Well, our first four days back in Bangkok have confirmed that much is the same, and only a few things have changed. As a now cliched and always daggy tourist purchase reads 'same same, but different'. Actually, I've had to add the grammar to the sentence.
What's the same is the people with their colour, vibrance and good humour. Just walking the streets is full of moving colour (mostly the taxis), people smiling, and everyone doing their best to be suay (beautiful). Stepping out or riding a skytrain is just a joyous experience.
What's changed is a spreading affluence and feeling of gentrification. More upmarket buildings and bourgeois spending options abound and seem to be targetted at Thai's as well as Falang (Westerners). I get the feeling that there's a growing confidence, wealth, and willingess to engage in new Western products and lifestyle choices - whilst this might be good or bad, its meant that there are now actually cafes available other than Starbucks. What I've liked is the engagement doesnt' appear to be sycophantic, more an evaluation of other choices that're then adopted into the Thai style of life.
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