Judging by aspiring Bangkok dwellers' fixation with all that's bold, beautiful and fashionable, envy has well and truly set up home here. Which means you won't have to go far to find it! Posh shopping malls is a good place to start. You'll find all the hottest international brand-names, and given plenty of opportunity for staring through shop windows at 'objects of desire'. Siam Paragon does big-boys toys well, with gleaming Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches and Bentleys all screaming for your attention, while ladies will turn a voguish shade of green at the assortment of Versace, Prada and Chanel, alongside funky Thai labels, here and at places like Gaysorn, CentralWorld and the Emporium. Incidentally, the booming Thai fashion scene may not yet be on a par with Paris', New York's or Milan's, but the government-funded Fashion Trend Center is certainly the source of envy from the fashion world.
If eyeing up status symbols doesn't bring on pangs of jealousy, seeing rich boys parking up their luxury sedans in areas like Thonglor or Sukhumvit, and their dates stepping out of them in their glad rags, certainly will. Follow them inside these achingly hip bars, pubs or clubs, and you'll double your odds of inspiring enviousness. Here, material riches mingle with a wealth of physical beauty. Yes, many of the city's most privileged people (hi-so types) are also among the most gorgeous.
Time your visit to perfection and you'll encounter a Models Night: where those who make a living from being blessed with beauty are also blessed with free entry and free drinks. If the strong cocktails at these clubs - places like Escudo, Zantika, Bed Supperclub and Flix - don't leave you in a drunken stupor, rest assured, you'll probably be sick with envy anyway.
And if there's such a thing as 'hotel envy', you'll find ample doses at any of the city's many luxury, five-star hotels, where you will revel at the poshness of surroundings that is 'home' to royalty, the rich, the famous and the most discerning traveller.
Lastly, Siam Niramit or one of many cultural shows evoking Thailand's rich cultural heritage will leave you feeling sore about your home country's lack of an equally exotic, colourful past. As will the many colourful attractions, that will leave everything in your homeland looking rather featureless and bland.
As if Envy wasn't enough, Bangkok has no shortage of opportunities for engaging in the other 6 fatal transgressions - see greed, lust, pride, gluttony, anger and sloth. |
