Postcards from Bangkok

Last week, i finally managed my first overseas trip... and thankfully it was not on business. We (Ashwin, Tam, Captain & me) had decided long back on this trip. But things suddenly turned pretty sad just before the trip and Tam and Captain had to drop out at the last minute due to urgent committments. So it was just me and Ashwin who finally left for the trip... there was of course Ullas, who by some stroke of good luck works in Bangkok.

I set out with a rather limited (intentional really) idea of what thailand had to offer. In the end, it turned out for the best really.... it helped me form my own opinions untouched by the prejudices of those lucky enough to have visited this country before me.

A rather uncomfortable 4 hour flight from Mumbai saw me entering the uber modern Suvarna Bhoomi International Airport at Bangkok. The minimalistic architecture of the airport immediately strikes one and all. To call it merely an airport is an insult really. Its almost like a city onto itself and the flights coming in and taking off almost seem like only a small act of an entire skit. The visa on arrival was a breeze and soon we found ourselves our hotels in downtown bangkok.

I had always thought of Bangkok as place full of night clubs, massage parlours, and "massage parlours". This view as i had remarked earlier was rather parochial. The few things that hit u as soon as u land in bangkok is the sweet fruity smell in the air (i still am not able to figure it out-may be thats what they call "mitti ki khushboo". ), the vast network of freeways and the neverending traffic hurtling down them at break-neck speeds, the proliferation of retail stores encompassing all the possible retail formats (7-11 stores need a special mention in this regard-there are everywhere, its almost as if u can find a 7-11 or a masage parlour with equal ease), the warm and friendly thai people (with exceptionally well-groomed hair) and the popularity of the Thai king.

Bangkok doesnt really come across as the "perfect" city but rather a city that is aware of its problems and limitations and is working hard to make the life of its inhabitants more comfortable.

However its almost as if the city reveals itself too easily to the tourist. I found this a bit of a let-down. Most great "tourist" cities of the world are like sensual women-holding their own while drawing the tourist into their trap before revealing themselves and in doing leaving the hapless tourist wanting for more than he get or manage.

We went to Pattaya from Bangkok which roughly is the Thai version of our very own Goa. More on that and what we did in Bangkok next year (coz this is my last post of the year)

Until then,
Wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year!