Thai Funerals And Noise

[loong]

Funny, right now as I am typing this in the United States, there has been a horn and Mexican mariachi music that has been playing for 2 hours straight from my neighbor who has decided to hire a live band. Noise pollution is global, people.

2 Hours! That I could live with - no problem

What I am talking about here is noise, sometimes at a level you would expect at a rock concert blasting out for 15 or 20 hours every day. Day after day. On this occasion I have suffered the noise for 2 weeks with one day of relative silence in between.

I am so drained, but I have my 6 year old stepdaughter to take care of, so cannot catch up on a bit of sleep even though the noise has finally stopped since about midday. Also had up to 6 of her friends at the house at times over the last few weeks because their parents are too busy drinking and gambling to give them any attention.

[NewlyMintedThai]

When more people dislike a custom than like it, it will start to change. No culture is static; it is always developing. But for an outsider to try to change things is futile.

[NanLaew]

I reckon as I get older and stay longer, the noise from these 'social gatherings' is definitely getting much louder. The Chinese New Year bash at the local temple went on until exactly 6am ( I guess that's when the monks hit the pavement) and the windows on our house were rattling right up until then. The stages get bigger and they pile on more PA speakers every time. In my experience with funeral wakes, the alcohol kicks in before 2 am and it usually falls quiet.... until the 5am rooster or dog chorus. Then it gets peaceful again until say 9am when some pr!ck who has nothing better to do decides to play his/her favourite breakfast lamwong songs on the stage PA system. The rest of the day may see sporadic bursts of 'family favourites' until the full-on nightly performance kicks off again some time around sohng thoom. The poster mentioning he lives next to a temple should have a quieter life as pretty much only the 'laying in state' happens there before the send off and bbq. Meanwhile, the karaoke and piss up goes on at the home of the deceased or his/her surviving relatives.

I found the level of discomfort just bearable when there was multiple souls shuffling off in our moobahn last year. Then the ice factory up the street decided on a merit-making piss-up which thankfully was a one-night affair but the dancing girls were easy on the eyes! My wife bought the land opposite our house last summer so, when her birthday rolled around in October, I decided to join 'em instead of beating 'em and had a two-night party with Ja Turbo featuring the second night on a big, bright, noisy stage right opposite our house (but facing the opposite way). It was a righteous noisy couple of nights but since I was paying for it, I didn't mind and neither did the freeloaders neighbours. Sort of like you never hear your neighbours dog after you get one yourself.

[Boater]

i went to a monks blessing once with the missis, again, drinking and load music from 5 am !!!, non stop for 2 days, her auntie actually drunk herself to death at this party, so you are right in your post, sometimes these parties actually cos more harm then good !

[daoyai]

Sleep is vital to maintaining health, noise pollution is deadly. Complaining, or "venting" releases some tension and helps to relieve some stress. Accepting the situation, (noisy funerals) will help you (Loong) cope, you are fortunate to have the financial means to escape to a hotel during these periods.

[bannork]

Loong, my missus inherited some land next to the main road into our village, it's just under 2 kms outside the village. We built a small house there 15 years ago and asked for an electricity connection, which we got about 6 years ago. It's paradise, no drunks, barking dogs or noisy parties to disturb us.

We can hear the loudspeakers from the village but they're not loud enough to disturb us.

If you have the chance I recommend you follow suit, wasn't it Jean Paul Sartre who said,'Hell is other people'?

[David006]

Loong, my missus inherited some land next to the main road into our village, it's just under 2 kms outside the village. We built a small house there 15 years ago and asked for an electricity connection, which we got about 6 years ago. It's paradise, no drunks, barking dogs or noisy parties to disturb us.

We can hear the loudspeakers from the village but they're not loud enough to disturb us.

If you have the chance I recommend you follow suit, wasn't it Jean Paul Sartre who said,'Hell is other people'?

Think the biggest problem is that the music providers seem to think that bass is better. That's what is most penetrating especially if it hits a point of resonance in your home.

Once lived in a 21st floor apartment about 2k from a goods train line...fricking diesel locomotives at 3am would rattle the fricking windows and could feel it even through the mattress..

