Noise

[had enough]

Hi all,

I need some advice ......

I live in Thonburi on a small private soi in a rented townhouse. Some 6 months ago an open-air restaurant commenced business at the top of the soi. Each evening, they have live music from about 7pm to 1am and then recorded music until 6am! The volume of the music is intolerable - it's like being at a live concert at Muang Thong Thani!

Despite calls to the restaurant and the police by my friends and neighbours, nothing has changed. They continue playing the music so loud that I can hardly hear my TV and certainly can't sleep at night (until 6am! sometimes!!). The Thai neighbours, whilst complaining about it, won't do anything as they just accept that the restaurant owners are paying off local officials and police to turn a blind eye!!

I really don't want to move again as I like the house and work nearby.

Any ideas????

[alexth]

Hi all,

I need some advice ......

I live in Thonburi on a small private soi in a rented townhouse. Some 6 months ago an open-air restaurant commenced business at the top of the soi. Each evening, they have live music from about 7pm to 1am and then recorded music until 6am! The volume of the music is intolerable - it's like being at a live concert at Muang Thong Thani!

Despite calls to the restaurant and the police by my friends and neighbours, nothing has changed. They continue playing the music so loud that I can hardly hear my TV and certainly can't sleep at night (until 6am! sometimes!!). The Thai neighbours, whilst complaining about it, won't do anything as they just accept that the restaurant owners are paying off local officials and police to turn a blind eye!!

I really don't want to move again as I like the house and work nearby.

Any ideas????

1.Get yourself an AK-47 and make your own justice

2.Wait for the business to get broken.

3. MOVE

Nothing much to do about it

[The Skipper]

Cannot escape the noise.

It's everywhere.

Have you ever noticed that most Thais are partially deaf?

Last time I went to Phuket, checked into the quaint Neptuna Hotel, asked for a quiet room.

They failed to tell me about the newly opened beer bar center next door.

At 10pm the "music" started. You know the kind, horrible thumping techno stuff.

Louder than loud till 5am!

OK, so I move down the street to a brand new place, ask for a quiet room

At 10pm I discover the "all nite Karaoke entertainment" next door to this place.

This goes to 6am.

I called the front desk to complain but the music was so loud they could not even hear me on the phone.

So a guy invests millions on a great new hotel but has this racket going on every nite next door.

Everyone checks out after one sleepless nite.

I don't understand.

[Galong]

Noise is right at the top of my list of things that are truly screwed up in Thailand. Thais have absolutely no respect for anyone else.

I used to live by a group of Thais who made no noise whatsoever until around 2:00AM. Then, dozens of guys on motorbikes would show up reving their engines right outside of my bedroom window. The music inside was unbelieveably loud.

My wife asked them politely several times to turn it down a bit. they ignored her. We called the police and the guys actually turned the music down, that is, until the cops left.

This went on for a few weeks.

Then one night when my wife asked them politely to turn the music down one of the Thai guys said something extremely rude to her. That was it! I grabbed a bit stick, went over to their front door and put a few holes in it. When the guy came to the door I spit in his face, then kicked his motorbike over.

I invited (not politely) everyone sitting on the floor to come outside. Funny, things got quiet. I kicked a few more motorbikes over. Nothing happened.

A couple days later, they moved.

I am ashamed of what I did, but they pushed and pushed and when they told my wife to go *&^& herself and some other nasties, I cracked.

I don't recommend the "walking tall" approach, but ######, they simply ain't got any manners and I had to do something.

[Pattayatony]

Hi all,

I need some advice ......

I live in Thonburi on a small private soi in a rented townhouse. Some 6 months ago an open-air restaurant commenced business at the top of the soi. Each evening, they have live music from about 7pm to 1am and then recorded music until 6am! The volume of the music is intolerable - it's like being at a live concert at Muang Thong Thani!

Despite calls to the restaurant and the police by my friends and neighbours, nothing has changed. They continue playing the music so loud that I can hardly hear my TV and certainly can't sleep at night (until 6am! sometimes!!). The Thai neighbours, whilst complaining about it, won't do anything as they just accept that the restaurant owners are paying off local officials and police to turn a blind eye!!

I really don't want to move again as I like the house and work nearby.

Any ideas????

Try Petrol bombs, works wonders.

When I first moved in here the lady next door had the music up so load I couldnt hear my TV, the first day I went to complain but my Thai GF said we do it the Thai way, next day same shit so I told her we will do it Tony's way>> Bashed on the door told her turn the F###### music down. Tha was two years ago and I havnt heard a peep since. F### doing it the Thai way it dosnt work,,, Now go and get some petrol bombs!!!!!

[tc101]

Is this a major problem everywhere, or are there other folks here who have found peaceful quiet hotel rooms and rentals in Thailand?

[Losangels]

Apparently lound noise don't bother most Thais. Be in owners of dogs that constantly bark, music on full blast at department stores, karoke bars in residencial areas, etc. I guess if you grow up in this kind of environment you get used to it. Of course if you complain about it they think something is wrong with you not them. Besides many times it is improper to complain cause they may lose face from their rude behaviour.

