Bangkok, officially Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, is Thailand’s bustling capital, home to over 11 million people. Despite its chaotic appearance, it’s a traveler-friendly city with a vibrant mix of culture, markets, and nightlife.
Originally a small trading post, Bangkok became the capital in 1782. Today, it’s a treasure trove of temples, palaces, and authentic experiences. The tropical climate and high humidity support lush plant life, with orchids and tropical fruits everywhere.
The city’s lively atmosphere can be overwhelming, with intense heat, vibrant street life, and delicious, affordable Thai cuisine. The name “Krung Thep” translates to the “City of Angels,” and its full name holds a Guinness World Record for being the longest location name.
Bangkok’s modernization started in the 19th century, and after World War II, it became a dynamic, cosmopolitan hub. However, rapid growth brought challenges like traffic congestion and socio-economic disparities. Despite these issues, Bangkok remains a must-visit destination, offering a unique blend of tradition and modernity.
MY EXPERIENCE in Bangkok was no more than one week. I flew there from Phnom Penh (Cambodia) to work at a conference. They put me up in the 5-star hotel “The Sukasol Hotel” which is located in the Thanon Phaya Thai area. There was an opportunity to live for free for up to 3 days (it was paid by company), but I asked to change my ticket back to Shenzhen (at that time I lived permanently in China) a week later, and immediately after the conference when a friend came to pick me up by car, I went to a hotel that was located closer to his home.
The hotel is not that cool, but 4 star, which is called “Baan Oliver Srinakarin” in the Hua Mak area. My friend and I walked along the street near my hotel, where the girls in the bars were already starting to invite us to come inside)) Then we went to the Sky Bar, also in the Hua Mak area, which is located on the top floor of a multi-story building, with an outdoor pool and a good view to Bangkok. We drank beer and talk.
The next day I did a photo shoot for a friend with his Thai wife. It was a vintage car location. I don’t know by what miracle I managed to take a lot of good pictures, since filming on these cars was not allowed there at that moment)) Then we went to another location – old military vehicles. There, too, before sunset, we managed to take some good shots for both my friend and his wife, and for them together, by the way, too.
The next day, a friend picked me up on a motorcycle, and we decided to take a walk around Bangkok at night. Where we went would not be very appropriate to tell within the main topic of this site)) but there was a funny incident that when we stopped along the road at a bus stop to look up the next location on our phones, a police motorcycle with two cops drove up to meet us.
Cops asked us to stand up and show our documents. One interrogated me, the other interrogated my friend. Everything was without any rudeness, and even with some light humor, it seemed to me. I only had a belt bag. And the policeman asked to see its contents. I opened. There was a case for glasses. He said to open it. I opened. There was a piece of paper. He looked at me with a grin and turned it around. Maybe he thought there was some secret information there)) But it was just a prescription for glasses)) I told him about all this in English. He seemed to understand)) In general, I think they wanted to check whether we had any drugs. But we turned out to be not such guys, and we had nothing like this))
And, by the way, they made a final remark to me that I was without a helmet on my head! But they forgave and did not fine me))
The next day, my friend and I drove his car to Pattaya. It is 150 km from Bangkok. And I will talk about this in a post about Pattaya.