.that said we live up a mountain ( noise travels up) about 2k from any other abode.....the local whatever parties within a 5k radius sometimes do the same with bass as one cannot hear the song or ...just one of the two or three of the thump thump tempos which most Thai tunes seem to use.

..when we first moved here it drove me mad ...now think my brain has done some learning, numbed by beer , I have gone deaf or ... ..not so bad.......bit like one only notices aircon noise or the fridge pump when it goes off/on maybe....'course the odd drunken @# karaoke singer at 5am is still @#$%^ annoying .

The last funeral party I went to was in a Wat..no band, movies or noise, booze that I noticed ?

Love that stewed spicy 99 % cholesterol pig!!!

Here in the sticks I find the backhoes,chainsaws, brush cutters and motorbikes somewhat more tedious........

[bannork]

Loong, my missus inherited some land next to the main road into our village, it's just under 2 kms outside the village. We built a small house there 15 years ago and asked for an electricity connection, which we got about 6 years ago. It's paradise, no drunks, barking dogs or noisy parties to disturb us.

We can hear the loudspeakers from the village but they're not loud enough to disturb us.

If you have the chance I recommend you follow suit, wasn't it Jean Paul Sartre who said,'Hell is other people'?

Think the biggest problem is that the music providers seem to think that bass is better. That's what is most penetrating especially if it hits a point of resonance in your home.

Once lived in a 21st floor apartment about 2k from a goods train line...fricking diesel locomotives at 3am would rattle the fricking windows and could feel it even through the mattress..

.that said we live up a mountain ( noise travels up) about 2k from any other abode.....the local whatever parties within a 5k radius sometimes do the same with bass as one cannot hear the song or ...just one of the two or three of the thump thump tempos which most Thai tunes seem to use.

..when we first moved here it drove me mad ...now think my brain has done some learning, numbed by beer , I have gone deaf or ... ..not so bad.......bit like one only notices aircon noise or the fridge pump when it goes off/on maybe....'course the odd drunken @# karaoke singer at 5am is still @#$%^ annoying .

The last funeral party I went to was in a Wat..no band, movies or noise, booze that I noticed ?

Love that stewed spicy 99 % cholesterol pig!!!

Here in the sticks I find the backhoes,chainsaws, brush cutters and motorbikes somewhat more tedious........

One sound I do love in Issan is on important days in the Buddhist calendar or sometimes at funerals, monks will chant all night in the old style morlam way, recounting stories from the Buddhist canons. There's something magical about getting up at 5.00 am, watching light slowly spread across the sky and hearing the rising and falling cadences wafting across the fields.

[elwood]

Loong, my missus inherited some land next to the main road into our village, it's just under 2 kms outside the village. We built a small house there 15 years ago and asked for an electricity connection, which we got about 6 years ago. It's paradise, no drunks, barking dogs or noisy parties to disturb us.

We can hear the loudspeakers from the village but they're not loud enough to disturb us.

If you have the chance I recommend you follow suit, wasn't it Jean Paul Sartre who said,'Hell is other people'?

Think the biggest problem is that the music providers seem to think that bass is better. That's what is most penetrating especially if it hits a point of resonance in your home.

Once lived in a 21st floor apartment about 2k from a goods train line...fricking diesel locomotives at 3am would rattle the fricking windows and could feel it even through the mattress..

.that said we live up a mountain ( noise travels up) about 2k from any other abode.....the local whatever parties within a 5k radius sometimes do the same with bass as one cannot hear the song or ...just one of the two or three of the thump thump tempos which most Thai tunes seem to use.

..when we first moved here it drove me mad ...now think my brain has done some learning, numbed by beer , I have gone deaf or ... ..not so bad.......bit like one only notices aircon noise or the fridge pump when it goes off/on maybe....'course the odd drunken @# karaoke singer at 5am is still @#$%^ annoying .

The last funeral party I went to was in a Wat..no band, movies or noise, booze that I noticed ?

Love that stewed spicy 99 % cholesterol pig!!!

Here in the sticks I find the backhoes,chainsaws, brush cutters and motorbikes somewhat more tedious........

