200 Baht
I'm back from Bangkok. Didn't have time to download the pics yet, anyway gotta borrow the lap-link from Louis who is somewhere in the jungle now, painted black and green (aye, 'or-chngee') all over him.
While staying there, I had that feeling of 'living life like the locals' feeling again, just like i did during my Hong Kong stay. I probably gotta adapt fast in these two different countries. In Hong Kong, everything is about speed and opportunity. In Bangkok, it's about hardwork and culture. The average pay of the lower income group people in Bangkok is about 200 Baht per day, which is about S$8. These are the people you'd see on the very roadside of the busy lanes, selling whatever they are capable of, and at only quantities that they needed to survive for the day. The younger generation of the 20 something are learning English from British Council, upgrading themselves to hopefully get a better job and a better lifestyle. In time to come (for the next 10-15 years), the older generation that occupies the lower income group will be phased out, with a totally revamped Bangkok, the land of smiles.
In Singapore, $8 means a cinema show, $8 means an Extra-Value Meal, $8 means a funky printed T, $8 means entertainment and luxury (some say necessity) to us. But $8 means a good 3 meals for the day to the lower income group.
I definitely find it hard to adapt this lifestyle if I had to experience it even for a day. We are very fortunate and even pampered living in Singapore. Things that we take for granted here and a wish-list for the people in Bangkok. I am always counting my blessings every day that I'm living. To be able to appreciate life better, it's always good to travel to different parts of the world and see life like different people see, experience life like different people experience. Of course, there's always the saying, "There's no place like home". All homes are built according to what you want it to be, so whether you're earning $8 per day or otherwise, it's still true that the basic comfort still comes from home.
While staying there, I had that feeling of 'living life like the locals' feeling again, just like i did during my Hong Kong stay. I probably gotta adapt fast in these two different countries. In Hong Kong, everything is about speed and opportunity. In Bangkok, it's about hardwork and culture. The average pay of the lower income group people in Bangkok is about 200 Baht per day, which is about S$8. These are the people you'd see on the very roadside of the busy lanes, selling whatever they are capable of, and at only quantities that they needed to survive for the day. The younger generation of the 20 something are learning English from British Council, upgrading themselves to hopefully get a better job and a better lifestyle. In time to come (for the next 10-15 years), the older generation that occupies the lower income group will be phased out, with a totally revamped Bangkok, the land of smiles.
In Singapore, $8 means a cinema show, $8 means an Extra-Value Meal, $8 means a funky printed T, $8 means entertainment and luxury (some say necessity) to us. But $8 means a good 3 meals for the day to the lower income group.
I definitely find it hard to adapt this lifestyle if I had to experience it even for a day. We are very fortunate and even pampered living in Singapore. Things that we take for granted here and a wish-list for the people in Bangkok. I am always counting my blessings every day that I'm living. To be able to appreciate life better, it's always good to travel to different parts of the world and see life like different people see, experience life like different people experience. Of course, there's always the saying, "There's no place like home". All homes are built according to what you want it to be, so whether you're earning $8 per day or otherwise, it's still true that the basic comfort still comes from home.
posted by ink-think at 9:48 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home