Khao San Road is considered a backpacker haven with a ton of cheap-to-mid-range accommodations. But despite its reputation, backpackers on a budget are not the only ones drawn to this popular and ever-evolving area in the Banglamphu district of Bangkok, Thailand. At night, the street comes alive with neon lights, loud music and food stalls, attracting many tourists looking to discover its fun and lively side. And, frankly, that’s when it gets interesting, especially if you love to people watch. In this part of Bangkok, you’ll bump into all sorts of different characters; from the Instagram semi-celebrities posting every second of their Thai adventure, to that first-timer who’s had a little too much to drink.
Not sure what to expect? Maybe it’s time to book that flight and find out for yourself. Cheapflights.com.sg can help with that. In the meantime, here are seven people you always see on Bangkok’s Khao San Road.
The budget travellers
Identification: The budget travellers can be seen sipping ฿50 bottles of Chang outside 7-Eleven. Anything is better than their so-called hostel dorm for ฿70 a night, right? They’d rather sit on the pavement (annoyingly in everyone’s way) or on the steps outside of Khao San police station than pay ฿100 for a bottle of Chang inside the bars.
Diet: Strictly 7-Eleven’s toasties — cheese and ham for lunch and a chicken burger one for dinner — all for under ฿100, what a bargain.
The first-time tourists
Identification: First things first, they’re not travellers, they’re tourists and they’re probably staying in Bangkok for just a day because they have an early morning flight to catch to Phuket (they probably came to Khao San because their guidebook said so and got a taxi all the way from Sukhumvit). They’re most likely to be seen walking up and down the length of Khao San browsing the market stalls for tie-dye tops and hippie pants or getting an outdoor foot massage.
Diet: They’re the ones who will pay ฿1,000 to have their photo taken eating deep fried scorpions and insects.
The first-time travellers
Identification: The most common type of people you’ll come across on Khao San are the first-time travellers. Khao San is probably their very first experience of Thailand and before their embark on their three-month backpacking adventure through Southeast Asia. They can usually be seen wearing knock-off tie-dye Adidas t-shirts and hippie pants.
Diet: As a rite of passage they considered trying Khao San’s bland Pad Thai, but ended up on buckets of SangSom rum and Red Bull. And that’s all they’ll “eat” for the rest of their stay on Khao San.
The veterans
Identification: While the first time visitors may find themselves getting sick in public, the veterans will probably be shaking their heads nearby, saying “been there, done that.” Then they’ll probably complain about Khao San being swarmed with way too many gap year students. You can spot the veterans from miles — they’ll most likely have dreadlocks and be covered in tattoos, spending their days chilling at one of the reggae bars playing a game of Jenga.
Diet: The veterans know where to get a good grub and that’s not Khao San. They know only too well that finding decent food on Khao San is a challenge, and it’s one they’re usually fine with skipping. Unless they get a craving for coconut ice cream or Nutella pancakes, of course.
The foodies
Identification: According to numerous guidebooks, Khao San Road is a haven for food lovers, which attracts truckloads of food lovers. But when they turn up, they’ll soon realise that Khao San Road’s menu mainly consists of Nutella pancakes, deep fried insects (strictly for tourists), Turkish kebabs and really bland Pad Thai. So the easiest way to recognize the foodies? They’ll most likely have that disappointed expression on their faces, desperately searching for the mouthwatering Thai food they were promised. In the end, they’ll end up with chicken satays, which even they have to admit tastes damn good with a chilled bottle of Singha.
Diet: Everything and anything.
The Snapchatters and Instagram-turned-Facebook-Live celebrities
Identification: This social media-savvy set can be found pretty much anywhere. Eager Snapchatters will be seen using the puppy filter while dancing to Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie” (Khao San’s favourite), while Facebook Live celebrities will be live streaming themselves getting a tattoo. And, of course, Instagrammers will be getting their hands dirty kneeling on the ground trying to get that perfect angle of D&D’s legendary neon sign with their iPhone.
Diet: Definitely fresh coconut ice cream with toasted peanuts and chocolate sauce served inside a coconut shell.
The gap-year students
Identification: Rocking “SAME SAME BUT DIFFERENT” t-shirts, they always tend to come in groups of five or more. They are the rowdiest of them all, crashing every possible party on Khao San, making sure they are seen and most importantly HEARD. They usually congregate around the Golf Bar, but since they legally won’t be served any alcohol (the drinking age in Thailand is 20), they end up on the sidewalk outside Burger King.
Diet: Burger King whoppers and fries. When they feel a little bit more adventurous they’ll be seen snacking on 7-Eleven’s frankfurter and cheese toasties.
Have you seen any of these seven on Khao San Road? Share your stories in the comments, and start planning your next Thailand adventure at Cheapflights.com.sg.
Search for flights to Thailand
Main image: istockphoto/lolostock
Slider image: istockphoto/Oleh_Slobodeniuk
