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Wai Bangkok: Stories of Culture, Faces and Self-Discovery
184 pages, Paperback
Published November 25, 2025
About the author
Bhuban Patra
7 books105 followersBhuban Patra is an author by choice and a traveller by heart.
Born in Balasore and raised in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, Bhuban discovered his passion for storytelling through his explorations across the region. What began as a blog documenting the forgotten monuments, rich heritage, and untold stories of Odisha soon evolved into a deeper creative journey. His spontaneous photography and keen cultural sensibilities led him from the trails of history to the realms of fiction.
His debut novels, Lotus Land (Fiction) and Where is Ekamra (Non-Fiction), were widely appreciated for their emotional depth and narrative sensitivity. Lotus Land was shortlisted among the Top 5 for the Cover Prize Award by Oxford Bookstore, while Where is Ekamra was recognised among the Top 100 Debut Novels of 2019. The latter also earned Bhuban a place among the Top 100 Authors, certified by Literature Light and Canon Beam Journals.
Selected Publications:
• NARASINGHA – Konark Secrets Book 2 (Leadstart Publishing) | Genre: Historical/Mythological Fiction | ASIN: B0CNRB91QF
• LOTUS LAND – Konark Secrets Book 1 (Leadstart Publishing) | Genre: Historical/Mythological Fiction | ASIN: B08P1KSJRC
• WHERE IS EKAMRA (Evincepub Publishing) | Genre: Non-Fiction | ISBN: 978-9388277426
A contemporary traveller at heart, Bhuban continues to explore themes of transformation, identity, and the invisible threads that bind people, places, and memories. When not writing or exploring, he works in a senior management role at a multinational company, shaping strategies by day and stories by night.
Born in Balasore and raised in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, Bhuban discovered his passion for storytelling through his explorations across the region. What began as a blog documenting the forgotten monuments, rich heritage, and untold stories of Odisha soon evolved into a deeper creative journey. His spontaneous photography and keen cultural sensibilities led him from the trails of history to the realms of fiction.
His debut novels, Lotus Land (Fiction) and Where is Ekamra (Non-Fiction), were widely appreciated for their emotional depth and narrative sensitivity. Lotus Land was shortlisted among the Top 5 for the Cover Prize Award by Oxford Bookstore, while Where is Ekamra was recognised among the Top 100 Debut Novels of 2019. The latter also earned Bhuban a place among the Top 100 Authors, certified by Literature Light and Canon Beam Journals.
Selected Publications:
• NARASINGHA – Konark Secrets Book 2 (Leadstart Publishing) | Genre: Historical/Mythological Fiction | ASIN: B0CNRB91QF
• LOTUS LAND – Konark Secrets Book 1 (Leadstart Publishing) | Genre: Historical/Mythological Fiction | ASIN: B08P1KSJRC
• WHERE IS EKAMRA (Evincepub Publishing) | Genre: Non-Fiction | ISBN: 978-9388277426
A contemporary traveller at heart, Bhuban continues to explore themes of transformation, identity, and the invisible threads that bind people, places, and memories. When not writing or exploring, he works in a senior management role at a multinational company, shaping strategies by day and stories by night.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 10, 2026
For me, reading a migration-based short story collection was like having a conversation with Bangkok, whose voice was soft but full of meaning. The tales told by popular author Bhuvan Patra in "Wai Bangkok" are not in pursuit of narrative thrills but in search of the truth in emotions. The more I turned the pages, the more I realized the amount of emotional business being conducted in the background.
The characters find themselves in a world of emotional negotiations. They are torn “between memory and the present” and “the demands of expectation and the realities of acceptance.” The most favorite memory I have to cherish was the way the book “conveys the experience of emotional exhaustion but doesn’t interpret it as failure.” The book recognizes “adaptation as not necessarily empowering but necessary.”
The writing is subtle, with the meaning inferred through repetition, silence, and detail. Often, I found myself replaying sections of text not because of intricacy but with increasing accuracy. The emotions are not developed but experienced.
In "Bangkok," there is an emotional ambiance instead of a central setting. It is as if the city sustains these characters and these story lines, but it doesn’t define them. That’s what makes this book universal, being set in such a particular place. The language is discreet and reflective, allowing emotions to come to the forefront of their own accord. There's a trust in the reader, a sense of the author knowing that sometimes it's not in what is said, but in the silence and restraint that can be as strong as explanation. Not all stories touched me with the same strength, but together they formed one emotional unit.
By the time I reached the end of the book, I reflected silently instead of feeling closure. Wai Bangkok doesn’t try to offer answers or lessons. Instead, it allows space for contemplation. It’s the kind of book that stays in the background of your mind, reminding you softly that finding a place within the world requires unseen emotional effort.
The characters find themselves in a world of emotional negotiations. They are torn “between memory and the present” and “the demands of expectation and the realities of acceptance.” The most favorite memory I have to cherish was the way the book “conveys the experience of emotional exhaustion but doesn’t interpret it as failure.” The book recognizes “adaptation as not necessarily empowering but necessary.”
