Date: January 20, 2023
After checking out Ong Ang Canal and Mega Plaza, I walked up Yaowarat Road to the section that is widely showcased as Bangkok’s Chinatown. This being mid-January, Yaowarat Road was decorated to usher in the Chinese New Year vibes.
Chinese have been migrating to Thailand for over 200 years. Initially for trade/business, then later waves of refugees fleeing the civil war era of the 1900s, and then the Mao era post 1950s. Mostly from southern China, first by way of border nations like Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia — and then making their way to more prosperous Bangkok.
Even to this day, Chinese are trying to migrate to Thailand using various means. Mainland Chinese are the largest group of foreign buyers of real estate in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Many come to study in the international schools, and use education visa as a foot through the door to stay long-term.
If you wanted to photograph Chinatown for its neon shop signs… visiting Yaowarat Road during Chinese New Year may not be the best idea.
But from what I could see, the crowds were mostly spending money on food. Lots and lots of food!
Unfortunately my phone’s battery was dying and so was my powerbank. I couldn’t record more video because shooting 4K video clips drained my phone’s batter so fast.
The station closest to Yaowarat Road is Wat Mangkon MRT Station. If you don’t know, MRT is the subway line but connects to the Sukhumvit/Asok interchange, from where I can take the BTS line to my hotel.
Once back in my hotel, I charged my phone and then stepped out for dinner.
Despite staying in an area (near Phrom Phong BTS station) which was choc full of Japanese eateries, I was craving Middle Eastern food. So I took the BTS to Nana.
I reminisced about staying in the Nana area during my first two trips to Bangkok.
The old guesthouse I used to stay at was just a few steps away from Nana BTS. Super convenient, but that whole building is all gone. In fact many old buildings in the Nana area are getting demolished because that land is so valuable for real estate development.
Anyway, I headed back to my room and called it a night. Here’s a brief video from my Yaowarat visit.
Previous posts in this series:
Thailand: Toy malls of Bangkok – Mega Plaza and Always One Plaza; Ong Ang Canal at sunset
Thailand: Visiting Khao San Road For the First Time
Thailand: Capturing Wat Arun at Sunset
Thailand: Hindu god shrines around Sukhumvit, Bangkok
Thailand: Siam Square Walking Street, a good place to find K-pop stores in Bangkok
