The thin line between the rags and riches, SC Bkk

One peculiar pattern I've noticed in Thailand is the urbanization. In contrast to the states, the urban centers don't have a master urban-logic plan. The building and construction seems to have all happened on a moment-need basis. So one thing you'll find is mixed zoning. Where as in the states, we have zonal centers (i.e. downtown, neighborhoods, industrial parks), in Bangkok for instance, downtown is everywhere. There is not one part of town with a high concentration of all the commercial (at least not in the sense of American cities)My apartment for instance, is right next door to the tallest building in Thailand (Baiyoke II)!! This pattern is also seen in the social class system. Where in Denver, you'll have strictly high class access only neighborhoods (i.e. Cherry Hills), here in Thailand, you'll have the richest man in town living next door to the poorest..

-an excerpt from a traveler's email dated Mon, 25 Feb 2002