It has a population of six million and a totally dysfunctional transportation system, which they are trying to fix by building raised freeways. During Bangkok's extensive rush hours, car exhaust forms a swirling smog in the main streets, and the noise is deafening. There is lots of construction, but the noise of the jackhammers is drowned out by the traffic. Crossing a street becomes a matter of courage, timing, and good judgment of the potential homicidal tendencies of the drivers. Unless everyone is hopelessly tangled again and nothing moves.
Policemen wear smog masks here.
The easiest way to move here is one of the water taxis on the Chao Phraya river. They cost almost nothing and are very efficient, always either running full throttle forward or full thottle backward to slam against the ponton stations to let people on or off. I stayed at the Oriental Hotel , considered one of the best, or the best hotel in the world, which has its own water taxi station. The Oriental is impressive. They average three employees per guest and right after I checked in they all seemed to know my name.