Stories of town explorations.
No destination is unworthy. All places, touristy or non-touristy, are destinations that could help enrich your life, understanding, and perspective.
• I judged Bangkok hard and skipped it for years. One night there proved me totally wrong—touristy doesn't mean unworthy.
• I thought "real Thailand" meant avoiding Bangkok. My first visit taught me how silly that was.
BANGKOK: What Nobody TOLD ME
First night in Bangkok: I bought that tank top in Siem Reap, but I wore it in Bangkok.
Anyway, I intentionally skipped Bangkok on my past Thailand visit because I was too judgmental. It turned out that I enjoyed this city, and it made me realize that experiencing the real Thailand isn't just about exploring its less-visited provinces. Actually, that's a wrong notion. You also have to visit Bangkok and its other popular destinations to witness its amazing twists and evolution as a result of successful tourism.
All the old, new, traditional, and modern things in Thailand are all part of Thailand's bigger picture. Thailand now is not Thailand without its not-so-Thai modern additions as a result of mass tourism. So whether it's an old town or a modern city shaped by tourism, it's still the real Thailand.
CONCLUSION: No destination is unworthy. All places—touristy or not—are destinations that can help enrich your life, understanding, and perspective.
These were my thoughts on my first night in Bangkok. I would love to share more stories in the future.
PHOTO GALLERY
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NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.