Bangkok is too awesome for words. I have been there for about 6 times but that bustling city still appeals to me like a Legolas poster to a pubescent girl. My visit 4 days ago was quite the difference from all the previous ones. Instead of just the usual and more often than not mindless walking, shopping, partying, drinking, train-riding and eating, this holiday served as a platform for me to kickstart the healing of an emotional wound as well as to truly learn how to live a happy life. Of course, I did the mindless walking, shopping, partying, drinking, train-riding and eating, too. This is Bangkok we are talking about, not North Korea or some sad shit.
To present the awesome-ness of Bangkok, I am going to have to do the inevitable – comparing it to my own city. It’s nothing personal, just an equation that is necessary to draw comparisons. I will have to divide this entry into 2, or even 3 parts though. Firstly, it is going to be too long and tedious to read (and write) at one go, plus, it’s a fucking Monday in the office after a holiday, give me a medal for not jumping out of the window.
The people
Bangkok – The Thais are generally a bloody decent bunch of people. They smile all the time, they are polite, they try their best to converse through language barriers and they are very tolerant. I suppose these charming demeanours are byproducts of their staunch faith in Buddhism (I’m not a Buddhist) and the acknowledgement of their tourism industry and its importance to the booming economy.
And what the fuck does the Malaysian Ronald do?
Kuala Lumpur – We are generally a bloody decent bunch of people, when it plays to our advantage. We smile when someone drops a RM50 note in front of us, our taxi drivers are polite when a hapless tourist is stranded in Bukit Bintang past midnight, we don’t even bother saying a simple “thank you” when someone holds the elevator for us and we are as tolerant as a kid on Christmas mornings. I suppose these lovable attritubes are byproducts of our belief in the notion, “we are Malaysians, we don’t give a fuck all about everything or everyone else. Now, where the hell is my Nasi Lemak?”
The shopping
Bangkok – Chanels, Hermes, Diors and the likes at the corner of every street. Even the neighbourhood malls have luxurious labels residing in them. For (much) cheaper alternatives, the amount and magnitude of markets and bazaars there are near insanity. Chatuchak (sp?) Weekend Market itself has close to 80,000 stalls and you can buy anything and everything here. Well, maybe except for the secrets to understanding women, but I’m not even sure. 6 visits and I have yet to finish exploring this damn place.
The Thais don't care.
Kuala Lumpur – The opening of the 2nd Louis Vuitton outlet was a bigger deal than swine flu. Neighbourhood malls have Chinese medicine halls and Indian sundry shops as tenants. For (not necessarily) cheaper alternatives, we have the night markets in residential areas and bazaars in shopping malls (can never make the sense out of that) that give us an avenue to oogle at pretty girls without feeling a pinch of guilt.
The food
Bangkok – Spicy, sour and stimulating. Thai food are not for the masses and you can tell from the sweat-soaked faces of the ‘angmohs’ in food courts, street hawkers, restaurants and cafes all over the city. Bangkok houses a fine collection of international cuisines, intricate cafes and cozy restaurants, though.
70% chili, 30% sweat.
Kuala Lumpur – KL takes this one. Despite the delusions suffered by Singaporeans, the whole world knows that Kuala Lumpur, or Malaysia, is the capital of food. I don’t have to elaborate much on this. We can even turn shit into a culinary delight. We are that good.
