Bangkok's Streets and Sois

Greater Bangkok has a population of over 14 million. It often seems as if all of them are in vehicles or on the sidewalks at the same time - especially during the morning and evening "rush hours." 

Friends told us that it often takes three hours to travel 8 miles across the city just to get their children to school.

The only vehicles that never seem to stop moving are the thousands of motorcycles - constantly weaving in and around the hundreds of cars, trucks and buses.

 

Yet, even the motorcycles have to stop when faced with intersections where 4, 5 or even 6 roads come together and traffic signals last up to 2 minutes.

Bangkok is a 21st century metropolis and its upscale neighborhoods and city streets are home to world famous shops and businesses. It has impressive multi-storied malls, high rise hotels and condominiums and the wealthy drive, or are driven in, Mercedes, Jaguars, BMWs, Porches, and a few Rolls Royce and Maseratis. 

 


But life for everyday folk occurs not on the major streets but along the narrow alleys, or Sois. 

 

Here you'll find real Thai life: street food, coffee cafes, massage shops, and the ubiquitous 7-11 stores (where you can purchase food, drinks, magazines, medicines, and also pay your electric and utility bills).

The Soi is where Thais live and move and have their being. 







 







We loved walking through Bangkok's sois and wished we'd had more time to explore their sights, smells and personalities.