The writing is subtle, with the meaning inferred through repetition, silence, and detail. Often, I found myself replaying sections of text not because of intricacy but with increasing accuracy. The emotions are not developed but experienced.
In "Bangkok," there is an emotional ambiance instead of a central setting. It is as if the city sustains these characters and these story lines, but it doesn’t define them. That’s what makes this book universal, being set in such a particular place. The language is discreet and reflective, allowing emotions to come to the forefront of their own accord. There's a trust in the reader, a sense of the author knowing that sometimes it's not in what is said, but in the silence and restraint that can be as strong as explanation. Not all stories touched me with the same strength, but together they formed one emotional unit.
By the time I reached the end of the book, I reflected silently instead of feeling closure. Wai Bangkok doesn’t try to offer answers or lessons. Instead, it allows space for contemplation. It’s the kind of book that stays in the background of your mind, reminding you softly that finding a place within the world requires unseen emotional effort.
December 23, 2025
Wai Bangkok is a beautiful & thoughtful collection of seven short stories. This book is not just about Bangkok as a city but about people, emotions, cultures & the quiet journeys we take within ourselves. Each story introduces different characters like travelers, locals, strangers & who all are connected by Bangkok in one way or another.
What I loved most about this book is its simplicity. The language is easy to read yet the emotions are deep. The stories don’t rush. They flow slowly allowing you to feel what the characters feel loneliness in a crowded city, comfort in a stranger’s smile, confusion, hope & self-realization. The city feels alive. The streets, the people, the culture & even the silence are described in a soft and natural way.
Wai Bangkok is perfect for readers who like simple & emotional stories, short stories with meaning, travel stories with life lessons, quiet, slow & thoughtful books. I truly enjoyed reading Wai Bangkok & would recommend it to anyone who loves calm, honest & heart touching stories.
What I loved most about this book is its simplicity. The language is easy to read yet the emotions are deep. The stories don’t rush. They flow slowly allowing you to feel what the characters feel loneliness in a crowded city, comfort in a stranger’s smile, confusion, hope & self-realization. The city feels alive. The streets, the people, the culture & even the silence are described in a soft and natural way.
Wai Bangkok is perfect for readers who like simple & emotional stories, short stories with meaning, travel stories with life lessons, quiet, slow & thoughtful books. I truly enjoyed reading Wai Bangkok & would recommend it to anyone who loves calm, honest & heart touching stories.
January 6, 2026
Wai Bangkok by Bhuban Patra is a deeply introspective and beautifully written narrative that captures the essence of a foreign city with remarkable sensitivity. Rather than presenting Bangkok through popular landmarks or tourist experiences, the book gently moves through its alleys, narrow paths, and unnoticed corners, allowing quiet moments and lingering emotions to take center stage. Bangkok is revealed in a spiritual, almost meditative light offering comfort and warmth to a lonely traveler who is far away from home. We don't only get to see the hustle bustle of the city but a more toned down view. A view that only a person with an Introspective mind can present.
Patra’s writing is simple yet evocative, skillfully reflecting solitude, curiosity, and the slow process of self-discovery. The city feels alive through his words, as if it breathes alongside the narrator.
As readers, we are effortlessly drawn into his journey, feeling as though we have been transported into an unfamiliar yet welcoming world. The author’s personal experiences and reflective narration create a strong emotional connection, making the story both immersive and memorable.
Wai Bangkok is undoubtedly a must-read for those who appreciate contemplative travel narratives and emotionally rich storytelling.
Patra’s writing is simple yet evocative, skillfully reflecting solitude, curiosity, and the slow process of self-discovery. The city feels alive through his words, as if it breathes alongside the narrator.
As readers, we are effortlessly drawn into his journey, feeling as though we have been transported into an unfamiliar yet welcoming world. The author’s personal experiences and reflective narration create a strong emotional connection, making the story both immersive and memorable.
Wai Bangkok is undoubtedly a must-read for those who appreciate contemplative travel narratives and emotionally rich storytelling.
December 18, 2025
"Wai Bangkok" by Bhuban Patra is a compelling collection of stories that traces the lives of seven individuals who come to Bangkok for different reasons. Through intricately woven narratives, the author captures not only their personal journeys but also the vibrant beauty of Bangkok and its surrounding places.
The minute details of the city and its people are rendered with remarkable clarity, bringing each story vividly to life. The characters’ reflections on life, their experiences of love, and the varied circumstances they encounter are portrayed with depth and sensitivity. This book is far more than a conventional travelogue that merely guides readers through the streets and temples of Bangkok; it reveals how the city becomes an integral part of the characters’ lives and transformations.
I would highly recommend this book to readers who seek meaningful stories, quiet life lessons, and a perspective that gently reshapes the way one looks at life.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews