ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK

“One night in Bangkok and the world’s your oyster
The bars are temples but the pearls ain’t free
You’ll find a god in every golden cloister
And if you’re lucky then the god’s a she
I can feel an angel sliding up to me

One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
Not much between despair and ecstasy
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Can’t be too careful with your company
I can feel the devil walking next to me”

(From “Chess”, the musical)

Well, that’s one view of Bangkok then! Ever since I first came here in 1990, I have realised that Bangkok is a city that nobody is neutral towards. It almost demands an emotional response. Many, many expats fall in love with the city and consider it paradise on earth whilst others consider it the very opposite and cannot wait to flee to a beach resort or back from whence they came. The aim of this site is to give visitors, tourists, expats and would-be expats information and links about the city in particular but also about Thailand, the Thais and their language and customs. From there, we have to leave you to make your own decisions!

I suppose the first thing that most people notice about Bangkok is the contrasts. Air-conditioned luxury hotels and magnificent shopping centres that are found next door to slums and abject poverty that most of us would never see in Europe or North America. High-class restaurants and up-market boutiques charging international prices situated next to street canteens and the ubiquitous bazaars and street markets where the low prices still stagger me. Then there is the almost Singapore-type sterility of the Skytrains which speeds over open sewers and the stench of squalor and poverty. And yet just minutes from the hustle and bustle of Silom or Sukhumvit Road there is the oasis of Lumpini Park. Modern air-conditioned taxis TRY to speed through the city but the drivers air hindered by poor quality roads, tuk tuks, some truly appalling public buses and … the occasional elephant or festival or ….well just about everything that makes Bangkok special to me and so many others visitors and residents. As I say, Bangkok IS different and does demand an emotional response. I hope yours will be positive!

So why do people come here? Well, it has to be said that Bangkok offers incredible value for money. Accommodation is reasonably priced at almost all levels and hotels almost always offer excellent value for money whilst apartments (including excellent serviced ones designed for the international visitor) are again much cheaper than in cities like Singapore or Hong Kong. Electrical and electronic equipment offer real bargains and “designer” clothes can be picked up for a fraction of the price of the genuine articles! Again many visitors are attracted by the weather and certainly in winter Bangkok in shirt-sleeves beats Oslo or New York at -10º or the rain and the long nights of London or Amsterdam. But these two factors are true of all of Thailand and why would someone prefer the noise, traffic and pollution of Bangkok to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world along Thailand’s long coastlines. Well, it is a city, maybe a world-class city and certainly a city that is looking to position itself on the world-stage. Also, many are attracted by the flexibility of holidays in Thailand now. The independent traveller can book flights to Thailand and organise accommodation either before departure or on arrival in the country. Those who look for budget holiday deals will not be disappointed either!

Much has happened recently and on 19th September 2006 following a peaceful coup the prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra , was deposed and an interim government was quickly formed. He was constantly attacked by his opponents for directing too much of the national budget to the capital and certainly projects like the Skytrain, water schemes and the new but hideously over-budget new international airport did lay him open to these charges. More information here. Nevertheless, many of us need our fix of culture or even more mundane conveniences like cinemas, wireless broadband and English tea that are readily available in Bangkok City. To many people these factors alone will outweigh the overcrowding, the traffic and the other less salubrious sights/sites and smells of Bangkok. Your choice, your decision!!

If this site makes your trip more enjoyable or your life a little easier then I will consider it a worthwhile project. However, I realise that this site can only be of benefit if it is current and is constantly being updated. The speed with which Thailand is changing means that we are always under pressure to make these changes. We are pleased to link to and from any site that has a connection with Thailand. Please send all information to shall@thisisbangkok.info I would also be glad to receive any comments, criticisms or suggestions at the same address. One thing which I think always help these types of sites is ¨Readers experiences” and I would be delighted to add any article from those who live in or who have visited Bangkok. Please send me your article and it will quickly be uploaded. You can be acknowledged or you can remain anonymous.

Source: Dial a Flight – visit Dialaflight.com for cheap flights to Bangkok