists, which are more often than not from the country or as you say your real Thais. As I bet your taxi driver and royal palace scammer were. It has plenty to do in the day, how much of Thailand can boast that ? Good restaurants of a wide varying nature athough the seafood is much fresher outside of Bangkok. Good bars of all sorts as long as you avoid the fantasist or bores or weirdo or wanna be hippy or self important ex-pats.

The fact is people want progress and a modern lifestyle and they don't want to stay living in shacks and poverty in the countryside to please tourists and expats.

I personally don't know whether I'd want to live in Bangkok, while sitting in Chonburi it's easy to think there would be so much more to do without having to drive anywhere, just walk out to a bar where people speak my language, have shops with something in I want to buy, but while at the condo there I don't want to stay and a few days a month is enough.

[edwinclapham]

I think having friends in Bangkok makes a hell of a difference. Sitting on a Chao Praya River restaurant watching the boats/people has always been very special for me.. Loath chopping malls with a passion. China town I find exciting and vibrant.

Beating the traffic and taking the Klong Saen Saep Boats down the Klongs into the city, watching the folks, bathing, eating, cooking outside of their wee houses.

There is the Chayo Phraya Express boat leaving for Koh Kred

http://wikitravel.org/en/Ko_Kret#b well worth a visit.

The Ancient City (under subscribed imo ) Muang Boran, which I never tire of.

Its probably not your cup of tea Blether, but seeing you are a regular visitor to Thailand, maybe consider getting to know people in various organisations like Father Joe Maier or Sister Joan (I am not religious at all) but they run various wonderful centres where you can get to know the locals/kids/patients and donate your books/clothing./ footie mags. You are a man of many talents I am sure they wouldnt go wasted in that area

.

For me being involved in Bangkok is one of the necessary ingredients otherwise it is a glitzy faceless city in so many ways.

Edited April 23, 2012 by edwinclapham

[theblether]

I can see why Bangkok would be quite intimidating for your average middle aged Westerner. One definitely does feel small here at times, especially with all the luxury cars roaming around. In rural areas, one feels more welcome and powerful I imagine.

Luckily that does not apply to me as I am wealthy, thanks for making your point though

[Ijustwannateach]

There are wonderful parts and people of Bangkok, too. Not tourist zones, though- and you have to walk the walk and, at least a little, talk the talk.

[theblether]

@arthurwait I think it's the concrete jungle aspect of the place that depresses me, I suppose the rush to modernity has crushed the soul of the place. Maybe it will find it again.

@edwininclapham very valid points about having to integrate into the city. My visits have been superficial tourist type trips and I haven't had the time or ability to create a circle of friends in BKK. The guy I was visiting last night moved to BKK from CM 3 months ago and hated it too, he is relocating to CM tomorrow.

@phuturica I agree re Soi Cowboy, I couldn't believe the first impression someone wanted to give me of the city was that [place.

I did stay at a 5 star hotel next to the river last year, I've forgotten the name. I enjoyed using the river taxi though I didn't go on a cruise.

I think I will need to put some effort into Bangkok, I'm on my way back to Scotland right now however I will book a city trip to BKK in July, that will be a good break as I am heading to see pals at the Hunter Valley in Australia.

It must be more than just one vast concrete jungle occupied by Thais.

[theblether]

There are wonderful parts and people of Bangkok, too. Not tourist zones, though- and you have to walk the walk and, at least a little, talk the talk.

Talking I can do, I am after all, theblether

[samran]

Paul Keating (oh hail) said it best: Bangkok has a raffish charm about it.

I must admit though, it helps a lot to live and work there, and have friends so that you can take advantage of the place.

On the stints where I haven't been living there, and just passing through, I must admit the place didn't feel the same. But once you are there, and get even 10m beyond the main roads, the place does charm you.

[geriatrickid]

I would say I am a city person, I love Singapore, Shanghai and London among many others. I do agree that Dubai is souless but I'm trying to get a handle on BKK and I can't do it. I think my happiest day here was walking around Lumpini Park feeding the fish, and being surprised to see turtles in the pond. Loved that.

That was just after I had been touted to deatn at the Royal Palace and had the usual run-in with the broken metre BKK taxi driver. Where is the soul in this city? where is the joy?

I would love to find it.

I would gladly settle for a BKK cab any day over Satan's Storm Troopers aka Phuket's tuktuk drivers.

[kerryk]

Just be glad you're not in Pattaya !!!!!

Bangkok fantastic city !!!!!!

5555555

Regards

Why bash Pattaya? Have you lived there?

[NanLaew]

I think it would be easier for someone to, if not exactly fall in love with Bangkok, at least be charmed by Bangkok as long as they are not working 9-5 in Bangkok. That aspect makes most cities rather drab and mundane as one's time to socialise, explore or relax are quite limited. I find working in Bangkok a bit of a chore if it involves sitting at a desk most of the day. I had some work about three years ago where I was 'field based' out Thawi Wattana and Mahidol way in advance of the recent oilwell drilling adventure. Despite having no weekends off, that was a great job as the office was limited to about an hour at each end of a long day out in the city/country, driving, on a bike, in a boat or on foot. It was also in December/January so the weather was perfect. The other aspect of wearing a collar and tie and riding a crowded train to work and home again, or struggling with taxis and motorcycle taxis in traffic gridlock, heat or rain is much less appealing.