Bangkok Babylon

City of Contrasts

Step into the vibrant tapestry of Bangkok, where ancient temples stand cheek by jowl with towering glass skyscrapers and neon-lit sois (side streets). In Bangkok Babylon, Jerry Hopkins immerses you in Thailand’s pulsating capital through the eyes of expatriate journalist Max Hastings. From the languid beauty of Chao Phraya River cruises to the frantic energy of Chatuchak Market’s bargaining arenas, each page is drenched in colors, scents, and sounds that transport you straight into the city’s beating heart. Hopkins’s vivid prose captures the paradox of a capital caught between timeless tradition and breakneck modernization, weaving a narrative that is as intoxicating as a mango lassi on a sun-drenched afternoon.

Night’s Neon Pulse

When dusk falls and the city dons its electric glow, Max ventures into Bangkok’s labyrinthine nightlife—where rooftop bars hum with jazz, red-light districts whisper of danger, and clandestine jazz clubs host secret performances beneath flickering lanterns. Hopkins unveils a kaleidoscope of characters: a teahouse monk sharing cryptic wisdom over steaming cups, a tuk-tuk driver moonlighting as a Muay Thai trainer, and a nightclub chanteuse bearing scars from a vanished past. As undercover assignments bring Max face-to-face with political intrigue and art-smuggling rings, the city’s neon pulse becomes both guide and adversary, illuminating truths few are willing to confront.

Secrets Beneath the Surface

Beneath the veneer of exotic postcards lies a web of power struggles, spiritual quests, and personal redemption. Max’s investigation into a series of high-profile disappearances leads him through hidden sois in Chinatown, temple festivals bursting with color, and opulent palaces guarded by gilded guardians. Each clue peels back another layer of the city’s soul—from royal scandals concealed by saffron robes to back-street healers offering potions of dubious provenance. Hopkins deftly balances action with introspection, revealing that in Bangkok, every smile conceals a story, and every shadow harbors a secret longing for liberation.

. Jerry Hopkins – pioneering American travel writer (1938–2018), celebrated for his immersive chronicles of global cities, whose spirited storytelling and keen cultural insights have made him a beloved voice in modern travel literature.