"We are not coming back" : Tourists give the thumbs down to Khao San Road changes

[JennaBurrows]

19 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Go to Chatuchack  or Rathchada market if that's what you want... what's the problem!

Why do the traders have to take over the pavement & street?

 

You missing the bigger picture. It's not just Khao San Road. They are systamatically enforcing these sanitization measures throughout the whole city. It's mass gentrification of a city. 

 

Granted you may not like street food, or street markets. But many millions do. The colour, vibrancy, smells, noise, is a charm loved by millions, and what brings them to Bangkok. 

 

 

[JennaBurrows]

4 minutes ago, Jane Dough said:

You are forgetting one important point. You don't necessarily get air conditioning at home and it won't be free.

Malls won't survive by offering air conditioning. 

 

The UK and US have seen their malls destroyed by the invent of Amazon and other online companies. Same will come to Thailand. 

[cmsally]

4 minutes ago, JennaBurrows said:

 

You missing the bigger picture. It's not just Khao San Road. They are systamatically enforcing these sanitization measures throughout the whole city. It's mass gentrification of a city. 

 

Granted you may not like street food, or street markets. But many millions do. The colour, vibrancy, smells, noise, is a charm loved by millions, and what brings them to Bangkok. 

 

 

 

Never mind , they can aspire to sit on the steps of 7 - 11. And drink their beer.   (Sarcasm)

[wealthychef]

8 hours ago, Thian said:

Do you think it was good for the image of BKK and Thailand that the whole world knew that on kao sarn road you can buy fake id's, presscards, university degree's, and probably everything else fake...It was just open on the corner of the street for loads of years...

 

Yes, it was good for the image of BKK and Thailand.  It's called "being a place for having fun."  Thailand is less fun with every stupid "sanitizing" law they pass.  I can tell you that America and Europe are plenty sanitized and nobody comes here to look at dirty empty streets that some military asshat thinks are "sanitized."  People put up with the uneven pavement and rats and smell because they can get weird surprises on the side of the road and in shady bars.  It's fun, or was fun, for some people.  I personally never go but that's obviously the attraction.  It's like removing roller coasters from Disneyland because they're too scary.    

Oh well, so Kao San Road gets worse.  I'm sure they'll let the hookers, ladyboys and dildo sales go on, though.  Just not the food vendors.  Bribes aren't high enough.  

 

[ToddinChonburi]

Thailand could be changing for the good. 

[The Deerhunter]

9 hours ago, colinneil said:

Just another brain dead idea by brain dead people.

The brain dead bar stewards are slowly destroying Bangkok with these stupid schemes, what they fail to realise is tourists love what Kao san road was like before they tried to sterilize it.

Welcome to Bangkok the city where the only thing you will experience is nothing but empty streets.

And to a Thailand where you can't get laid without an engagement ring and a marriage licence in your pocket

[Jonnapat]

9 hours ago, colinneil said:

Just another brain dead idea by brain dead people.

The brain dead bar stewards are slowly destroying Bangkok with these stupid schemes, what they fail to realise is tourists love what Kao san road was like before they tried to sterilize it.

Welcome to Bangkok the city where the only thing you will experience is nothing but empty streets.

And shopping malls

[Henrik Andersen]

8 hours ago, Thian said:

Do you think it was good for the image of BKK and Thailand that the whole world knew that on kao sarn road you can buy fake id's, presscards, university degree's, and probably everything else fake...It was just open on the corner of the street for loads of years...

you are 100% correct 

but you will never get popular in here 

For that opinion 

People really don't like Thailand change 

 

[JennaBurrows]

Ironically Oxford Street in London, and neighbouring areas will be introducing street food and street markets from November - to try and revive the declining shopping areas. Regulated of course. 

 

Sadiq Khan was quoted as being inspired by the culture of Thailand. 

 

So just to summarise, one of the richest cities in the world wants to copy the charm and secret to Bangkok's massive tourist success. But the unlected chiefs in Bangkok want to destroy the model because they like a good pavement. 

 

Insanity on a level that's never been known. Dangerous too, as the tourist economy is vital for Thailand, i belive around 20% of their GDP. 

[Derek B]

It was always an overrated Dump but the tourists came spent money & probably never returned. Just think how many guidebooks are going to have to be re-edited - ha ha. Best option is to permit the vendors & restaurants. Who needs an empty street with speed bumps of course?

[FritsSikkink]

9 hours ago, colinneil said:

Just another brain dead idea by brain dead people.

The brain dead bar stewards are slowly destroying Bangkok with these stupid schemes, what they fail to realise is tourists love what Kao san road was like before they tried to sterilize it.

Welcome to Bangkok the city where the only thing you will experience is nothing but empty streets.

Do you even know the place?

[thesetat2013]

9 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

We want our run down street with run down stalls on it now?

I have been on khaosan  road during the morning before noon and the photo depicts any normal day there. Funny this article chooses to use these photos as a comparison to show the contrast.  I think bias needs to be called by the OP. 

Before making their claims they should show how it is for real. I also know there is hardly any day life there as all the foreigners sleep past noon from drinking and shopping so late daily. . The thais do their shopping at stall on adjacent streets nearby where prices are not gouged. 

[cmsally]

It seems some people assume they have to like it because it is "change". But the thing is, if you don't like it, you can go and sit in the corner of Gaysorn Plaza and have a coffee, or go to Tesco Lotus , Starbucks, Paragon food mall etc etc etc. There are heaps to choose from if you don't like Khaosan Road.

Personally I don't like 7-11's so I choose to go in them only as a last resort.

The problem is going to be in the future that we will have a total lack of diversity which will take away our right of choice. Ironically where I come from in UK I see a huge growth in street markets, food markets and independent agricultural produce. If Thailand wasn't dragged along by its corporate masters it might achieve the same.

