Rising Bangkok: A City of Towers and Neon

It’s April 2024. We’re waiting to board our plane for what would be my first trip to Southeast Asia.

I’ve never been able to explain why Europe hasn’t drawn me in the same way Asia does. Something about this part of the world has always resonated more. So before I ever set foot in Europe, I wanted to make sure I’d explored here first.

I didn’t know much about Thailand, or more specifically, Bangkok — which would become our headquarters for this trip. Most of what I knew came from movies and random Googling. In many ways, my mind was a blank canvas, ready to be filled with whatever this place had to offer.

After a long flight, we finally landed. It was already dark, and I couldn’t see much — at least not yet. But as we drove into the city, my eyes were immediately drawn to the towering billboards flanking both sides of the freeway. That was my first signal. I was somewhere new. Somewhere electric.

The next morning, I pulled open the curtains in our hotel room — and I was stunned. The sheer scale of the city unfolded before me. Skyscrapers stretched out to the horizon, rising from every corner. It was massive. Alive. Endless.

I had never seen a city like that.

Naturally, we prepared ourselves for a full day of walking and exploring. Camera in hand, I was ready to experience Bangkok through the lens — hoping to capture a piece of its spirit.

I think this photo captures the scale of the city and its towering buildings.

During the day, Bangkok is sprawling and intensely hot — bright, busy, a little overwhelming. The sunlight casts a harshness over everything, making it feel just out of reach. But at night, the city truly reveals itself.

That’s when Bangkok transforms.

Neon reflections bounce off windows. Street vendors and tuk-tuks compete for your attention. Music, traffic, smells — everything collides into a chaotic rhythm that somehow makes sense. It feels like the city lets loose after dark, showing its other side — fun, wild, full of life.

A place of contrast. Of steel towers and glowing signs. A city where the days stretch wide and the nights dive deep.

This trip for me was also a creative exploration. This time, I brought only one lens. I decided not to shoot any video, and instead tried out camera functions I’d never used before, all while shooting everything in manual.

So while I explored the city, I was also re-discovering my camera. I missed lots of “shots,” but the process was worth it in the end. I was left with a better sense of Bangkok, some photos to remember it by, and a quiet “I’ll see you soon” feeling.

Bangkok is definitely a city worth visiting — and feeling.