Street scene from the MBK over bridge

It’s difficult to imagine a city more different from my home town. There are fourteen million people in the metropolitan area – Napier has 61,000. In fact Bangkok has more than three times the population of my entire country!

It’s winter in Bangkok now. Some locals are wearing scarves. The three days since I arrived I’ve found it a relatively pleasant 28 – 30C, very acceptable summer temperatures in Napier. I’m in the lightest weight clothing I own – a scarf is not in my wardrobe.

Bangkok is famous for its malls. Needless to say we have nothing like them in my hometown. Tonight at Siam Paragon  I saw a Maserati for sale and a Rolls Royce. How did they get those cars into the fourth floor show rooms? And what for? It’s not like anyone’s going to take them out for a test drive. Sorry, no photos, I’m telling you about something I glimpsed while I was trying to find a second battery for my camera. A good idea, I thought – at first.

What was less than smart was leaving the shopping expedition till 5:00 pm on New Years Eve. I should have known better. It’s not like I haven’t been here before.

A million or more people may have left Bangkok to visit family over the New Year holiday but there’s still a lot of people here. And it seems as if most descended on MBK and Siam Paragon at the same time we arrived.

No, not to shop. To Be Seen. And to take selfies.

I’d thought I might see google glass wearers but no, I haven’t spotted a single one. The must have accessory in Bangkok for New Years Eve this year is the selfie stick. They’re everywhere.

Despite visiting six, yes six different camera photo shops I didn’t find a suitable battery!  So it turns out there are some things you can’t get in Bangkok – at least not easily.  Not to worry,  it was on the nice to have but not essential list.

One other big difference between Napier and Bangkok – the sky train. I managed to get a shot of  two arriving at the Siam BTS Station despite the crowds.

BTS Sky Train at Siam

Notice how everyone else is admiring the New Year decorations, which you can’t see because I’m too busy oohing and ahhing over the BTS. It’s an incredible feat of engineering. You guessed it – we don’t have any passenger train services in my town either!

Happy New Year from me to you where ever you are in the world.