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Foreign Instagrammer Sparks Outrage by Illegally Scaling Bangkok's Ghost Tower

Featured Replies

Cover-Picture-2025-04-28T132331.469.jpg

Photo via Instagram/ @ryan_rrobertson

 

In recent events, an Instagram user known as @ryan_rrobertson has stirred quite the commotion after sharing footage of himself and a friend climbing the infamous Sathorn Unique Tower—often referred to as Bangkok’s ghost tower. The duo's trespass into the abandoned skyscraper in Bangkok’s Sathorn neighbourhood has sparked outrage among both Thai and international audiences online.

 

The Sathorn Unique Tower, an unfinished high-rise, is renowned not just for its breathtaking views of the Chao Phraya River and the city skyline, but also its eerie history, compounded by the grim discovery of a deceased Swedish man in 2014. Its haunting reputation hasn’t deterred thrill-seekers like Robertson, who claimed, "POV: You’re the first person to climb Bangkok’s Ghost Tower in 5+ years..."

 

Using a metal-cutting tool to break through the locked entrance, Robertson and his friend scaled the deserted structure to capture dramatic views from the roof, which they shared on social media. The video accumulated nearly 1,000 likes, although the majority of comments sharply rebuked their actions for breaking laws and ignoring safety protocols.

 

 

 

Critics slammed their assertion of being the first climbers in five years, with many users asserting their own recent visits or sharing other creators’ content as evidence. Despite the uproar, official attention from Thai authorities or the building's owner, Rangsan Torsuwan, remains absent.

 

The ghost tower incident comes shortly after renewed interest in the property, following an erroneous claim of its sale by a supposed real estate agent. Rangsan’s son quickly refuted the claim, citing ongoing legal battles that prevent any legitimate transaction.

 

As the story unfolds, Robertson’s unauthorised exploration raises familiar issues about legal boundaries and ethical responsibility in urban adventuring.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Ryan (@ryan_rrobertson)

 

image.png  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-04-28

 

image.jpeg

 

image.jpeg

  • Popular Post

Really, who is outraged? I'm not - what do I care?

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I can understand the outrage, even if it is a little bit too powerful word. They come to Thailand, cut a lock and trespass. Exactly the dumb and silly people we don´t need here. no need for fine or jail. Just deport the guys as persona non grata.

  • Popular Post

Nearly 1000 likes  🙈

Time to get a job me thinks .

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15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

In recent events, an Instagram user known as @ryan_rrobertson has stirred quite the commotion after sharing footage of himself and a friend climbing the infamous Sathorn Unique Tower—often referred to as Bangkok’s ghost tower. The duo's trespass into the abandoned skyscraper in Bangkok’s Sathorn neighbourhood has sparked outrage among both Thai and international audiences online

At least it's still standing after all these years... not like a more recent collapse

Who pays attention to "netizen outrage" these days? So many people just sit down behind the keyboard and express their outrage. Perhaps this excessive criticism of misbehavior of foreigners has gone just a little bit too far? What do they expect, they invite anyone and everyone in a desperate bid for tourism cash, with no criteria whatsoever. 

 

Who was harmed in this adventure other than a broken lock? It just doesn't sound like a big deal at all, trespassing is a crime but as far as crimes go it's pretty damn minor. 

Netizen outrage ____I'm outraged by the noise from pickup trucks with blaring music and advertising everything from elections down to fruit sales 

Who cares No One

Monkey boy wants to climb, let him

14 hours ago, ukrules said:

Really, who is outraged? I'm not - what do I care?

Those "netizens" again. Somewhere.

Is a win or lose all situation for these optimists.....as they want:coffee1:

I'm fascinated by the place and would love to go up there. 

 

It's a shame they don't do legal tours. I wouldn't want to risk legal/visa issues going up there illegally like this guy. 

We have one in Pattaya blighting the seascape waiting to be climbed

3 hours ago, JonnyF said:

I'm fascinated by the place and would love to go up there. 

 

It's a shame they don't do legal tours. I wouldn't want to risk legal/visa issues going up there illegally like this guy. 

