The last 24+ hours have been spent in airports, giant aluminum tubes that fly, and traffic. But in the midst of all that … some first impressions.
Bangkok is big, busy, and tropical. The weather — even some of the architecture — reminds me of Honolulu. There’s an old feeling to the city. The people are incredibly friendly and willing to help aging white guys like me (as I was recently called by a colleague).
As with all free and globalized cities around the world, there are strong commonalities. Starbucks, Toyotas, and McDonalds are the most obvious types of things. But there are threads that run further and deeper than just the surface images. Trade, relationships, and faith are strong here.
Of course, there are significant differences. Hard to find some of the roadside meats and fruits in my home town that can be found here. The temples are everywhere and gorgeous. The alphabet is simply bizarre (I’m convinced it’s a code … if you just look at it through a mirror upside down, it’s actually English).
And, of course, the red light district. We walked through it tonight and it makes you want to wash your hands afterward. Dirty, sick, depraved. I’m saddened for the women. And mystified by the men.
But we shouldn’t think of Thailand as the red light district. Although seeing it on my first day here makes a strong impression, it’s not the only impression. Perhaps not even the strongest impression.
I look forward to tomorrow.