What Comes Next: Greg & Ed Try to Predict Bangkok's Future [S7.E35]

Putting on their best tarot reading hat…or numerology hat…or tea
leaf hat…whatever…Greg and Ed make their best prognostications
about the future of Bangkok, relying only on their accumulated
wisdom and experience. Greg begins by asking Ed whether Bangkok
will ever solve its 'sinking' problem, and Ed responds
pessimistically. Although the science is clear that the sea is
rising and Bangkok is sinking, the government does not seem to be
taking any drastic action to address the impending calamity, a la
the film "Don't Look Up." Certainly, SOMETHING will have to be
done, but Ed expects it to be too little, too late.


Ed then asks Greg whether Thailand will ever have to give up its
'pragmatic neutrality' and make a choice between China and the
U.S. Greg argues that Thailand will do its best to avoid making
such a choice, but if a conflict does occur between the two
superpowers, Greg thinks Thailand will likely choose to side with
China, for proximity and cultural reasons. 


Greg then wonders what Ed thinks about the future of high speed
rail in Thailand. On this topic, Ed is more optimistic: there's
something about public transportation that the government has
figured out, and Ed expects that multiple super fast, modern rail
lines are coming in the near future. Ed then queries Greg about
his thoughts on Nana Plaza, the legendary red light complex on
Sukhumvit that happens to be located on prime real estate. Greg
reluctantly predicts that the owners are likely to eventually
cave to some mega condo or mall project.


The guys continue with some predictions on Thai politics and
older malls in Bangkok. 


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