Bangkok

If Tokyo can be described as highly ordered chaos, Bangkok can best be described as highly dirty chaos.  Plus a bit of the crazy “Tenderloin” vibe mixed in.  Add in 90 degree heat and 90% humidity, wild dogs roaming the street, the smell of rotten eggs in the air, and a recent military coup and you have a sense of Bangkok.

Which isn’t to say that it isn’t a fun city.  There are a ton of restuarnts (all cheap by US standards), beautiful temples, and an active night life.  And if you want to buy a cheap, fake Rolex and have a 2 hour massage by a young Thai girl for $10, then Bangkok is definitely your town.  But I will be in no rush to return.

 This is the headline from the local paper soon after I arrived in Bangkok.  Note the sub-bullet: “Are we really on the bring of chaos?” and “Street reaction to determine need for emergency rule.”   In a nutshell, after an election with fraud allegations, there was a military coup (last year).  Last Wednesday (the 30th of August) a court tribunal decided whether or not to dissolve several political parties and ban their members from politics.  Of course, this tribunal was appointed by the military.  If all political parties were dissolved, people would have been unhappy!  As it turned out, the oldest Thai party, the Democrats, were absolved of all guilt by the tribunal.  However, the party of of the coup-ousted Thail leader Thaksin, the Thai Rak Thai party, was in fact disbaned and their leaders banned from politics for 5 years.  This is a big deal and many people are unhappy.  This could cause unrest in Bangkok and the north (where TRT is popular).  Luckily, I left Bangkok the day after the ruling!

 My hotel was quite nice (Lebua at State Tower).

 For very little money, you can dine like an absolute prince in Bangkok.  This is a very amazing restaurant at the State Tower called Breeze.  It is an open air Thai restaurant on the 52nd floor of the building.

 Another phote from Breeze.

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