Same same, but different. It’s Thailish T-shirt philosophy that neatly sums up Bangkok, a city combining the tastes of many places into a unique and oftenspicy dish that is never, ever boring.
Such contradictions give the City of Angels its rich, multi-faceted personality. Delve just a little deeper and you’ll find a city of climate-controlled mega-malls and international brand names just minutes from 200-year-old village homes; of gold-spired Buddhist temples sharing space with neon-lit strips of sleaze; of slow-moving rivers of cars bypassed by long-tail boats plying the royal river; and of streets lined with food carts selling Thai classics for next to nothing, overlooked by restaurants on top of skyscrapers serving international cuisine.
If all this sounds dizzying, rest assured that despite its international flavour, Bangkok remains resolutely Thai. The capital’s cultural underpinnings are evident in virtually all facets of everyday life, and most enjoyably through the Thai sense of sànùk, loosely translated as ‘fun’. In Thailand anything worth doing – even work – should have an element of sànùk. Whether you’re ordering food, changing money or haggling at the vast Chatuchak Market, it will usually involve a sense of playfulness – a dash of flirtation, perhaps, and a smile.
In fairness, there are times in Bangkok that are more fun than others. The city’s three seasons (cool, hot and wet) are all pretty warm, but November to February is the most enjoyable – not that the rest of the year is impossible – and the tropical storms of the wet season bring a dramatic relief.
Last updated: Dec 3, 2008
