How A City Can Change Over Time Or Not

People always talk about how places change so fast, how only ten years ago things were so different. Bangkok in Thailand is no different, only that time there seems to be running on high speed!

Changes In Bangkok

During the end of our 10 day stay in Bangkok, we found this really nice street food restaurant on a small side street off Soi Samsen road. The street was quite empty, there were only a few other street food restaurants nearby, although when we went there this was the only one which was open.

7 weeks later we returned to the same street (after having traveled through Laos & Cambodia), but instead of the cute street restaurant we found a huge luxury 5-star hotel – open for business. First we thought we had ended up on the wrong street, since we didn’t recognize any of the restaurants, funky bars and huge 7-eleven shop, and especially not a luxury resort.

Well, after a second look, we found that the little street stall restaurant we used to go to was still there, hidden by all the glamor from its neighbours, although it wasn’t open for business.

The quiet little side street had in about 7 weeks turned into a really cool area with some awesome eateries and a massive 7/11.

This wouldn’t ever have been able to happen in cities like London, but in Bangkok it is more than possible – it’s simply how it is, with everything in Bangkok!

Nothing ever stays the same: Different owners, different shops, new houses, everything is constantly changing.

People say that at some point everyone will eventually find themselves visiting Bangkok, and although I wasn’t too keen on going back there – I must admit that seeing how much had changed in only 7 weeks ago, I’d like to come by every year or so just to see what else has changed.

Changes In Kuala Lumpur

Meanwhile, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, things didn’t seem to have changed that much.

It had been two years since we were there last time, so after spending some time in Southern Thailand we decided to head down to Malaysia to see what had changed. We went to the same hostel we had stayed at last time, and everything was still the same.

We went to India street, and found the same restaurants which looked the same as last time.

The only thing that seemed to have changed was the old graffiti tag on a wall, which was now half painted over …

2009 vs 2011:

Have you ever gone back to a city and been surprised over how much or little things have changed? Share your thoughts below!