My recent trip to Thailand was so much more than a smattering of adorable dogs that generally liked humans. It was a little over a week of excitement about the differences between Cambodia and Thailand, and my astonishment, mostly due to ignorance on my part, about how much more developed Thailand seemed to be than my home for the past 9 months when it is the country right next door. My point of view on the comparison between these neighboring countries should be seen in this light. Although I had heard about the modernity of Bangkok, it reached beyond my imagination of just how opposite it could be from the big city of Phnom Penh. My travels were a little peak into how exciting the little things in America will be when I return, but I just had never conceived that anything I view as comforting from the States would be found a 4 hour drive from Cambodia. My views are also based on spending time in two prominent cities, Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and I'm sure there are parts of Thailand that are really quite similar to Cambodia. Here are just a small selection of things that I felt extreme enjoyment from:
*A subway system: Bangkok has an underground and skytrain system that are very clean, reasonably priced and efficient. Trains arrive often and are air-conditioned. The subway, along with other forms of transportation that I will explain, were a main focus of our time in Bangkok because in Phnom Penh, the main form of transportation is by motorcycle pulled carts called "tuk-tuks". Having an option of which form of transportation to take was pretty luxurious.
*Reliable public transportation: There are regulated metered taxis all over Bangkok, and they're super cheap too unlike those in America. They also come in bright pinks, oranges and blue. A few times the drivers refused to use the meter or didn't want to take us to a "far" destination, but it's nice to not have to worry about bargaining when you get into a vehicle. In Phnom Penh, there are some metered taxi companies, but they are not too popular yet. There's also an extensive bus network, but that was the only form of transportation we did not use.
*River taxi: Very fun and easy way to get around the city and the most convenient for us based on where we were staying. Also, the 15 baht (50 cent) ride was pretty appealing and caught some good sunsets while cruising.
*Train network: I felt as if in Europe when stepping into the train station for northern destinations, except for the Dunkin Donuts and KFC in the terminal. The train system is so popular that the trains, although running several times during the day, sell out a week in advance for well-travelled routes. They even have toilet paper and running water inside which reached far beyond my expectations.
*Global corporations: As mentioned above, American food chains are rampant in Bangkok and throughout Thailand. 7 Elevens are on every block and are way better stocked than those in America; Starbucks and McDonalds are also never too far apart. Cambodia has plenty of KFCs, a few Dairy Queens, and a Burger King was just placed in the Phnom Penh Internation Airport, but otherwise without chain restaurants.
*Multicultural food scene: Thai people seem to enjoy a variety of foods, unlike Cambodians who are committed to their staples of rice and generally sweet foods. In the massive malls in Bangkok, the fancy food courts had any type of food you could desire and mostly Thai customers frequenting them. We went to a sushi buffet and shabu restaurant where you cook foods from a conveyor belt in a boiling pot of soup. This is a Japanese food, but the Thai people knew far more what they were doing than we did. We just ended up with a bland yet super spicy coconut water.
*Toilet paper: People seem to like it and use it. In case you didn't know, the norm in Cambodia is a water basin. If you're lucky, there might be a butt sprayer. Be sure to provide your own soap.
*Trash is thrown into trash cans: Littering is the norm in Cambodia as most of the country disposes of trash by burning it, so it was pretty weird to not just throw something on the ground when you're done.
*Cultural independence and confidence: Talking to many PCVs about Thailand and why it is so different than Cambodia, they mention the Khmer Rouge and how it halted the progress of a country who was in the midst of a cultural boom. I don't believe that Cambodia would be where Thailand is if it had not been for the genocide, but Cambodia has had to rebuild so much of its cultural after it had been systematically destroyed by the Khmer Rouge. Cambodians lust after the exotic which is apparent in their love for foreigners, the way they look and their fascination in pointing out differences. Due to decades of travellers through Thailand, a white person is not seen as different or exciting in the least. I was not called out for my foreignness ever, which was quite a relief and change from living here. We stayed near the university in Chiang Mai and experienced the bar scene for young Thais in that area. I saw young people drinking casually, hanging out with co-ed groups of friends and dancing to live music. The social freedom I observed was akin to that of American youth and felt far away from the Khmer nightclub/bar scene I've experienced in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.
 |
| Sunset from the river taxi |
 |
| Bangkok from atop |
 |
| Train to Chiang Mai |
 |
| Another form of transportation we took |
 |
| Coolest bar in Southeast Asia (that I have been to) |
More pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sam_wise/sets/72157633233329578/