It has only dropped the diversity in less than a generation, so it might be retrievable.

[connda]

People come to Thailand because it's different than their home country.  And part of that difference is open-air, street markets.  Now that those street markets have been removed and the streets 'sanitized', well, Thailand is just like any other country.  May as well go to Singapore.  What's special about Bangkok now?  Not much.

[newatthis]

47 minutes ago, JennaBurrows said:

 

 

Wonder what they will decide to ban next? Governer Sakoltee on the right. Ironically stood for election in Bangkok in 2011 and didn't get anywhere near power. But now undemocratically put in power of one of the biggest cities in the world, because of his shananigans during the coup. 

 

 

And to get their hands on more of that piece of paper was the reason for the protest. Nothing more; nothing less.

[kiwikeith]

9 hours ago, colinneil said:

Just another brain dead idea by brain dead people.

The brain dead bar stewards are slowly destroying Bangkok with these stupid schemes, what they fail to realise is tourists love what Kao san road was like before they tried to sterilize it.

Welcome to Bangkok the city where the only thing you will experience is nothing but empty streets.

Do not panic, these moves will allow/ make it easier for Chinese tour buses to get in and out.

Chinese shops and restaurants will take over , the buses will let them off, they will be directed to shop and eat, create havoc drop butts all over the place, throw food scraps on the floor or leave on table cloth , then be picked up for next stop. Pattaya.

[Aupee]

9 hours ago, Thian said:

Do you think it was good for the image of BKK and Thailand that the whole world knew that on kao sarn road you can buy fake id's, presscards, university degree's, and probably everything else fake...It was just open on the corner of the street for loads of years...

Do you think that they have got rid of the law breakers by getting rid of street stalls .Since when has hitting the obvious got rid of the criminals, just punishes the wrong people.

[colinneil]

19 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Do you even know the place?

Yes i do, been there several times in the last 21 years.

[Destiny1990]

2 hours ago, Snow Leopard said:

When do the Chinese spend anything outside what is included in their package? 7/11 maybe? 

I saw chinese guys giving money to beggars in Bangkok.

[kiwikeith]

2 minutes ago, Aupee said:

Do you think that they have got rid of the law breakers by getting rid of street stalls .Since when has hitting the obvious got rid of the criminals, just punishes the wrong people.

Neither is the image of the B2 scapegoats due to be mur / executed.

The forgery business will relocate , Khao san road is now doomed.

[NoshowJones]

9 hours ago, Thian said:

Do you think it was good for the image of BKK and Thailand that the whole world knew that on kao sarn road you can buy fake id's, presscards, university degree's, and probably everything else fake...It was just open on the corner of the street for loads of years...

Leave the fake ids etc vendors alone, I always depend on them before I go back to the UK.

[JennaBurrows]

1 minute ago, kiwikeith said:

Neither is the image of the B2 scapegoats due to be mur / executed.

The forgery business will relocate , Khao san road is now doomed.

 

So ban street food, vendors, and all street culture cos you have a few dudes selling fake id's? 

 

Yes, let's close Disneyland down in Shanghai because at the entrance there are people selling forged tickets. Let's close down Casinos in Las Vegas because there are men handing out 'sex for sale' cards with prostitutes. Furthermore we should also close down the area around the Eiffel Tower in Paris as it's full of pick pockets.

 

Incidentally you can buy fake id's in pretty  much any city you visit, even in London's Brick Lane Market - openly. 

[johng]

I hope they get their comeuppance in the next election.

If there is an "election" I'm afraid its already a forgone conclusion who will be leading the next government [emoji45] [emoji107]

[Emmess]

10 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

Leave the fake ids etc vendors alone, I always depend on them before I go back to the UK.

Do what I did. Fed her mobile number in my mobile the first time I went there. Now i don't even need to go there. All the paraphernalia is delivered to my office at a little extra expense.

[moontang]

that SawasdeeSmile hotel chain is the nastiest on earth....their somewhat low rates brought me to KSR after coming here for 13 years and Sukhumvit starting to be a ripoff...in 2010.  Utterly disgusting.  Now I cut through the area to catch the boat to Nana area...same junk sold all over, high priced phad thai .....and Indian restaurants, whose prices seem to be secretive...lots of Eurotrash, too.  And the usual touts and conartists...

[Rhys]

...what next the English Teaching Community goes to?

 

[bkkgriz]

Ah well, just the price we pay for globalization. Isn't it wonderful? Every place looks just like every other place. How completely boring the world has become.

[CLW]

If there is an "election" I'm afraid its already a forgone conclusion who will be leading the next government [emoji45] [emoji107]

I also can see nothing good for a change but let's see what happens. Probably another coup?

[shackleton]

Well I had heard about Khao San Road when I was here years ago and thought better visit 

the bars were okay but you could not move in the street

The place was packed with tourists ect it was a Holiday time 

was not worth the trip as travelled a bit to get there  have not been back  since 

Had friends arrive out from the UK  who heard by word of mouth  to visit and stay at Khao San Road 

they enjoyed the bars but that was about it I think it was a must to go home and say we have been there experience 

[lovelomsak]

36 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

Do not panic, these moves will allow/ make it easier for Chinese tour buses to get in and out.

Chinese shops and restaurants will take over , the buses will let them off, they will be directed to shop and eat, create havoc drop butts all over the place, throw food scraps on the floor or leave on table cloth , then be picked up for next stop. Pattaya.

I think you have it right. The Chinese tour buses need a place to park. The Chinese tourist will not care about the character of KSR they will just want a picture of themselves there and then leave for next tour bus stop.