January 6, 2013
After
a hotel switch and settling into a new space in Bangkok right off of Sukhumvit
road at the Royal Benja on Sukuhumvit 5, my eyes were opened to another
dimension of Bangkok. The same
theme of seeing such great wealth and built up skyscraper structures right next
to some of the poorer slums continued and I would soon learn that this is a feature
that is very representative of the way things are in the area. It seems as if where there is great
disparity there is great opportunity for the more fortunate of people while the
less fortunate are stuck in there ingrained and unavoidable disadvantaged
positions. Through my perception
of this multifaceted city that seems brand new to me, I have no choice but to
believe that the popular business model or mindset for the area is a realist
one where self interest is put on a pedestal and regard for the surrounding
areas is almost completely cast to the side and far beyond the sight of
periphery. What is harnessed here
by some of the wealthiest of establishments is a narrow-minded tunnel vision
that focuses in efforts to satisfy ones personal needs without addressing the
needs of society at large.
To
me this seems like something brand new and never seen before but concurrently
reveals itself in a manner that cuts through the bullshit and shows how things
really are in this world. Looking
back at where I am from in comparison to this land that is brand new to me, I
now realize that things are not all that different but are just presented in a
more obvious manner than what I am used to. I now have this notion about how much social standing and
different levels of society are compartmentalized in areas around the world but
in Bangkok that is not the case.
In this city the most well to do and wealthiest people are up on the
rooftops enjoying caviar and lattes looking far over the heads of the working class
who are struggling to afford the cost of living below.
I
always thought that one day I would be dining on those same rooftops enjoying
all of the finer things but with this new found perception of mine, if this is
ever going to happen I can only hope that I do not lose sight of the big
picture that is painted right in front of me. While self-interest may be an unavoidable facet of the human
mindset and way of being, it is important that I do not let it overcome me.
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