Bangkok's Shaky Infrastructure That Won't Quit (2.2)
The Bangkok Podcast6 Nov 2016

Bangkok's Shaky Infrastructure That Won't Quit (2.2)

Hey, you're still here! How awesome is that? Welcome to the 2nd episode. Today, we're talking infrastructure. No, wait! Before you decide to skip the episode, this isn't an episode filled with mechanical engineering terms. Have you met us?

(Direct download .mp3)

The Big Mango is… big. Big city with huge skyscrapers and sprawling concrete to help accommodate the millions of people that live in and visit Bangkok. This is the City of Angels, the second largest city in SE Asia. We're sorry if that damaged your idyllic notion of rice paddies and floating markets. Thailand has them. Bangkok metro? Not so much. Here we have the Mahanakon Tower - some call it the Jenga or Tetris Building -- the fourth tallest building in SE Asia. We're looking forward to the grand opening, because that rooftop bar is going to rather swank. But Bangkok isn't stopping there. There are loads of new buildings, both giant and strange, that will continue to give Bangkok it's own special character. Just one more reason we both love living in this crazy town. We have world class shopping centers, with more on the way. Traffic sucks. Just plan on that when you visit. The good news is the BTS or MRT work pretty good. And if all else fails, jump on a mototaxi. They flow through bad traffic like water. But we're getting new lines. Greg made a nifty map to show where some of them will be. Will they all connect? If history is any judge, probably not. Ah, Bangkok. Of course, all that new development has to happen somewhere, and often that means old structures -- sometimes interesting and historic -- are knocked out of the way. Progress? Or a loss of culture? We'll offer our opinions on the topic of how the changing landscape impacts these two expats. And we'd love to hear what you think! Also, The Windup Girl is a good future-of-Thailand book. Will Bangkok look just like that in 200 years? Eh, probably not. But scifi really doesn't predict the future as much as it portrays the present. So if you want a fantastical look at what we're talking about, download the book.

Avsnitt(563)

Why do Bangkok Condo Prices Seem to Defy Gravity? [S8.E41]

Why do Bangkok Condo Prices Seem to Defy Gravity? [S8.E41]

Greg begins by introducing the perplexing nature of the Bangkok condo market, noting how prices continually seem to defy gravity despite a massive oversupply. He points out that the market acts as a s...

21 Apr 39min

From the Road: Three PodFriends Reminisce About Bangkok [S8.E40]

From the Road: Three PodFriends Reminisce About Bangkok [S8.E40]

In a special episode recorded during Greg's travels in Canada, he interviews three good friends of the podcast about their particular speciality, and what their thoughts are on Bangkok despite being s...

15 Apr 47min

Phra Pandit Discusses What Buddhism Says About Sex [S8.E39]

Phra Pandit Discusses What Buddhism Says About Sex [S8.E39]

Greg meets with mega, super, return guest Phra Pandit to discuss Buddhist teachings regarding sex, a conversation prompted by recent scandals involving women extorting monks. Phra Pandit explains that...

8 Apr 39min

That Thing All Thais Do? Yeah, No They Don't

That Thing All Thais Do? Yeah, No They Don't

Greg and Ed explore common Thai stereotypes and symbols that are heavily associated with Thailand internationally, yet play a surprisingly small role in the daily lives of average Thai citizens. They ...

31 Mars 33min

Author Chris Baker Discusses Thai History, Culture & Conflict [S8.E37] (Classic ReCast)

Author Chris Baker Discusses Thai History, Culture & Conflict [S8.E37] (Classic ReCast)

Greg and Ed interview expat legend Chris Baker, co-author (along with his wife Pasuk Phongpaichit) of A History of Thailand, in addition to several other well-known books on Thailand. Greg and Ed gush...

24 Mars 55min

New Frontiers: A (Literal) Conversation With Ed's AI Assistant About Podcasting [S8.E36]

New Frontiers: A (Literal) Conversation With Ed's AI Assistant About Podcasting [S8.E36]

In a special main show, Greg and Ed interview Hal, Ed's OpenClaw bot about his knowledge of the Bangkok Podcast. The guys begin the show discussing their mutual obsession with AI but also explain how ...

17 Mars 37min

Photographer Tim Russell on the Fading Glory of Hualamphong Station [S8.E34] (Classic ReCast)

Photographer Tim Russell on the Fading Glory of Hualamphong Station [S8.E34] (Classic ReCast)

In a ReCast episode from season 7, Greg interviews well known Bangkok-based photographer Tim Russell about his book 'Bangkok Station,' which focuses (literally) on the iconic and now mostly defunct Hu...

4 Mars 44min

Linguist Rikker Dockum on the Royal Institute's Thai Language Oversight [S8.E33] (Classic ReCast)

Linguist Rikker Dockum on the Royal Institute's Thai Language Oversight [S8.E33] (Classic ReCast)

Greg interviews old friend of the podcast Rikker Dockum, Thai language expert extraordinaire about the Thai Royal Society, an organization dedicated to overseeing, promoting and regulating the Thai la...

24 Feb 50min

Populärt inom Samhälle & Kultur

en-mork-historia
podme-dokumentar
gynning-berg
p3-dokumentar
svenska-fall
aftonbladet-krim
skaringer-nessvold
mardromsgasten
hor-har
creepypodden-med-jack-werner
killradet
kod-katastrof
flashback-forever
blenda-2
p3-historia
rss-nemo-moter-en-van
vad-blir-det-for-mord
historiska-brott
rss-brottsutredarna
rss-mer-an-bara-morsa