Bangkok Chinatown Prowl

One of the most fascinating areas of Bangkok is Chinatown. Unlike in many of the world's great cities, Chinatown is not simply a section of the city in which Chinese culture and immigrants tend to congregate: Thai history is closely linked to China and Chinese culture, thus Chinese Thais make up a significant proportion of the population. Chinatown thus is an exciting, colorful, energy-laden blend of Thai and Chinese (with a sprinkling of Indian) food, fabrics, hardware, electrical parts, and anything imaginable in the tiny dark alleyways, including items you never knew you needed. If one cannot find something anywhere else in Bangkok, the directions are simple: Go to Yaowarat Road and ask someone. Chances are, you will be directed to it posthaste.

My long time friend Jeff Harper and I went on a flood intermission, roaming another area of this amazing city on one of our occasional photo shoots. Accompanying us was first time Thailand visitor Peter Stiehle. A word of caution for anyone wishing to wander the non-commercial back alleys of Chinatown. Don't. If you must stray off the main shopping road, go with someone who knows the area, speaks Thai, and recognizes the potential dangers of poking your nose in places you shouldn't or don't know you shouldn't, especially after dark. Ask us about one of the reasons why sometime, preferably over a beer at Saxophone Pub.

Newly constructed flood walls protecting store fronts create another place to sit and chat with friends.

I'm glad I didn't want a key chain or necklace. I'd still be there deciding.

A typical Chinatown scene: Finding a spot to have some lunch and check messages during a shopping break.

Inside a Chinese Buddhist temple grounds, a crematorium and entrance gate frame a distant building's zig zagging stairs.

Chinese dog statuettes guard an old offering site outside the temple.

Still life study on a wall adjacent to the temple

Entryway to the temple

Decorated temple rooftop and captive birds lend an air of authentic charm.

Lanterns can be found in every corner of a Chinese temple

Commerce doesn't end after dark. Loading merchandise for motorbike delivery.

A lonely wall down a small back street

Lately, boats are a hot commodity in Bangkok

I don't know, this scene just seemed to scream "CHINATOWN"

This food stall is just outside one of Thailand's six gazillion 7-11 ("se-WEN") convenience stores

A small shop closing up for the night

Beautiful old architecture is found throughout Chinatown. At night they are enhanced by the glow of street lights.

This little shop was jammed with goods, typical of "Mom and Pop" establishments found in abundance.