Temples decorated with gold, diamond-studded buddhas, vast gardens and skyscrapers – past, present and future lie close together in Bangkok. If you look behind its modern facade, the "village in the plum grove" is full of exoticism.
Bangkok is a city of extremes where everything moves faster than in the rest of Thailand. The volume of traffic is enormous, the city is sprawling uncontrollably and literally is about to sink. The "Venice of the East" indeed has something in common with the Italian lagoon city: It sinks 5 cm (about 2 inches) a year.
Meanwhile, the government has dealt with the environmental problems by setting strict rules – only a few years ago it was dangerous to stay out of doors for a considerable time without respiratory mask.
Bangkok attracts millions of people every year. The "City of Angels" subsists on the royal myths, the richness of the temples and the craving for spiritual enlightenment. If you look behind the modern facade, you will actually find some quiet places.
Floating markets, Thai boxing matches, tuk-tuks, nightlife- there's much to tell about the bustling city between tradition and modernity except one thing: that it is boring.
