Oh, come on! You knew it was coming!
Well, here’s the thing, “One Night in Bangkok” is a song from the musical Chess by the brilliant Tim Rice, Benny Andersson, and Björn Ulvaeus. The latter two of ABBA fame, of course.
Chess is a story involving a politically driven, Cold War-era chess tournament between two grandmasters, one American and the other Soviet, and their fight over a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other.The song is about the American chess master, arriving in Bangkok for the tournament, and finding the showy and decadent location inappropriate for the serious mental activity of playing chess. The song is full of chess-related puns, and cultural reference to Bangkok.
It is catchy, and it is catchy!
Being of the production’s era, it has been hanging there in our subconscious – frequently bouncing out, with gusto – ever since we hatched the idea of jetting over here. We stayed 3 nights in Bangkok at the front end of this jolly, but ‘Three nights in Bangkok’ doesn’t quite cut the mustard, does it? And so, tonight Matthew, for one night, and one night only, we are going to be, Murray Head! I’m not sure that quite works either 😂 !
Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep – often translated as City of Angels – is the capital and most populous city of Thailand.
The name Bangkok, used commonly by foreigners, is, according to one interpretation, derived from a name that dates to the time before the city was built—the village or district (bang) of wild plums (makok).
Bangkok is situated in the Chao Phraya River delta in Thailand’s central plain. The river meanders through the city in a southerly direction, emptying into the Gulf of Thailand, 25 kilometres south of the city centre.
Bangkok’s transportation system was originally based on water travel. The city’s maze of canals connected with the river earned it the name “Venice of the East.”
Things are very different now.
As can be seen (above) Bangkok’s transport network is now highly developed. On our first visit, earlier this month, we found the Skytrain easy to use. It was clean and, we noticed, highly populated by security personnel.
Our journey from Phuket to Bangkok was straightforward enough. Although, it was not entirely uneventful. Our pilot must be one of those people who park their car at the further most corner of the car park to reduce the risk of anyone damaging his precious car. It was a long, long walk to the baggage hall. We were striding out, stepping on to an endless series of travelators to promote our cause, chatting away, and then… as we stepped onto the next travelator along, our world was tipped upside down. It was travelling in the opposite direction to all those that had gone before. It caused us amusement, and multiple others stood or sat in the vicinity, even more so. All, that is, except for the incapacitated man, walking with a stick, behind us. His face said it all. He had calculated the implications for himself in an instant. His state of dropped-jawness left no doubt. So, next time you are marching through Bangkok airport, watch out for that particular party trick.
So we are back in Bangkok.
Back on the Sky train to Siam Square, a mega-shopping district.
I did say when blogging about Patong, Phuket, that Halloween appears to be a big thing over here. We had that confirmed just now in Siam Square.
All sorts of bloodied creatures popping up everywhere! 👻
I tell you what, this place is crazy! Even I am impressed by the shopping opportunities. I avoid such things like the plague, as a rule, but I’ve never seen anything quite like this. I went looking for a notebook, to write in, as you do, and got lost in this stationery emporium. It was like being inside a big bad kaleidoscope. I ended up dizzy and left without the said notebook.
As for food options. Where to start? I am just going to chuck a few photos at you.
It doesn’t do it justice. This little lot goes on for about 100 metres! And we are still in one of several ‘shopping malls’. My wife has just gone in Zara (definitely the biggest Zara we have ever seen, and we have been in many around the world, believe me). I am going to have a kip, read a book and have a chat with the hordes of men sat on these strategically placed benches. That is, men waiting for their wife to reappear out of the bowels of Zara, Siam Paragon. It’s the same the world over, I guess.
Many moons ago, the mighty Boro had the meanest defence ever in the history of man. We played Liverpool at home and drew 0-0. Kevin Keegan, never one to avoid a little petulance, voiced his opinion on this. “I’d rather go shopping with my wife than play Boro”, he said. Kevin, New Age man! Now this was a time when people praised the Italians for being defensively mean. Stuart Boam (6’ 2” eyes of blue, Stuey Boam’s after you), Willie Maddren, John Craggs, and Terry Cooper, take a bow.
After enduring the shopping game we moved on towards Patpong. Notorious in the way that SOHO, in London, was (is?), otherwise known as a red light district. But with a famous night market that we wanted a look at.
After a bit of bartering for this and that we found a watering hole that just so happened to be an Irish bar.
And it was Happy Hour, so we made ourselves happy.
One oddity…
An advert for 0.0% beer outside an Irish bar?! I don’t think so.
Moving on, we needed food and we happened upon this little party, across the road.
So, it was a very tasty burger each + a can of ‘Snowy’. Yeah, new one on me,too. Not bad though, a white beer.
Exhausted now, we headed back. One final look at Bangkok. Our final night. Our ‘One night in Bangkok’.
We love Bangkok, and think you would too. We will be back. If you have not done so, get yourself here. It is vibrant, fun and really quite different.
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