Say Goodbye to Bangkok's Famous Street Food Scene
Foodies, brace yourselves: it looks like Bangkok, the Thai capital known for its vibrant culture and rich street-food scene, is banning all vendors from its streets by the end of 2017. It's a huge blow to what many travelers consider to be the perfect places to experience local culture, with the city's Chinatown and Khao San Road being two of the most well-known foodie-friendly spots, where a mix of locals and foreigners — rich and poor — gather for cheap, authentic and undeniably mouthwatering street fare.
According to The Nation, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) wants all food vendors to be cleared from the sidewalks by the end of the year in order to promote "cleanliness, safety and order." BMA officials claim that vendors' trash litters the streets and leaves little space for pedestrians to pass. The Telegraph has also reported that these measures are in place because authorities are seeking to emulate Singapore's virtually aseptic streets.
Reactions from both visitors and locals so far aren't good. The endearing chaos of Bangkok's streets not only charms visitors, but supplies a ton of work for locals, whose makeshift food shacks that line the streets provide a unique culinary experience and are an essential part of the city's economy. Perhaps, as Bangkok resident Romdheera Phruetchon told The Nation, the BMA could instead work with vendors to set up special zones so they can continue to work — and preserve city's world-renowned street food culture — while working to clean up the city.
H/T: Wander Me
.
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.