I A Wander Through Bangkok’s Bustling Streets.

By Fouzia Azzab

• TRAVEL •

A Wander Through Bangkok’s Bustling Streets

Thailand’s famous capital city ignites all the senses as its evolving skyline entices a growing number of international visitors.

T

Traveling to Bangkok,

the capital of Thailand, in June fulfilled a lifelong dream. I have always wanted to experience the lively streets of a city known for being one of the most exciting destinations in Asia.

I flew late afternoon from Dubai, and as the plane landed outside the city, Bangkok’s night sky was sparkling with lights. The journey from Bangkok airport to the Dusit Suites Hotel Ratchadamri, where I was staying, took an hour. It was 9 pm by the time I checked-in and received the room keys, but due to the time difference between Dubai and Bangkok (three hours) I decided to spend the rest of the night on Dubai time, hoping to reset my biological clock the next day.

Dusit Central Park project, due for completion in 2025, covers 3.7 hectares, and is set to cost $1.33 billion.

Despite the heat and humidity that are typical for the time of year, I dropped my bags and headed out to explore the shining streets, which were filled with the heavenly smell of street food and the non-stop cooking fires. In the morning, I got to witness the contrasting detailed beauty of the architectural design of the city’s dazzling skyscrapers.

The elegant Dusit Suites Ratchadamri is located in the heart of Bangkok’s Pathum Wan District, on a quiet street opposite the Royal Bangkok Sports Club and only 100 meters from the BTS Skytrain station. My visit to the hotel coincided with the unveiling of another Dusit project in the same area, Dusit Central Park, and I was able to take a sneak peek at the plans for the new landmark.

The integrated project, due for completion in 2025, covers 3.7 hectares, and is set to cost $1.33 billion. It comprises two luxury residential buildings—Dusit Residences, which will feature 160 ultra-luxury units, and Dusit Parkside, which will feature 246—in addition to a luxury shopping complex, a five-star hotel, and an office building. The entire project has been designed with sustainability in mind, following the principles of Feng Shui. All facilities are

The Dusit Central Park project has been designed with sustainability in mind, following the principles of Feng Shui.

connected to the picturesque panoramic Lumpini Park, with views overlooking the stunning city.

The developers see the project as an iconic new landmark that will rise from the heart of Bangkok. “It will remain a symbol of the country for generations to come,” says La-ead Kovavisaruch Chief Investment Officer at Dusit International, and Director at Vimarn Suriya Co., Ltd. “The opportunity to change the course of history is not always there.” According to Kovavisaruch, 40% of the total available units have already been sold, mainly to Thai nationals. But she sees international buyers, particularly from Asia and the Middle East, as a key target market for the group.

The country is attracting a growing numbers of fans from across the world. In 2022, Thailand hopes to welcome up to 10 million international tourists and 160 million domestic ones, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand Newsroom, forecasting annual tourism revenues of $141.1 billion. During the first five months of the year, international arrivals had reached 1.23 million. Bangkok alone welcomed nearly 250,000 international tourists in April 2022, according to Statista. The city has become one of the most visited in the world.

As a first-time visitor from the Middle East, I was excited to get out and take a proper look around. I spent my second night taking a quick stroll down Arab Street, near Nana Plaza. It is rich with Arabic restaurants and shops where you can try Arabic food and buy products at discounted prices. I had a shawarma meal at a Syrian restaurant, then sat and relaxed in a Lebanese eatery, where the loud voices of the crowd mingled with the sound of Arabic music.

The next day, I ventured to Chinatown, which is one of the most important tourist destinations in Bangkok. The market is like a miniature Chinese city in central Bangkok, where thousands of people roam daily, most of them lovers of Chinese food, seeking a unique experience amid the noisy streets filled with music and lights.

Throughout my four-day trip I tried a variety of dishes across some of the city’s finest restaurants. I enjoyed French cuisine at J’AIME, Chinese seafood at Somboon, and traditional Thai dishes at Benjarong. Wanting to experience more typical Thai culture, I also took a tour of the Buddhist Temple of Dawn “Wat Arun” in the Bangkok Yai District, with its picturesque temples and buildings featuring designs dating back more than 250 years. The exterior design and magnificent towers of the temple were fascinating, rich with color. I entered the Buddha Temple, respecting its numerous rituals. Visitors are not permitted to step or stand on the threshold as you enter, so you must step over the ledge. A tour guide accompanied a group of us into the temple, which was a great opportunity to learn

more about Buddhism. I wore a traditional Thai dress called a Chut Thai, distinguished by its bright colors.

After the temple tour, the heat had become tiring and I decided to take a break and try the Banbury spa at the Central Embassy. I relaxed for 90 minutes amidst soft music and dim light. It was a haven of peace and tranquility, with a massage room, bathroom, private steam room, treatment bed, and a private lounge for relaxation.

On my last day, I just had to embrace the full shopping experience in Bangkok. The city is famous for its shopping malls, offering many high-end brands at low prices. I went to the MBK Center, one of the most prominent shopping centers in the city, packed with clothes, shoes, jewelry, mobile phones, and electrical appliances. I spent more than four hours shopping, and believe me when I say it wasn’t long enough. The prices and goods were endlessly tempting, but sadly it was time to leave.

My visit to Bangkok was a trip full of unique experiences where I got to discover a different vibrant culture. I didn’t have the time to fully explore everything on offer, but I definitely plan to head back.

• THOUGHTS ON •

THOUGHTS A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don’t need it. —Bob Hope

If nature were a bank, they would have already rescued it. —Eduardo Galeano

Starting out to make money is the greatest mistake in life. Do what you feel you have a flair for doing, and if you are good enough at it, the money will come. —Greer Garson

Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants. —Epictetus

Our incomes are like our shoes; if too small, they gall and pinch us; but if too large, they cause us to stumble and to trip. —John Locke

You and I come by road or rail, but economists travel on infrastructure. —Margaret Thatcher

As sure as the spring will follow the winter, prosperity and economic growth will follow recession. —Bo Bennett A big part of financial freedom is having your heart and mind free from worry about the what-ifs of life. —Suze Orman One of the funny things about the stock market is that every time one person buys, another sells, and both think they are astute. —William Feather

Finance

John D. Rockefeller

Bob Hope Greer Garson Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship. —Benjamin Franklin

Automating some of your finances can be incredibly convenient and is a great way to save time, but automating everything makes it too easy to go on autopilot and forget to pay attention to your personal finances. —Alexa Von Tobel

Well, I think that there’s a very thin dividing line between success and failure. And I think if you start a business without financial backing, you’re likely to go the wrong side of that dividing line. —Richard Branson

The way to make money is to buy when blood is running in the streets. —John D. Rockefeller

The thing I have discovered about working with personal finance is that the good news is that it is not rocket science. Personal finance is about 80% behavior. It is only about 20% head knowledge. —Dave Ramsey