In a photo series, Clew photographer Lisbeth Ganer takes you to Bangkok. People. Culture. Food.
People first:
The people of Bangkok are…
…many – around 8.5 million and rapidly growing. By 2030, the population is expected to surpass 10 million and Bangkok will be a megacity.
…young – about half of them under 20
…native Thais – at least about 90 %, and the remaining mainly from other Asian countries. Over a million ethnic Chinese, most often second or third generation, live in Bangkok’s Chinatown, Yaowarat, recognised by many including Lonely Planet as one of the best Chinatowns in the world. About 50 000 Europeans and 25 000 from the Americas live in Bangkok.
…speaking fast and abbreviated in their Thai dialect – and English many more of them than in the rest of the country
…forbidden by law to leave the house without wearing underwear, drive bare-chested, use a durian fruit as a weapon (if you do, the fine depends on how many thorns get stuck in your victim) and step on their local currency as it carries an image of the King
…generally liberal in terms of sexuality and tolerant towards gender identity
…greeting you saying “Sawadee Krhap/Kaa”. But before 1930, they would say “Gin kaow leaow ruu yang?’”, which means “have you eaten yet?”
Which takes us to the next part of our Bangkok photo series – food. Stay tuned.
Photography by Lisbeth Ganer, people facts collected by Unni Holtedahl, January 2016. ©2015 Lisbeth Ganer.
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