One sound I do love in Issan is on important days in the Buddhist calendar or sometimes at funerals, monks will chant all night in the old style morlam way, recounting stories from the Buddhist canons. There's something magical about getting up at 5.00 am, watching light slowly spread across the sky and hearing the rising and falling cadences wafting across the fields.

With you on that! When we had our house blessing there were 14 monks chanting in our living room and the sound was magical; it also brought back memories of hearing Gregorian Chants.

Elwood

[Thaddeus]

As a long term sufferer of this display of total disregard for other people I have a few theories, some of which have been touched on in some replies to this topic, the first of which can be discounted instantly.

1. It's traditional, <deleted>, no it isn't, the same way Songhran has no resemblance to the tradition now.

2. It's tribal, a mass of people banging drums so to speak, to show their support for a specific purpose.

3. It's status, our party was louder and longer than yours, therefore we loved our relative more.

4. It's status again, our party was louder and longer than yours, therefore we have more money to burn.

5. It's childish, when I was 17 I had a Ford Escort Mk2, with a sound system that would have made The Who proud, then I grew up.

6. It's escaping reality, thinking hurts, loud noise stops you thinking.

7. It's attention seeking, me me me, look at me, I'm a peacock, look at my tail, hear me squawk.

8. It's sanook, more loud more sanook, you not Thai you not understand.

9. All of the above, except number 1.

One thing it definitely isn't, although it purports to be, is showing any respect to anyone.

[NewlyMintedThai]

Don't you just love farangs who lecture Thais on their own customs?

[StreetCowboy]

Don't you just love farangs who lecture Thais on their own customs?

I don't think that they really care whether its a custom or not. Its the practice of it that they find irritating and disturbing.

I used to live on a route used by Chinese funeral processions, and that was quaint. Having the peace disturbed by clashing symbals and wailing pipes is not a problem in the middle of the afternoon, and unless you have the misfortune to be going from the same house to the same temple, the traffic disruption is only passing. Were it to go on into the small hours of the morning, for days on end, I could imagine my easy-going "I'm just a visitor" tolerance wearing through till the eff-words showed.

SC

[Thaddeus]

Don't you just love farangs who lecture Thais on their own customs?

Oh of course, silly me, it's an old Thai custom that goes back centuries isn't it.

Progress only comes about through change, change occurs when something is wrong, wrongness is usually spotted when someone complains.

I'll assume that you have never been in a situation when you have been intentionally deprived of sleep for an extended period of time by the uncaring actions of another.

I can't wait until you are.

[NewlyMintedThai]

It doesn't have to be a hundred years old to be a part of Thai culture. Santa Claus wasn't part of Western Christmas tradition until relatively recently, either.

Or railing against kids ringing his doorbell all night on Halloween -- another relatively recent custom?

Can you imagine a foreigner in your home country railing on that Santa ringing his bell was annoying and should be banned because it doens't conform to traditional Christmas customs?

Right.

Well, that's exactly how ethnocentric, self-important, haughty, and just downright silly you -- a foreigner in Thailand -- sound whinging on about local funeral customs.

There are lots of local customs that annoy me, as there are back home (how about bloody Christmas music?). But it would never cross my mind to whinge endlessly about them, much less try to change them.

The day that happens is the day I will decide it's time to go back home.

[isanbirder]

Making a noise is traditional; using loudspeakers is something they've learned from us.

More to the point is trying to think of ways in which you can ameliorate the state of affairs. It depends on your, or more likely your wife's relations with the puyaibaan and the abbot. If a group of concerned villagers (and in some of the cases which have been mentioned, these people do exist), plus the puyaibaan, go and ask the abbot to keep the noise down because it is causing suffering to many villagers, there is a chance you will succeed. If your local members of the OPT or Tambon Advisory Council, will join in, so much the better.

This is not just a top-of-the-head suggestion; I have seen reports that it has been done, and has worked.

[Thaddeus]

It doesn't have to be a hundred years old to be a part of Thai culture. Santa Claus wasn't part of Western Christmas tradition until relatively recently, either.

Or railing against kids ringing his doorbell all night on Halloween -- another relatively recent custom?

