More Than One Night in Bangkok

 

    Is it true that more than one night in this magical Southeast Asian city will change your life? It just might and I encourage you to try it for at least one night as the song says. The country of Thailand recently reopened after the Covid-19 Pandemic over two years ago. My husband and I used to work here for five years before the world turned upside down. We wondered if this amazing country had survived the worldwide lockdown. Would it still be the same? Would the people still have smiles on their faces? Well, it is still the 'same same' as Thais say, but yet a little different. Masks have always been the norm in Southeast Asia. Now, they are no longer mandatory, but most Thai people still choose to wear their masks all day long. The only places that still require masks are on the Sky Train, airplanes, and other mass transportation. The shopping malls seemed more crowded than normal if that is possible. Some restaurants even have waiting for lines and traffic jams remain the norm. 

    We woke up at 3am our first night with the time change. Why not venture out onto the busy Bangkok streets and see what is going on? Same same, but different. There were actually more people outside than during the daytime. Music was blaring out from bars, vendors were selling food at sidewalk carts, and taxis were still stuck in traffic jams. Tuk tuks kept beeping their horns offering us rides in their two-seater open carts on wheels. No thanks, I prefer to be on my own two sturdy feet. We wandered carefully stepping over broken bottles, litter, and children sleeping on the sidewalk next to their mothers begging for spare change. I felt bewildered, scared, and also at home. Blame it on the jet lag! We eventually found a makeshift sidewalk bar that consisted of a cart with two large wheels filled with ice and liquor. We ordered two cheap drinks and sat on low metal stools at a flimsy plastic table watching the cars go by. I have to admit that it was a trip! I felt like a movie actress on the set of an artsy movie. We bought some cheap street food from a push cart selling crispy chicken. Starbucks and Mcdonald's seemed to be the only restaurants open in the middle of the night. 

     Bangkok seems to have survived the Pandemic quite well and is coming back with a storm. Even though the airport was not crowded, there are still people partying in the streets. Maybe they live here or maybe they are tourists. Who knows? It is true that hotels and restaurants have suffered and many of them are still shuttered and closed. I don't see many tour buses roaming the city or tour groups with their leader holding up a flag. However, the Thai people are adaptable and survivors throughout history. They still greet tourists warmly in "The Land of Smiles." This country will revive and more visitors will come. It is just a matter of time before both Thailand and the world return to the new normal. Humans are born survivors and this time will go down in history as a lesson for those who follow us. Enjoy each day, try something new, and be kind and smile at everyone you encounter. Sawadee Ka!