King Power Mahanakhon

"To see the world, one must be willing to zoom in and study the details that most overlook, yet also zoom out to perceive the grand design that binds everything together."

Leonardo Da Vinci

It is Tuesday, and I am sitting here in an Amazon cafe. I thought I would go to the King Power Mahanakhon, the tallest building in Bangkok, to gain some perspective and maybe even produce some really cool photos while doing so.

To get the job done successfully, I just need to find a good vantage point. This skybar called AkaAza could work well if they let me fly the drone and with the telephoto lens, I might get some interesting photos as well from above.

Here is my battle plan:

1) Go to the bar show up confidently and put my photographer's god-level expertise face-on.

2) Offer them a free TikTok Promotion so they give me permission to fly the drone

3) Come back with spectacular photos and a story

I only have 3 days left in Bangkok. Despite serious doubts, I try to get my plans straight and focus on creating something new and memorable

Photography helps me gain perspective because it allows you to enter a state of no mind when times stand still and you feel joy and flow. Fully present.

Where we put our focus in life is so paramount yet we carelessly and knowingly spend countless hours on the most insignificant things, like the attention-sucking black holes they are.

Gaining perspective equals patience and progress

So I grab a scooter taxi on the GrabApp, which is like Uber only better and has options like a motobike taxi for 2 USD (!) Grab scooters are my go-to transport in Thailand, especially around rush hour, because you can skip the traffic most of the time.

As the driver arrives, it turns out he doesn´t have a helmet.

“Who cares? In Thailand, entire families fit on a scooter.”

I think to myself while trying to feel less unconfortable with the decision to take the scooter anyway.

As the scooter taxi weaves through the bustling streets of Bangkok, I can't help but feel a surge of anticipation. The city's energy pulses around me, a vibrant tapestry of sights, sounds, and smells (yumi thai food, of course)

The ride through the chaotic traffic to the King Power Mahanakhon is thrilling, a reminder of the unpredictable and adventurous essence of travel.

I arrive just as the sun begins its descent, painting the sky in hues of orange.

At my destination, I decide to check out the location a bit before entering the skybar, just in case I need a Plan B since there is a big chance that my idea of offering them a free social media promo for the permit to shoot with my drone could fall flat and be rejected.

Boy, was I right? Not a chance.

"Cannot fly a dlone heel; very plohibited,” says the waitress.

I kinda saw that coming…

Also, the place is very small and packed with people. There is not even a table available, let alone a space to fly or land a drone safely without someone freaking out.

So I walk back to the bridge I had checked out before

This is when I start to feel a lot of doubt creeping in.

There is a police station and an officer only 200 m away from the bridge and beneath it is a huge construction where workers were building a park area, which is of course closed off.

I look to my left and right and on both sides of the bridge are cameras.

“This is all in vain, I think to myself; I can´t fly my drone and I also don´t have a story anyone would want to hear or read.”

With a sense of defeat in that moment and no idea what to do, I keep walking, crossing the bridge to the other side, where I see a Thai restaurant.

“At least you can get something to eat,” I think and I sit down to order pork basil with rice.

Still struggling with negativity, I try to let go after I finish my meal and walk back to the bridge one more time.

Sunset was already over 2 minutes ago but there was still light.

Standing on the bridge, I wave at one of the workers and he just looks at me with a blank face so I jump over the fence and walk straight towards him. I feel a little bit nervous but I would just straight up ask with my expert Thai accent.

Amidst the concrete forest under the bridge, I approach the construction worker with the zeal of a kid, asking for another go on the swing.

Our exchange was a silent comedy of nods and hand signals, language barriers notwithstanding. I felt happy and excited to see him smile and nod.

I'm unpacking my drone while sitting on the stairs of a big construction site in Bangkok's Sathorn neighborhood. A group of curious and friendly workers and I are getting ready to take over the King Power Mahanakhon skies.

That's when it hit me. It isn't about the destination; it's not even about the photos.

It's only about the journey.

I bet when I'm older and look back, I'll be glad I didn't skip out on this kind of crazyness.

No "what ifs" for me, just good old "remember whens."

Watch the story on TikTok:

@romanlbinder

Just wanted to share my last shooting in bangkok 👋😃🌆 #BangkokSkyline #DroneAdventures #CitToyscapes #UrbanExploration #SkyHigh #DroneViews... See more