Bright lights of Bangkok

Bright lights of Bangkok

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Traffic zooms past on one side and people bustle by on the other as diners share a meal at a restaurant in central Bangkok.

The city is, as always, abuzz with activity. Home to over 9 million people, it is both one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia and the capital of a country with one of Asia's widest rich-poor disparities.

. BANGKOK, Thailand. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom

The chaotic and vibrant city is a mishmash of dizzying skyscrapers and colossal shopping malls jammed up against residential apartment buildings and homes. Crowded streets bustle with sidewalk vendors and motorbikes, and 7.5 million registered cars overwhelm roads designed for just 1.4 million.

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Slideshow

A motorbike taxi driver is reflected in his wing mirror as people wait at a bus station during the afternoon rush hour.
. BANGKOK, Thailand. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

A motorbike taxi driver is reflected in his wing mirror as people wait at a bus station during the afternoon rush hour.

Commuters stand packed into a busy bus.
. BANGKOK, Thailand. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Commuters stand packed into a busy bus.

A tourist shoots a video on his camera in front of a Thai flag that stands in a Buddhist temple.
. BANGKOK, Thailand. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

A tourist shoots a video on his camera in front of a Thai flag that stands in a Buddhist temple.

Employees clean a Buddhist statue in front of the Central World shopping mall as people walk by.
. BANGKOK, Thailand. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

Employees clean a Buddhist statue in front of the Central World shopping mall as people walk by.

Wind blows back the hair of Californian tourists who are taking pictures of the setting sun at the Vertigo and Moon Bar, situated on the 68th floor of Banyan Tree Bangkok.
. BANGKOK, Thailand. REUTERS/Russell Boyce

Wind blows back the hair of Californian tourists who are taking pictures of the setting sun at the Vertigo and Moon Bar, situated on the 68th floor of Banyan Tree Bangkok.

A woman sits on a bench as she receives a "fish pedicure".
. BANGKOK, Thailand. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

A woman sits on a bench as she receives a "fish pedicure".

Customers are given foot massages on the street.
. BANGKOK, Thailand. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

Customers are given foot massages on the street.

A tourist has her hair done by a woman on Khaosan Road.
. BANGKOK, Thailand. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

A tourist has her hair done by a woman on Khaosan Road.

A saleswoman sits at the entrance of a ladies shop as she waits for customers inside the Platinum shopping mall.
. BANGKOK, Thailand. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

A saleswoman sits at the entrance of a ladies shop as she waits for customers inside the Platinum shopping mall.

A sales assistant at a mall is reflected in a mirror as she serves a customer.
. BANGKOK, Thailand. REUTERS/Edgar Su

A sales assistant at a mall is reflected in a mirror as she serves a customer.

A transsexual, locally known as a "katoey" or "ladyboy," chats with others in the Soi Cowboy red light district of Bangkok.
. BANGKOK, Thailand. REUTERS/Jason Lee

A transsexual, locally known as a "katoey" or "ladyboy," chats with others in the Soi Cowboy red light district of Bangkok.

Women work at a street food restaurant.
. BANGKOK, Thailand. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Women work at a street food restaurant.

A transvestite hostess (right) puts on make-up outside a bar in the red light district.
. BANGKOK, Thailand. REUTERS/Edgar Su

A transvestite hostess (right) puts on make-up outside a bar in the red light district.

Poledancers perform at a bar in the area.
. BANGKOK, Thailand. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Poledancers perform at a bar in the area.

A woman pouts as she takes a picture of herself at Siam Centre.
. BANGKOK, Thailand. REUTERS/Jason Lee

A woman pouts as she takes a picture of herself at Siam Centre.

A man plays on a pinball machine as a scantily clad hostess uses her mobile phone inside a red light district bar.
. BANGKOK, Thailand. REUTERS/Edgar Su

A man plays on a pinball machine as a scantily clad hostess uses her mobile phone inside a red light district bar.

Devotees carry candles as they walk around the Wat Benjamabophit temple during the Buddhist festival of Makha Bucha Day.
. BANGKOK, Thailand. REUTERS/Cheryl Ravelo

Devotees carry candles as they walk around the Wat Benjamabophit temple during the Buddhist festival of Makha Bucha Day.

A statue of the Buddha inside a taxi is silhouetted by the lights of rush hour traffic on Makha Bucha Day.
. BANGKOK, Thailand. REUTERS/Cheryl Ravelo

A statue of the Buddha inside a taxi is silhouetted by the lights of rush hour traffic on Makha Bucha Day.