Can you imagine a foreigner in your home country railing on that Santa ringing his bell was annoying and should be banned because it doens't conform to traditional Christmas customs?

I'm sorry but you are comparing apples with oranges here.

Are you seriously telling me that if one of your neighbours erected a 5 meter high neon Merry Christmas sign in his garden that played Jingle Bells at 120 decibels for 72 hours straight you would just sit there and suck it in.

I doubt it.

[villagefarang]

This seems another one of those situations where you can come in and try change an entire nation of people or you can find ways to adapt and lessen the impact of other’s actions on your good self.

A sensible place to start would be not to build anywhere near the temple, the school, the market, the village loudspeaker, an outdoor restaurant or bar, the rice miller, ice maker, motorcycle repair shop or near someone who raises farm animals. Make sure you build a sturdy structure to live in with decent windows. An air conditioner is not just useful to stay cool but also to clean the air at this time of year and to provide white noise so you don’t hear the other stuff.

If you have done everything wrong and can’t afford to make changes then invest in a good set of earplugs. I use them when riding a motorcycle and when I travel as they really keep the noise down.

Remember, you are the only one you have any control over unless you are extremely wealthy and/or powerful.

[NewlyMintedThai]

It doesn't have to be a hundred years old to be a part of Thai culture. Santa Claus wasn't part of Western Christmas tradition until relatively recently, either.

Or railing against kids ringing his doorbell all night on Halloween -- another relatively recent custom?

Can you imagine a foreigner in your home country railing on that Santa ringing his bell was annoying and should be banned because it doens't conform to traditional Christmas customs?

I'm sorry but you are comparing apples with oranges here.

Are you seriously telling me that if one of your neighbours erected a 5 meter high neon Merry Christmas sign in his garden that played Jingle Bells at 120 decibels for 72 hours straight you would just sit there and suck it in.

I doubt it.

If it was the custom, the way if the land in which I was living, yes I would suck it in.

If it was not the done thing, I would complain.

Just like I suck it in when Christmas carrollers come along, when my gut tells me to get out my hunting rifle.

Loudspeakers have been used at Thai funerals for decades and decades. It is now part of the culture in some places.

Learn to like it, ignore it, move to a place with no neighbors, or leave Thailand. Take your pick, because there is no way in hell you're going to change it.

[StreetCowboy]

This seems another one of those situations where you can come in and try change an entire nation of people or you can find ways to adapt and lessen the impact of other’s actions on your good self.

A sensible place to start would be not to build anywhere near the temple, the school, the market, the village loudspeaker, an outdoor restaurant or bar, the rice miller, ice maker, motorcycle repair shop or near someone who raises farm animals. Make sure you build a sturdy structure to live in with decent windows. An air conditioner is not just useful to stay cool but also to clean the air at this time of year and to provide white noise so you don’t hear the other stuff.

If you have done everything wrong and can’t afford to make changes then invest in a good set of earplugs. I use them when riding a motorcycle and when I travel as they really keep the noise down.

Remember, you are the only one you have any control over unless you are extremely wealthy and/or powerful.

I suppose he could talk about it with his friends, who might show a bit of sympathy and help him have a laugh about it. Sadly, this doesn't seem like a very friendly sort of place, so I'll just join in to be part of the crowd.

"Grow a pear!"

"Ship up or Ship Out"

"Don't use your arse to push the door open" (not sure I got that one right...)

Doesn't really matter what we say, he can't hear a word now anyway, after all that ear-abuse.

SC

[villagefarang]

This seems another one of those situations where you can come in and try change an entire nation of people or you can find ways to adapt and lessen the impact of other’s actions on your good self.

A sensible place to start would be not to build anywhere near the temple, the school, the market, the village loudspeaker, an outdoor restaurant or bar, the rice miller, ice maker, motorcycle repair shop or near someone who raises farm animals. Make sure you build a sturdy structure to live in with decent windows. An air conditioner is not just useful to stay cool but also to clean the air at this time of year and to provide white noise so you don’t hear the other stuff.

If you have done everything wrong and can’t afford to make changes then invest in a good set of earplugs. I use them when riding a motorcycle and when I travel as they really keep the noise down.

