“Thailand was never a European colony, so even though the city is very Western on the surface, deep down it’s very Asian. It’s quite enigmatic, and I like that. I can’t get to the bottom of Bangkok, and I never will.” — Lawrence Thomas
After several days in Bangkok, I can say it’s somewhere I can’t quite put my finger on.
As the above quote states, there are signs of capitalism and Western culture everywhere. However, once you look a bit deeper, you are met with an array of differences from Western society. A large part of this is likely due to Thailand never being a European colony, its identity has stayed much more pure and uncorrupted than many of its neighboring nations. With this historical knowledge in mind, one can begin to realize why Bangkok can be perceived as deeply exotic by us Westerners.
Buddhist temples are littered around the city, inducing a sense of awe. People are sleeping on the streets at an uncomfortable number. Pungent and unfamiliar odors fill the air, changing from moment to moment. From swage, decaying animals, fermenting garbage, meat and spices, fish, fruit, and deep-fried dough, to everything in between, one’s nose is filled with a morphing concoction of unfamiliar smells.
Bangkok is also a city that seems to specialize in normalizing the taboo. One can find whatever (or whomever) they’re looking for here; it provides limitless options to fulfill every lustful fantasy we humans hold. It boasts an infamous red light district, where just about anything the mind can imagine can be witnessed. Additionally, one will also surely encounter the city’s many prostitutes. They can easily be found lining the streets at all hours, attempting to lure in any lonely man who passes them by.
I wish I could offer more insights about Bangkok, but it remains a mystery. I find it quite difficult to write about honestly. Shrouded in a veil of Eastern mysticism, it is enormously different than the society to which I am accustomed. On the surface, Bangkok is modernizing and evolving, but beneath its surface, there remain deep-rooted traditions that seem to be impermeable to new influence and change.
Bangkok came and went like a dream. Upon departing, I find myself rubbing my eyes in perplexity, questioning the very existence of this exotic wonderland.
Hello there! 