We say farewell to the changing city of twelve million people with its city scape in transition to a modern map dotted by office towers, condominiums and mega shopping centers, bringing the jobs, services, retail and food that everyone wants. The many outdoor markets with self erected stalls and mobile kitchens will be replaces by upscale indoor markets with air condition. We saw so many retail districts; toys, fabric, shoes, purses, hardware, electronics, etc., everyone came to buy their piece of the economy and take it back to their part of the city to carve out a living. Thousands of motor cycles replace UPS and FedEx delivering goods and people across the city. For now the efficiencies and scale have not made it to all parts of Thailand but all the pieces move quickly in an organized harmony.
The people we met were nice and traffic horns were limited to short beeps warning someone they were coming versus a signal of road rage. In between the modern city was the run down foundation of the past however there was no trash or junk to be seen. Some how carted away, recycled or valued by someone making for a clean but not sparkling city. Food portions were right sized not super sized and high price was not always the best meal of the day. The woman that made pad thai to order on the sidewalk or on her boat in the river commanded the best taste prize amongst all others.
Bangkok was not as unexpected as I thought it was...hard working, polite, well kept and dotted with beauty and brilliance above what most of us think as routine.
