"Khao San" translates as "milled rice", is a short street in central Bangkok, Thailand indicating its history as the street was a major rice market in Bangkok. In the last 40 years, the road has developed into a world-famous "backpacker ghetto", offering cheap accommodations. As said by Anders Sørensen (Annals of Tourism Research): "In this small area one can observe the interactions and groupings of disparate characters such as un-educated young Westerners on extended leave from affluent society, high school graduates on gap year travels, Israelis fresh out of military service, university students on holiday or sabbatical leave, young Japanese in rite-of-passage attire, ordinary holidaymakers, (ex-) volunteers from various organizations, and the like."