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Published: February 2nd 2009
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We have been in South East Asia now for over a year, and it has had a huge influence on our lives and identities. We will soon depart, maybe forever, and Bangkok is the last city we will see. In the spirit of reflection, we asked our friends to give us a series of questions about the differences between where we come from and where we are, and how our experiences have affected us as individuals. We responded in separate soundproof rooms, then combined our reactions to create this posting. The questions and answers are as follows:
Q: What is the biggest difference between Bangkok and Edmonton?
M: Apples and oranges. I think the biggest difference is the size and density of the cities. There is significantly more going on each day within one city block in Bangkok than in the entire subdivision we used to live in.
K: It’s like comparing apples and oranges. The most immediately apparent differences are density and infrastructure, but that’s because Bangkok is SO MUCH bigger and more populated than Edmonton.
Q: Compare Khao San Road and Whyte Avenue.
K: Again, like I said about the city itself, Khao San is just so
much denser. There’s food stalls and bars, restaurants and cafes, vendors and tuk-tuk drivers, tourists and locals, all crammed onto one street that only has foot traffic. It’s much more interesting and stimulating to me than Whyte Ave.
M: Whyte Ave is a genuine cultural experience of Canada, specifically Edmonton. If you go there you can see how Edmontonians like to get down. Khao San Rd is not a genuine “Thailand” or “Bangkok” experience, but more a mixture of different people from all over the world. While it is still influenced by Thai culture, anything goes in this International gathering place. And there are thousands of people every night.
Q: What don’t you like about Bangkok?
M: Too busy. Everyone is always in a hurry, or stressed about something, travelers and locals alike.
K: I mean, you can only stay there for so long. It gets tiring having the same people hassle you every day for the same things over and over: tuk-tuk, taxi, tour, suit, bucket of alcohol, massage, ping pong show...etc., etc.
Q: What is the best way to spend $10 in Bangkok?
K: A massage ($6), followed by a chicken kebab pita (about
Shopping centre
Great deals, great jeans. $1.25), Tiger or Chang beer from 7-11 ($1), both most conveniently consumed walking down Khao San Rd while scanning vendors for some trinket to spend the rest on. If no luck, use the rest on an hour of Internet access.
M: Despite the great deals on really cool clothes, I would say your money would be best spent on food. You can get maybe 6 or 7 different dishes for $10, but they may be the 6 or 7 best you’ve ever had.
Q: How is Bangkok different from other South East Asian cities?
M: We haven’t been to that many big cities, but there are some significant differences between Bangkok and the others we’ve seen. First is the standard of living. While there is still a great deal of poverty, people are living with much more in Bangkok than in other places. Second, partly due to the greater affluence, there is a much healthier freedom of expression here. It can be seen in clothing, music, hairstyles, and in the expression of personal opinion. Bangkok is not nearly as homogenous as cities in Vietnam or Cambodia.
K: I was so struck with how diverse the people were -
What a flake
It is common to stick pieces of gold leaf onto the icon of your choice. Makes for a really cool effect at the Wats. how Thai people seem to have a strong sense of individuality, expressed through their sense of style. They’re so different from each other. Their hair, their clothes, the way they walk, talk and act - it’s very different than the people we saw in Vietnam and Cambodia. I would NOT describe the population as homogenous.
Q: What is you favourite Thai food?
K: Spicy Tom Yum with chicken.
M: Paneang curry, spicy.
Q: Convince someone to travel to South East Asia.
K: Read the blog postings, if you’re not convinced, it’s not for you.
M: Considered travel is something impossible to regret, Asia or otherwise.
Q: What is the thing you will most remember about Asia?
K: Oh, so many things. The time we spent in Vietnam, particularly Da Nang, just living and working. My students. Angkor Wat. The friends we made. The night we got our tattoos.
M: It is the place I learned about the ways in which people can be different, and the ways in which we are all the same.
Q: What is the best way to spend a day in Asia?
K: A day in Siem Reap
Up the canal
This is on of the boats that operate as public transport on the canals of Bangkok. They travel extremely fast despite the tight quarters. The guys on the outside are the fare collectors. and at Angkor Wat is pretty unbelievable.
M: Scuba diving and beach bumming on Koh Tao, topped off with the ever-present “Beach BBQ”.
Q: What did you learn about yourself in Asia?
M: I am adaptable. I can have significant relationships with anyone, independent of nationality, language, religion, politics, etc, etc. I can also live happily with far less than I thought I needed in the past. I am a Canadian, and my home is in Edmonton, Alberta.
K: I don’t appreciate what I have; I have more than I need; I sleep too much; I have amazing family and friends; I am lucky to be from Canada…
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Lisa
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Beauty
I love the pic of you on the train Krysta with the beers! I think you should frame it when you get back home - it's gorgeous! Great blog entry, Lisa