Bangkok at the Turn of the Millennium

Bangkok by night draws its lifeblood from the realms of the steamy and the seamy. The capital of Thailand is world-famous for its innumerable massage parlours, yet at the same time the city is rich in historical treasures. Some of its Buddhist temples are more than 400 years old, and contrast strangely with Bangkok's otherwise cutting-edge modernity. Its unique charm stems also from the winding presence of the Chao Phraya river, a waterway that can hardly be seen due to the multitude of small vessels that ply up and down it daily carrying a vast horde of passengers and goods, representing a cameo of the multiplicity of colours and styles that correspond to everyday life throughout Thailand.