“One night in Bangkok”

I remember vividly being 16 years old and studying in my room while listening to the radio. The 80's classic song “one night in Bangkok” came on the radio and I remember thinking to myself “someday I would love to go to Bangkok to experience the craziness that inspired this song.” Lindsay and I got to do this during our 2006 trek through Thailand. On our last night in the country (before heading to the airport to spend the night on chairs) we decided to take in the Khao San road scene. Khao San road is what you would call a tourist ghetto. It is one main street in Bangkok full of clubs, massage parlors, restaurants, tuk-tuks, motorcycles, locals, thousands of tourists and just about everything else you can imagine. All of the stereotypes of Bangkok (partying, sex, alcohol, etc) can be seen and experienced on this road. Although I would suggest not spending to much time in this area it is definitely worth experiencing…at least for “one night.” Lindsay and I walked up and down the road before finally settling down to a cheap but good meal at an outdoor restaurant. We then proceeded to walk up and down the street trying to take in the scene. It was a hot and muggy May night and so we stopped by the local 7Eleven for water and drinks. I remember at one point walking through a crowd of hundreds of tourists and locals and all of the sudden seeing an elephant walking down the street. It was at that moment that we realized we were experiencing what had inspired the song “one night in Bangkok.” If you ever find yourself in Bangkok don’t leave without at least walking through Khao San road…then quickly get out of there for the hundreds of other cultural and meaningful sites around this incredible city.


Khao San road during the day