Advertisement
Published: April 25th 2015
Edit Blog Post
I’ve been blessed with a soft landing in Bangkok, provided by my friend Abby. She is heading back to the states in 2 days, so I will be off on my own. While I’m bummed that she is leaving, I am so thankful I was able to spend my first 9 days abroad in her home and her presence. She has some astute observations about the city and the people. The sharing of her observations made my immersion easier and made me notice things quickly that may have taken a while amongst the overwhelming colors, smells, and sounds of this fascinating city.
Here are some of my observations of Thailand so far:
• Thai people are kind, polite, and quiet. Everyone smiles and treats each other nicely. Standing in a crowd of people on a train is like being in a library. Most people keep their faces ducked in their phones and conversations are practically whispers.
• In Bangkok, they are very focused on their physical appearances. Silly commercials about skin whitening creams play constantly, fake eyelashes and fashion-forward clothing abound. The large majority of the population is very thin and attractive, despite (or because of) the fact that they
Fake Food
This is the best you will get as far as a description of meals... it is definitely helpful. eat constantly.
• Everything is CLEAN. While walking in the street you get continuous whiffs of strange things, some good, some not so good. You can’t drink the tap water, but you see people constantly cleaning. When it rains they are quick to sweep up the puddles, every bathroom has a cleaning attendant on hand at all times, even the street vendors are seen constantly cleaning their pots and utensils. Laundry is a profitable business here as most people don’t own washing machines and it is considered an insult to wear dirty clothing.
• As said before, they eat constantly. It is quite common to snack all day long on the hundreds of items provided by food vendors that decorate the streets. The food is delicious and abundant, everything from fresh fruit and baked goods to grilled whole fish and bowls of flavorful broth with pork belly and wontons. To-go items are packed in plastic bags, not cartons as we are used to. The bagging is a detailed and thorough process, fun to watch.
• They take their religion very seriously. You are reminded in the market that Buddha is not a decoration. Every building has a small “spirit house” that is built
Victory Monument
The photo in front is of the Princess. alongside it to appease the spirits in the ground that were disturbed. Everyday the spirits are given food, incense, and flowers in these small houses as signs of respect.
• Sex is nothing to be ashamed of. Night street vendors sell sex aids like candy and there are massage parlors on every block. Western men and Thai women are seen holding hands all over. I’m confused as to whether these are legit couples who live in Thailand or tourists with prostitutes. I think both options are valid. I know this lifestyle is a choice and I'm trying to not be judgmental. I just find it kind of sad and empty.
• Malls are a vital part of the infrastructure. They are super clean and some are themed. It’s nice to have a cool place to hang out in the heat of the day, not to mention they are home to libraries and grocery stores. I never thought I would find myself seeking out malls as much as I have in the past 9 days.
It’s hard to explain how I feel about the culture. As Abby explains it, the quick modernization of the people seems to have left holes in their cultural development. There are many contradictory things that exist, but no one cares to address or change them. The “Cultural Center” was pretty disappointing. I left feeling confused. It was basically a mall topped with a hodgepodge of so-called modern art and a large, haphazard exhibit of mediocre photography done by the Princess. To the right is a photo of Victory Monument. Here is the Wikipedia entry if you care to read as an example of the contradiction I mentioned before. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_Monument_(Thailand)
I don’t want to seem disrespectful, but things in Bangkok feel a bit convoluted and contrived. For example, there are metal detectors and “guards” at the entrance of every subway station, but they don’t really do anything. Everyone sets off the metal detector and they will shine a flashlight into your purse for a half second and let you walk through. Today we decided they are strictly on the lookout for Durian (it is a stinky fruit that isn’t allowed on public transportation). 😊
They base most of their interactions and social decisions on the fear of losing “face.” It’s a known fact that they don’t ask questions for fear of looking bad. So, as someone who can’t read or understand the language, things can be very confusing. There are carts with tons of little baggies containing food… with no labels. I can’t ask what is in the bags because, even if they could speak English, they wouldn’t give me a real answer. This is simply looked down upon.
It’s all very different and I’m blown away with intrigue and elation. I certainly do like these people, despite my confusion.
Starting tomorrow I’m on my own! I hope I have the courage to meet some fellow travelers. I leave tomorrow night (on a sleeper train!) for my next stop… Chiang Mai. I hear the culture is more in tact in this region. I will be touring temples, attending a 2-day meditation retreat, and taking cooking classes. I’m so excited!
P.S. Here is a link to my Flickr page for more photos... https://www.flickr.com/photos/55255086@N06/sets/72157651750639639/
Advertisement
Tot: 0.093s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 7; qc: 43; dbt: 0.0388s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Jenna
non-member comment
Super cool!
I'm so happy you've had Abby as you're guide, sad she has to leave. I absolutely love the photos, makes me feel like I'm there:-) You're next adventure is going to be amazing, I just know it! Keep blogging!