Why did Westerners people during the 1960s generally dressed up much more formal than today?

it was partly about the climate control situation too. bangkok had very few fully air-conditioned buildings until the late 60s/early 70s, so those suits were actually lightweight tropical wool or linen, tailored locally on surawong road for a fraction of what they'd pay back home. the whole dress code loosened up when the japanese and korean companies arrived in the 70s and 80s, they were more practical about the heat

also worth noting that formal dress was a status marker for thais themselves back then. your grandpa's western colleagues would have been expected to match that level of presentation when meeting with local executives or government officials. it wasn't just about looking good for the office, it was about showing respect in a culture that still valued visible formality very highly

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yeah that mad men vibe was real here too. bangkok had a big expat social scene back then, like the bangkok sports club or the royal bangkok sports club, and people dressed up just to go have dinner there. my dad remembers his boss wearing a tie to play golf lol

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honestly it was just a different time. back then bangkok was still pretty small and the westerners here were mostly diplomats, executives, and oil guys. they were representing their companies in a foreign country so they dressed sharp to keep up appearances. my uncle used to talk about how even flying into Don Mueang you'd see guys in three-piece suits stepping off the plane, it was just the norm

air conditioning wasn't as common either so people dressed lighter fabrics but still kept the formality. suits were made of linen or seersucker, stuff like that. it wasn't until the 80s and 90s that casual wear started creeping in, especially after the backpacker crowd showed up and the whole vibe shifted. your grandpa's photos are prob from the tail end of that old school era

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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