Page 53 - MASALA Magazine Vol.15 Issue 6 | August - September 2024

TARANJIT NARANG | 53
Homemaker

As an avid traveller, especially in the past 10 years since all three
of my children finished university, I’ve been travelling not only
abroad, but I’ve also been getting to know Thailand more. In the
last 15 years, I’ve noticed a marked evolution in the way Thai-
Indians have embraced ‘café culture’ and eating out. It seems like
there has been an increase of cafés and new food spaces all around
Thailand, but that is also because we learn about them quickly
through social media. With the exception of the times during the
COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve noticed how restaurants across the city
now really focus on the aesthetic of the environment, catering to
the rise of social media figures and influencers who come to the
cafés, and this has influenced the Thai-Indian community a lot.
Before, most people would simply eat food at home, especially if
they were vegetarian, but nowadays, so many of us share updates
with each other by sending each other social media reels about
new openings or events – my friends and I certainly do! Going
out has now become a social endeavour.

I’ve also noticed that, like me, women in their middle age have
taken to travelling more and engaging in ‘friend trips’ around the
country and Asia. There is more of an emphasis now to spend time
with not just family, but with our social groups. Our friends have
become family as well.

NIRAN SACHDEV | 31
Designer and University Lecturer

Over the past 15 years, Bangkok has evolved into a cultural mosaic,
where diverse communities and niche subcultures thrive side by side.
The city’s people, once predominantly Thai, now represent a rich
tapestry of nationalities, lifestyles, and perspectives, each adding their
own flavour to the city’s vibrant mix. This influx of global influences
has not only broadened the cultural landscape but has also encouraged
Bangkokians to explore and embrace new ideas, leading to a more
open and dynamic society.

In neighbourhoods like Soi Nana in Chinatown and Hua Lamphong,
you can see this shift in full bloom. Once a quiet, nondescript street,
Soi Nana has transformed into a cultural hub where art galleries,
craft cocktail bars, and eclectic eateries coexist, drawing a crowd that
ranges from local creatives to international visitors. This is just one
example of the many pockets of niche cultures that have emerged
throughout Bangkok, each with its own distinct identity – whether
it’s the vintage retro vibes in Ari, the bohemian energy in Ekkamai,
or the indie music scene in Thong Lo. These neighbourhoods have
become gathering places for those seeking something beyond the
mainstream, reflecting a city that is increasingly defined by its diversity
and cultural richness. If anything, this is a microcosm of how the
youth of the Thai-Indian community today are often beyond labels,
defined by influences beyond just their Indian roots.

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