BANGKOK 1977 - The Last Ones Left - A Tour of Bangkok's First Backpacker Area

A trip down memory lane through Bangkok's first ever backpacker area, when Khao San Road was still a wholesale rice market,
It all kicked off in 1967, during the height of the Vietnam War, when the Malaysia Hotel opened its doors, followed swiftly by the Boston Inn, the Privacy Hotel and the Blue Fox. The first backpackers arrived in the early 70s after a recommendation in the first version of the Lonely Planet, Across Asia on the Cheap, and it remained the go to place in the 70s and most of the 80s - the naughtier side of town, shall we say.
Today, I will give you a brief history of some of the legendary places and introduce you to 'one of the last ones left'; Willie arrived in Thailand in 1979 and has lived here ever since, the vast majority of that time in this area of two roads - Soi Sri Bumphen and Soi Ngam Duphlee, located close to Lumphini Park, just of Rama IV Road and Sathon Road. Willie is absolutely full of stories and memories of Thailand in the 80s - I will interview him soon as he is quite a character and full of knowledge on Thailand and its history. Today, we have a walkabout in the area to see just what remains. There's some old footage in the infamous Wong's Place AND the Boston Inn (RIP). #Oldschool #bangkok