Bangkok has been quite the experience since we arrived. It simply has so much to offer, in so many different spheres of interest as well. Last night, my wife and I decided to explore Chinatown, and it was a wonderfully overwhelming experience. Let me tell you about some of the highlights.
Dropped Into the Noise
We arrived relatively early into the night, only at around 7 PM. Our Grab driver dropped us off toward the entrance of Soi Yaowarat, and we proceeded on foot down the main road. From the moment we arrived, it was an assault on the senses. Neon signs constantly drew our eyes upward as pedestrians worked their way up and down the street.
Vendors called out to the crowd, beckoning any and all potential customers to come and try their wares. Everywhere we went, the smell of something delicious lingered in the air, pulling us two hungry travelers this way and that. It was all pretty overwhelming, if I’m being honest, but in the best possible way.
Finding Stillness in the Chaos
Seeing as we hadn’t had dinner yet, it didn’t take long for my wife and I to pick a small spot to eat. There, sitting on flimsy plastic stools and supping on some amazing pork belly and rice, we took in the view of the whole place while occasionally sipping our Chang beers. To quote my wife, “you need a beer or two just to help process the place.”
I was amazed by just how fresh everything was. I saw several vendors selling live crab and lobster, with other stalls just next to them cooking those same crustaceans that had been purchased moments earlier by interested tourists. A medium-sized lobster cost only one thousand baht, roughly thirty U.S. dollars. It made us laugh, because we had almost certainly spent close to eighty dollars back in America on a similarly sized lobster for a special date-night.
After enjoying our dinner, we walked a little further down the road and picked up some tanghulu for dessert. Tanghulu is a delightful treat we discovered back in Hawaii: small pieces of fruit skewered on a stick, dipped in molten sugar, and crystallized into a sort of edible glass. Back in Hawaii, we spent perhaps ten or fifteen dollars on the treat, and yet here it was barely three. Moments like this remind me why we moved to Bangkok in the first place, the exchange rate is simply too generous.
As we progressed further still down the road, I lost track of the different restaurants and vendors I wanted to investigate. Unfortunately, my stomach had only so much room, so we had to decline a lot of tempting options. Still, we resolved to visit again soon, if only to try some of the roasted chestnuts and steamed buns we had to pass by this time.
Knowing When to Step Back
Chinatown was a blast, in spite of all the noise and overwhelm. It can definitely be hard to take it all in, and I’d recommend noise-canceling headphones if you’re sensitive to that sort of thing, but it’s absolutely an experience worth having if you get the chance. If you do, I recommend doing something similar to what we did: allow yourself to be overwhelmed, take in as much as you can, and then stop. Have a seat, maybe enjoy a delicious meal, and simply take in the whole place.
Perhaps give some change to one of the beggars dotting the road, if you’re able, as a small way of giving back. And once you’ve had your fill, don’t feel bad if you need to step away and gather yourself for a return down the line. I certainly know I will, hungry for more.
