One Night in Bangkok
Landing in Bangkok I hum my favorite travel song over and over in my head, because I too get my kicks above the waistline. Everyone over the age of 40 remembers this ditty …
One night in Bangkok and the world’s your oyster
The bars are temples but the pearls ain’t free
You’ll find a god in every golden cloister
And if you’re lucky then the god’s a she
I can feel an angel sliding up to me
[COMPANY]
Tea, girls, warm, sweet
Some are set up in the Somerset Maugham suite
[THE AMERICAN]
Get Thai’d! You’re talking to a tourist
Whose every move’s among the purest
I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine
[COMPANY]
One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
Not much between despair and ecstasy
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Can’t be too careful with your company
I can feel the devil walking next to me
One night in Bangkok and the world’s your oyster
The bars are temples but the pearls ain’t free
You’ll find a god in every golden cloister
A little flesh, a little history
I can feel an angel sliding up to me
One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
Not much between despair and ecstasy
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Can’t be too careful with your company
I can feel the devil walking next to me
Bangkok is a massive city, and every time I even utter the name I can smell the reek of Holy Basil and palm sugar in the streets, the scent of lemongrass and the bustle of one of my favorite food destinations. That being said, Thailand has been in the news lately for other reasons. It is hard to imagine how Thailand got to this stage in its life, or more importantly how it will manage to recover. Thaksin Shinawatra won elections in 2001 and 2005, was accused of corruption, is no longer PM, disregarded human-rights and devoted his energies in the main to the rural countryside. He was not popular in Bangkok. On this no one can argue. Is the current rioting rabble rousing of the paid variety? Is it a class war? Who knows, but 18 new constitutions in the past half-century makes Thailand one of the most unstable countries in the world. Everyone sees Thailand, and Bangkok especially, as the food lovers’ heaven, sexual fantasy land, sunny, warm smiling and plastic surgery friendly locale that Thailand’s spin doctors have crafted and artificially created over the years. Everyone I know assumes Thailand is a stable country when it really isn’t. I think the wool is off everyone’s eyes, finally. And why is this important? Because traveling to me is about a lifestyle that is insistent on social responsibility and education and awareness of cultures around the world. And as someone who loves Thailand and its people I am hoping that awareness-raising will encourage other friends of Thailand to keep visiting that country, keep supporting all the Thai people in this pivotal moment in their history, and as our episode that airs this week clearly illustrates, Bangkok is still one of the most enthralling and marvellous cities in the world.
Take Chinatown for instance. As usual, the best stories we shot never made it to the show. Ask any TV guy and he will give you the same story: “you should see what’s on the edit room floor!” Bangkok’s Chinatown where we shot our scene in Jok’s Kitchen is a great example. From the dumpling shops to the spice stores, I think we could have done a whole program there. This is one of the most vibrant food focused neighborhoods in the world and I would encourage every visitor to Bangkok to spend a lot of time just wandering the alleys and back streets of this incredible culinary resource. Another location we have featured in both of my shows that shot in Bangkok is Khlong Toei Market. This is a gritty and visceral market that is edgy and every year we hear stories about violence between vendors, mob influence on the carting and wholesale industries and so forth. Every year we hear that some big management company will come in and sterilize and sanitize the market. Dear god don’t let that happen. KTM in all its glory is a wonderful glorious throwback to a time where rules applied to everyone differently and the faint whiff of danger and excitement is what made the Orient so exotic and romantic. I have never felt unsafe in KTM and you won’t either.
Anyway, one night in Bangkok does make a hard man humble. I am planning on returning there next year as a civilian because the Thai people are as warm and kind as any in the world and I love this amazing land, despite the troubles, and despite the rumours to the contrary. Thailand needs us all to give it a big hug.
Whispering Misty…
So sorry you can expect to pass up the workshop!…
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