Bangkok # 1 Tourist City

For most of this century I've lived within a two hour drive of Bangkok. I go up for shopping, drinking with friends, and occasionally tour the nightlife with the old Roue aka Alan Platt. Bangkok otherwise known as Krueng Thep is good for two days at most. A hang-over makes it three, however an online poll by Travel + Leisure Magazine
awarded the Thai capitol #1 as a tourist destination city for the first time. Here's the top 10

1 Thailand 87.61
2 Buenos Aires, Argentina 87.24
3 Cape Town, South Africa 86.59
4 Sydney, Australia 86.49
5 Florence, Italy 86.24
6 Cuzco, Peru 86.15
7 Rome, Italy 85.12
8 New York, US 85.03
9 Istanbul, Turkey 84.61
10 San Francisco, US 84.42

I've been to Cuzco, noisy and barely any oxygen, Roma during the Red Brigade era - no nightlife except for Jackie O's, I've lived in New York for 27 years, and last was in San Francisco in 1971. I think it might have changed in that time and so has Bangkok. The city is no longer the Venice of the Orient. The klongs have been paved over for relentless traffic, however the side sois are pleasant and the street food is better than any hot dog you can get in New York except for the ones the old Chinese lady sells before the Fung Wah bus stop in Chinatown.

I have no interest in going to Sydney. Too many white people. Not enough abo-iggers.

Istanbul would be lovely. Hashish smoking by the Bosphorus.

A giant steak in BA.

Drinking moonshine in the shabeens of Capetown.

Stalking art students in Florence.

I love 'em all.