Klong Saen Saeb...So Filthy.

[petedk]

I remember how just a few weeks ago people were fishing in the klong as the water was "relatively" clean.

Since then I have noticed it's getting dirtier and dirtier. I haven't seen the boat that collects all the rubbish in weeks.

I just passed the klong and took a couple of photos.

Hope they upload properly.

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[theoldgit]

I have to agree, I live on a condo overlooking the Saen Saeb and I walk along the walkways on an almost daily basis, it's such a pity as it could be so nice.

I picture it as a beautiful area with pavement cafes, or even food vendors, for everyone, Thai and foreigners to enjoy, but what I now see is a glorified rubbish dump containing numerous plastic bags, soiled nappies in fact just about everything. I see Thai adults and kids throwing their rubbish in with a seemingly couldn't care less attitude, it's a crying shame. I keep saying to myself it's not my country why should I care, but I live here and I do care.

I do see the rubbish boats occasionally, but they only seem to pick up the trash that's of value, mainly the plastic bottles that they can sell, the other stuff they just ignore.

[soundman]

Moved to Bangkok forum.

[robblok]

Many Thais are just real selfish. No manners at all. You see it in traffic and you see how they care for their living environment. During the flooding in our village the village headman had to tell the people not to dump their garbage in the water (whole gated community flooded) as it would only make things worse. But every morning we would see new trash in the water dumped in the evening when nobody saw them. So even when its really important they just cant care

Ill probably get flamed and told if you dont like it you should leave.

[impulse]

Many Thais are just real selfish. No manners at all.

Ill probably get flamed and told if you dont like it you should leave.

No flaming, but if you changed that to "Many people", I'd agree with you. Walk on just about any city beach or city riverfront in the USA after a weekend or festival and it's almost as bad.

The difference? In the USA, there's a budget to clean the mess regularly that would bankrupt most city budgets in Asia. Come to think about it, it's bankrupting most US cities as well.

(The other difference is the stiff fines the police will issue to anyone caught dumping- it's all about consequences, not so much about fundamental differences in people)

Edited January 27, 2012 by impulse

[robblok]

I think its more about the fine then anything else. I wager you if there were consequences for littering here for Thais im sure things would change. But then again you have to have a efficient and non corrupt police force. ehhh.

Where i am from we don't litter that much. Dutch and Germans don't litter much. Maybe its different for Americans. We keep our trash and dump it in a trash can. Sure there are idiots around but the percentage of idiots here in Thailand is larger because of the mai pen rai attitude.

[theoldgit]

I think its more about the fine then anything else. I wager you if there were consequences for littering here for Thais im sure things would change. But then again you have to have a efficient and non corrupt police force. ehhh.

A good point, I believe there are litter laws here and I believe offenders can be fined, but from what I have read on this forum and in the press, it seems that only foreigners are fined.

How long ago was the flooding here in Bangkok, I remember the authorities complaining that pumping of the klongs was made more difficult becasue of the constant need to clear all the trash from the pumps - how soon we forget.

[dddave]

Although they can be fast and are convenient to where I live, I wont take the klong boats because the thought of getting sprayed with that filthy, bacteria infested water revolts me.

Many of the klongside squatter communities release there household sewage directly into the water.

Not worth the risk.

[TheWalkingMan]

I picture it as a beautiful area with pavement cafés, or even food vendors, for everyone, Thai and foreigners to enjoy,

Maybe this is a dumb question, but are any riverside café areas in Bangkok or other areas in Thailand? Those type of places would be a huge hit with everyone. A little bit of food, a little bit of drink some nice weather with some nice low background music... I guess I can only dream...

[dddave]

I picture it as a beautiful area with pavement cafés, or even food vendors, for everyone, Thai and foreigners to enjoy,

Maybe this is a dumb question, but are any riverside café areas in Bangkok or other areas in Thailand? Those type of places would be a huge hit with everyone. A little bit of food, a little bit of drink some nice weather with some nice low background music... I guess I can only dream...

Two come to mind. You'll have to Google them for their addresses.

KIN LOM CHOM SAPHAN Near the base of the beautiful, cable stay Rama-8 bridge on the Chao Phraya. Great views of the river traffic going by. Good and reasonably priced Thai food, sometimes a band. Crowded on weekends, most taxis will know it

BAN KLANG NAM Also alongside the Chao Phraya, a bit more upscale than Kin Lom Chom Saphan, better seafood but somewhat more expensive.

Both of these are on the Bangkok side of the river.