Remember, you are the only one you have any control over unless you are extremely wealthy and/or powerful.

I suppose he could talk about it with his friends, who might show a bit of sympathy and help him have a laugh about it. Sadly, this doesn't seem like a very friendly sort of place, so I'll just join in to be part of the crowd.

"Grow a pear!"

"Ship up or Ship Out"

"Don't use your arse to push the door open" (not sure I got that one right...)

Doesn't really matter what we say, he can't hear a word now anyway, after all that ear-abuse.

SC

I just figured if the OP were looking for an “Oh you poor dear” and a group hug, then he would have posted this in the Ladies Forum. We are just being guys here and giving unsolicited advice and criticism as is our wont. And yes “grow a pair!” As for pears, I’m not sure they grow well here.

[StreetCowboy]

This seems another one of those situations where you can come in and try change an entire nation of people or you can find ways to adapt and lessen the impact of other’s actions on your good self.

A sensible place to start would be not to build anywhere near the temple, the school, the market, the village loudspeaker, an outdoor restaurant or bar, the rice miller, ice maker, motorcycle repair shop or near someone who raises farm animals. Make sure you build a sturdy structure to live in with decent windows. An air conditioner is not just useful to stay cool but also to clean the air at this time of year and to provide white noise so you don’t hear the other stuff.

If you have done everything wrong and can’t afford to make changes then invest in a good set of earplugs. I use them when riding a motorcycle and when I travel as they really keep the noise down.

Remember, you are the only one you have any control over unless you are extremely wealthy and/or powerful.

I suppose he could talk about it with his friends, who might show a bit of sympathy and help him have a laugh about it. Sadly, this doesn't seem like a very friendly sort of place, so I'll just join in to be part of the crowd.

"Grow a pear!"

"Ship up or Ship Out"

"Don't use your arse to push the door open" (not sure I got that one right...)

Doesn't really matter what we say, he can't hear a word now anyway, after all that ear-abuse.

SC

I just figured if the OP were looking for an “Oh you poor dear” and a group hug, then he would have posted this in the Ladies Forum. We are just being guys here and giving unsolicited advice and criticism as is our wont. And yes “grow a pair!” As for pears, I’m not sure they grow well here.

Ever since trisailor enlightened us (trawl through theblether's top topics thread) we're much more new men here now. We no longer shy away from contact with other men; indeed, I shook hands with a colleague and almost went so far as to give him a hearty clap on the shoulder; even in the open-plan office. One doesn't have to come over all Bambi to show a bit of empathy

I'm sure he's feeling cheerier already, relieved that he couldn't hear a note of that...

SC

EDIT: Jest in poor taste deleted. I should remember I have no sense of humour...

Edited February 27, 2012 by StreetCowboy

[kikoman]

I do not understand why farangs always want to change the Thai way of doing things, When they moved into the country or village of their own free will. If they do not like the level of noise or anything else about the local community they are always free to move, out of the village ,out of the country.

Before I moved into my village 7 years ago, I visited my in-laws quite often and knew what I was moving into, when I finally moved to the village for good. It was the best choice I could have made, I do not have a problem with the noise level, my neighbors, or the Thai way of living or greedy in-laws.I have the best neighbors that are always helpful and sharing.

I did have some problems at first with the touching of village Thais males, ( I coming from a very macho environment) but did not make a big deal out of it and I soon became used to it.

I moved to Thailand to build a better life for myself and that I did.

If you respect others, you in turn will be respected by them.

It makes ones golden years more pleasant, You can not change those things that annoy you.

But you are in complete control of your moods, and how you choose to respond to those annoying circumstances!

Good Luck/great living

Cheers:

[Thaddeus]

I do not understand why farangs always want to change the Thai way of doing things, When they moved into the country or village of their own free will. If they do not like the level of noise or anything else about the local community they are always free to move, out of the village ,out of the country.

Before I moved into my village 7 years ago, I visited my in-laws quite often and knew what I was moving into, when I finally moved to the village for good. It was the best choice I could have made, I do not have a problem with the noise level, my neighbors, or the Thai way of living or greedy in-laws.I have the best neighbors that are always helpful and sharing.

