Daily Wanderlust: the streets of Bangkok

Despite the protests and travel warnings coming from many countries about Bangkok, I headed down south to the capital the other day for some family time.

As someone who comes to the city quite regularly — mostly for work since I have yet to really fall in love with what other see from this massive sprawl of skyscrapers and elevated highways and trains — there wasn’t much different, even with the political turmoil.

The same little street stalls crowded the sidewalks, the same trains rushed back and forth, packed with people … nothing really seemed different.

Until I heard the booming voice over a speaker. A protest. And, until I saw a large tent city erected by the water. And, the massive traffic that was pretty much halted on Sukhumvit.

Did I ever feel like my life was in danger? Nope. Not once.

Did I go near the protests? Not a chance.

But, would I return to Bangkok, even with what is going on? Absolutely.

There’s something about escaping from Chiang Mai and being in a big city that sends my blood pulsing and opens my eyes to wonder … and reminds me life exists very differently in other parts of Thailand.

This traffic? I’ve never seen anything like it in Chiang Mai!