I get what you mean but with my dislike of heights even watching the VDO made me tingle!

 

I'd go if it was legal but only with the right safety precautions and "TIT" 🤔😮

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23 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Cover-Picture-2025-04-28T132331.469.jpg

Photo via Instagram/ @ryan_rrobertson

 

In recent events, an Instagram user known as @ryan_rrobertson has stirred quite the commotion after sharing footage of himself and a friend climbing the infamous Sathorn Unique Tower—often referred to as Bangkok’s ghost tower. The duo's trespass into the abandoned skyscraper in Bangkok’s Sathorn neighbourhood has sparked outrage among both Thai and international audiences online.

 

The Sathorn Unique Tower, an unfinished high-rise, is renowned not just for its breathtaking views of the Chao Phraya River and the city skyline, but also its eerie history, compounded by the grim discovery of a deceased Swedish man in 2014. Its haunting reputation hasn’t deterred thrill-seekers like Robertson, who claimed, "POV: You’re the first person to climb Bangkok’s Ghost Tower in 5+ years..."

 

Using a metal-cutting tool to break through the locked entrance, Robertson and his friend scaled the deserted structure to capture dramatic views from the roof, which they shared on social media. The video accumulated nearly 1,000 likes, although the majority of comments sharply rebuked their actions for breaking laws and ignoring safety protocols.

 

 

 

Critics slammed their assertion of being the first climbers in five years, with many users asserting their own recent visits or sharing other creators’ content as evidence. Despite the uproar, official attention from Thai authorities or the building's owner, Rangsan Torsuwan, remains absent.

 

The ghost tower incident comes shortly after renewed interest in the property, following an erroneous claim of its sale by a supposed real estate agent. Rangsan’s son quickly refuted the claim, citing ongoing legal battles that prevent any legitimate transaction.

 

As the story unfolds, Robertson’s unauthorised exploration raises familiar issues about legal boundaries and ethical responsibility in urban adventuring.

 

 

image.png  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-04-28

 

image.jpeg

 

image.jpeg

Just another 🔔🔚 with a sad life 🤷🏼

On 4/28/2025 at 6:57 PM, ukrules said:

Really, who is outraged? I'm not - what do I care?

    Me, neither.   As always, I doubt too many are 'outraged'.   Just more blown up hype.  With the photo I saw posted, there were only 133 comments on the guy's webpage.  In a city of over 11 million, that's quite tiny.  Tiny also is the 'outrage'.  

I have no "outrage" over the Ghost Tower or idiot farangs who trespass and break other Thai laws at their own peril. Perhaps a bit of "dismay."

 

However, I DO have "outrage," over the probable 100 or so workers who will end up being declared dead in the collapse of the State Audit Office Building in BKK, and probably no one to end up facing serious legal consequence for that.

 

That's something to legitimately get "outraged" over....

 

On 4/28/2025 at 4:23 PM, snoop1130 said:

has sparked outrage among both Thai and international audiences online.

 

No, it hasn’t.

 

Hardly anyone would’ve noticed if the media hadn’t jumped on the self-manufactured outrage - triggering outrage at the outrage.

 

It’s mostly a handful of sad, bitter boomers on forums like this, frothing over anything vaguely foreign, desperate to feel offended because they’ve nothing left but their small-minded bigotry.

 

 

On 4/30/2025 at 8:50 PM, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

However, I DO have "outrage," over the probable 100 or so workers who will end up being declared dead in the collapse of the State Audit Office Building in BKK, and probably no one to end up facing serious legal consequence for that.

There has been no indication that there probably will be no one ending up facing serious legal consequence for that.

On 4/30/2025 at 10:19 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

No, it hasn’t.

 

Hardly anyone would’ve noticed if the media hadn’t jumped on the self-manufactured outrage - triggering outrage at the outrage.

 

It’s mostly a handful of sad, bitter boomers on forums like this, frothing over anything vaguely foreign, desperate to feel offended because they’ve nothing left but their small-minded bigotry.

 

 

 

 

Please, don't hold back, tell us how you really feel.

 

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