If you read the OP it describes the detrimental effect on the locals, they do not have the option of moving, they are stuck with it. It also brings up the oldest Thai tradition that should be stamped out, the one of not complaining, not making waves.

Earlier I stated that no one would put up with this behaviour in their own countries which was countered by one that if it was traditional he would with the typical out worn if you don't like it leave.

The simple fact of the matter is that it would never become a tradition in a country were complaining about something is an endeavour to improve a situation and not an attack.

That is why most of the locals are between a rock and a hard place, they actually don't like being disturbed in this fashion either, but they feel they can't complain about it (except to each other) and to make matters worse, they can't leave.

Edited February 28, 2012 by Thaddeus

[kikoman]

The OP never referred to himself as a local, unless the population of locals are completely different, than those here in Wang Muang, in the 7 years I have lived in this village, I personally have not heard one local complain about the noise, from neighbors, friends or family. As most of the village is involved in helping the family with the funeral, wedding or becoming a monk,activities such as helping with the cooking , cleaning , getting tables and chairs, all the preparations is aided by the community. As most are related to one another in the village.

That is one of the things that I most enjoy about village life, is the live and let live attitude of the Thai's. unlike the states where neighbors call the police for any deemed disruption of "Their" life routines or perceived personal individual rights (vs. those of the other residents).

If one is to claim that it is the local Thai's that are offended by the "Noise", with which I beg to differ. Then I would be more convinced that this was indeed a problem if it was the local Thai's that should be posting on this tread, which I believe is mostly non-locals that are posting.

I am just replying with my own personal philosophy, if I was offended by what goes on in my village, I personally would move out of the village to a living environment more to my liking and or needs.

Cheers:

[Thaddeus]

The OP never referred to himself as a local,

Never claimed that he did.

But what he did say is....

I know that many of you will just think that I am a miserable old SOB and that if I don't like it, I should F off back to my own country. It's just that I know many Thais suffer stress from these parties but will say nothing.

And I have met the same.

From the rest of your post you are quite fortunate to live in a quiet one, that's fine, I'm happy for you. But you end by saying that if that situation changed, you would happily move out.

The vast majority of people (i.e. the Thais) do not have that option.

[kikoman]

What I did say, was if I heard Thai's posting that the noise bothered them, I would put more faith into my understanding of that problem, but on this tread it is non-locals saying that the local Thai's are noise stressed.

Which is not and has not been the case,only from my own experience intimately living and inter acting with the Thai population in Wang Muang for the last 7 years.. As I see the situation more as a community interacting with each other and helping the family stage their event, which all are actively participating in and have not seen or heard about the problem stated by non-locals about stressed out Thai's.

Most of the village looks forward to the wedding or becoming a monk activities, and come to the aid of other residence of the village to help them in saying goodbye to a loved one..

I also stated if I was unhappy with my life in the village I would leave it, I will not be leaving because I am not unhappy with the life in my village and we have already made plans for my funeral in my village ,when that time comes.

Cheers:

Edited February 28, 2012 by kikoman

[marstons]

A bit akin to moving to America and complaining about the noisy fireworks on the 4th of July.

not really since thats once a year

[StreetCowboy]

A bit akin to moving to America and complaining about the noisy fireworks on the 4th of July.

not really since thats once a year

Maybe a bit like moving to England and complaining about football hooligans pissing in your garden and throwing bricks through your window.

though as I have posted elsewhere, the English seem to have made good progress in controlling football hooliganism, because they see it as an aspect of their culture that they would like to change...

SC

[Thaddeus]

What I did say, was if I heard Thai's posting that the noise bothered them, I would put more faith into my understanding of that problem, but on this tread it is non-locals saying that the local Thai's are noise stressed.

Right Ok, rural Thais posting on an English language internet forum.

And I guess that my comment about the old Thai tradition of not complaining or making waves went past at Mac 3.

[NewlyMintedThai]

A bit akin to moving to America and complaining about the noisy fireworks on the 4th of July.

not really since thats once a year

Once a year or a thousand times a year, the point is it is the way things are done and a foreigner has no place trying to change it. It will change when enough locals decide to change it -- not before.