Bangkok: A Playground for the Desperate and Despondent

Do you feel lost in life? Are you recently divorced? Or have you finally paid off that mortgage that’s kept you in servitude for the last 30 years? Then Bangkok might be the place for you.

Bangkok gained a name for itself as the playground for US Military Personnel that served in the Indochina region throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s. Now it is the playground for the old, overweight, and divorced men that are fleeing the West in droves. Everywhere you look, all you can see is older western men with hunch backs and pot bellies clinging onto their god-knows-how-old Thai wife. It is truly one of saddest relationship dynamics you will ever see; some delicate Thai lady who barely speaks a word of English is prepared to get bent over by some geriatric westerner on the condition that he dies within the next 10 years. I’m sure some of these gentlemen understand the game, however it seems like most truly believe that these women are in love with them, just to get completely wiped out by them sooner or later. Meanwhile, the families of these young Thai women actually celebrate that their daughter has succeeded in getting bent over by some geriatric westerner – Jackpot! Maybe this sounds entertaining for some, but I truly believe that Bangkok is home to some of the most depressed, desperate and despondent people that the world has to offer.

Bangkok, Thailand

Although Bangkok was not my cup of tea, I think it is important to highlight that it is a great place to begin a trip around SE Asia. This is simply because it is often the beginning place for most SE Asian trips, so you will be certain to meet some people that are in a similar position to yourself. So… where to go? Kao San Road and Sukhumvit are the two main places in Bangkok, and both are very different. Kao San Road is primarily a backpacker area, the main demographic is young people in their late teens / early twenties, and some 30-40 year olds that have fell foul to the lifestyle and become addicted to all the vices available there. Sukhumvit is more targeted for the older demographic and couples that want to experience some of the fine dining and bars that Bangkok has to offer – this is the place where you will see plenty of older western men with their trophy Thai brides. I would recommend Kao San Road to any aspiring traveller that wants to meet some likeminded people: but for no longer than 5 days. I do not think Sukhumvit warrants a trip, unless you are already in Bangkok, or are looking for some young Thai lady to milk you dry in your twilight years.

I don’t like to be too negative with these reviews, but Bangkok is hands down the worst city that I have visited to date. All you can smell is weed, all you can hear is honking horns, and all you can see is destitution. If are planning to travel the Indochina region then it is probably a mandatory start to your journey; however, if you just want to visit a new city and gain some new experiences, then there are plenty of better places to choose.