Central ภาคกลาง paak3 glaang1
The central region is mainly Bangkok (กรุงเทพฯ, grung2 thep3) and the outlying cities such as Ayutthaya (อยุธยา, aa2 yu4 ta2 yaa2). As it’s a port city with a major international airport, the economic powerhouse, and the center of the centralist government, it is of course the largest city in the country. Residents of this region have better education opportunities, and the dialect here most closely matches written Thai. Bangkok is within the flood plain of the Chao Praya river, one of the reasons for flooding every year. If worst case global warming ever occurs, the entire Bangkok area flood plain will go under as it’s terrain is near sea-level.
About two hours drive south east of Bangkok is another important city called Pattaya (พัทยา, pat4 ta4 yaa2). This city owes its existence to the US Navy, if you know what I mean. It’s one of the more seedy parts of Thailand – a city-wide brothel at night, but also a fun weekend vacation area during the day when it’s ‘clean’ enough for the kids. Big concerts often happen there, but good luck finding a cheap hotel during such events.
Bangkok is much more westernized than most of Thailand, where the new generation is fairly attuned to international fads, music, clothing styles, and movies. Some, especially those who speak English, are even adopting western ways of thinking. While many Thais from other regions grew up on 3rd world rice farms, youth in the central areas have not. On an interesting note, I once had a Thai tell me that “all Bangkokians are dumb; if you ever meet someone intelligent there, it’s because they immigrated from another province”. An interesting thought . . . don’t know if it’s true, though.
I will admit, Bangkok has horrible traffic, high prices, air pollution, stressed out residents, and lack of nature, so at first I didn’t like it at all. But as a major city it does have its charm, with much more ‘stuff’ to do, better convenience for travel given its central location and airport, and semi-westernized youth I can better relate with. But to each his own.
