1. Although Thailand transitioned from an absolute monarchy almost 90 years ago, the king wields  considerable influence over the civil society. The most visible aspects of this influence are the little shrines embedded in Thai buildings with pictures of the King and Queen. This is despite the King’s rather bizarre lifestyle. So, I can’t piece together if this influence was earned or forced. It is likely a bit of both given that the previous king, Bhumibol was one of the longest serving monarchs in the world and Thailand also has one of the harshest lese majeste laws in the world.

2. Bangkok is a sprawling metropolis with pockets of posh high rises and abject poverty at the other end. The hotel districts in Sukhumwit, Silom and Khao San Road are safe and well maintained but beware of petty theft and bar bullies which are not uncommon in other parts of world.

3. There is lot said about Thai street food. Almost every bit is true. It is a way of life here. Every vendor has their own twist or speciality and the set up on the sidewalks is well thought through. We tried our hand at Thai cooking in a class and the curries turned out to be great. The secret ingredient is fish sauce but the fresh ground Thai Chili paste is essential. Also, Pad Thai is truly a kitchen sink dish, you can put almost anything and get way with it. I absolutely loved the mango sticky rice and wasn’t disappointed by any version of it.

4. The Thai temples are truly stunning. I was equally impressed with the Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho.The former has such ornate architecture and latter with its beautiful pagodas and triads of buddha statues.The marquee attractions at emerald buddha(Wat Phra Kaew) and reclining buddha (Wat Pho) are always overcrowded but are also overhyped. Wat Arun is another popular temple across the river known for its great views of sunrise/sunset.

5. The paintings at Wat Phra Kaew  highlighted the strong Hindu influences on Thai Culture. The epic Ramayana known as Ramekien is a source of national pride for Thailand. When a number of written versions of epic were lost when Ayuuthaya fell to the Burmese in 1767, then king Rama I ( founder of the ruling Chakri Dynasty) commissioned that Ramekien be rewritten for posterity. Although the main plot is identical to the Indian version, there are plenty of Thai influences sprinkled in.

6. Sex tourism is in your face no matter where you go in the city. Seeing odd ball couples (white senior with a young Thai woman) will leave you with varying degrees of unpleasantness. But it is just business for those vulnerable Thai women trying to making a living when the opportunities for subsistence are limited. I heard that flesh trade is lucrative relative to most semi-skilled professions. Although not entirely surprising but a sad reality.

7. For better or worse,Thailand is now known for its massages. Although they have developed a seedy reputation over time, it is said to have roots in healing practices practiced in ancient Thailand. It is now regulated by Thai department of public health and certified practitioners need to have significant training in order to be licensed. I am not even a massage person but I enjoyed the experience at Asia Herb Association, a mini chain in Bangkok.