[KhunMarco]

Is this a major problem everywhere, or are there other folks here who have found peaceful quiet hotel rooms and rentals in Thailand?

Oh c'mon, don't you know TV is exagerationland?

Quiet places are still prevalent.

Anyway the best suggestion is to buy some good foam earplugs (M3) in case of "emergency". They come very handy in many situations: Train, bus, noisy neighbors, jungle at night etc.

[Donz]

Go party with them, get real pissed and start throwing there speakers around the room. Kikc holes in the walls then burn the place to the ground.

They wont be noisey for awhile after that

[ProfessorFart]

Noise Pollution and Thailand go hand in hand I'm afraid.

I recall sitting in Ayutthya a few years ago neat Wat Mahathat revelling in the calm after a stressful period of running around Bangkok, when down at Wat Pra Si Sanphet music came booming at such volume it was unreal and I was a good KM away!

Quiet places do still exist but you can be assured that even in the quietest areas some bloody truck or motorbike whose engine has been shot to pieces will go screaming past and shatter your silence.

Guesthouse one made a very good quote on this site when he said 'Thais don't disturb the peace they destroy it'

[The Coder]

Noise is the #1 downside of Thailand in my opinion. It's really depressing for me because I have yet find a way to locate a place free of unnecessary and annoying man made noises regardless if it is an urban or rural setting. I am somewhat apalled that of all places, a Bangkok Christian school is the noisiest of them all. Blaring PA announcements throughout the day (do they really need it them THAT ear splittingly loud and THAT many speakers pointed out at residential buildings?), amplified church bells clanging away at ungodly hours (not everyone wants a wakeup call everyday at 6am), and kids beating on drums outside late into the night. It's a shame this school sets such a terrible example for the upcoming generation. I just take the mai pen rai approach and try to learn from the Thai's and try and ignore it as much as I can.

Think you found a quiet neighborhood in the country? Wait till the pickup trucks with blaring speakers mounted on them announcing their wares drive by over and over. Or the village head blabbering meaningless garbage several times every single day over the PA system gridded everywhere you have no control over.

[sriracha john]

Then one night when my wife asked them politely to turn the music down one of the Thai guys said something extremely rude to her. That was it! I grabbed a bit stick, went over to their front door and put a few holes in it. When the guy came to the door I spit in his face, then kicked his motorbike over.

I invited (not politely) everyone sitting on the floor to come outside. Funny, things got quiet. I kicked a few more motorbikes over. Nothing happened.

A couple days later, they moved.

Are you available for hire?

[markuk]

Hi all,

I need some advice ......

I live in Thonburi on a small private soi in a rented townhouse. Some 6 months ago an open-air restaurant commenced business at the top of the soi. Each evening, they have live music from about 7pm to 1am and then recorded music until 6am! The volume of the music is intolerable - it's like being at a live concert at Muang Thong Thani!

Despite calls to the restaurant and the police by my friends and neighbours, nothing has changed. They continue playing the music so loud that I can hardly hear my TV and certainly can't sleep at night (until 6am! sometimes!!). The Thai neighbours, whilst complaining about it, won't do anything as they just accept that the restaurant owners are paying off local officials and police to turn a blind eye!!

I really don't want to move again as I like the house and work nearby.

Any ideas????

this is what they do when a farang moves into the area, face it they dont want you there - easier to move!!

[Donz]

Noise is right at the top of my list of things that are truly screwed up in Thailand. Thais have absolutely no respect for anyone else.

I used to live by a group of Thais who made no noise whatsoever until around 2:00AM. Then, dozens of guys on motorbikes would show up reving their engines right outside of my bedroom window. The music inside was unbelieveably loud.

My wife asked them politely several times to turn it down a bit. they ignored her. We called the police and the guys actually turned the music down, that is, until the cops left.

This went on for a few weeks.

Then one night when my wife asked them politely to turn the music down one of the Thai guys said something extremely rude to her. That was it! I grabbed a bit stick, went over to their front door and put a few holes in it. When the guy came to the door I spit in his face, then kicked his motorbike over.

I invited (not politely) everyone sitting on the floor to come outside. Funny, things got quiet. I kicked a few more motorbikes over. Nothing happened.

A couple days later, they moved.

I am ashamed of what I did, but they pushed and pushed and when they told my wife to go *&^& herself and some other nasties, I cracked.

I don't recommend the "walking tall" approach, but ######, they simply ain't got any manners and I had to do something.

I like your style.

Would of been funny to see

[had enough]

Hi all,

I need some advice ......

I live in Thonburi on a small private soi in a rented townhouse. Some 6 months ago an open-air restaurant commenced business at the top of the soi. Each evening, they have live music from about 7pm to 1am and then recorded music until 6am! The volume of the music is intolerable - it's like being at a live concert at Muang Thong Thani!

Despite calls to the restaurant and the police by my friends and neighbours, nothing has changed. They continue playing the music so loud that I can hardly hear my TV and certainly can't sleep at night (until 6am! sometimes!!). The Thai neighbours, whilst complaining about it, won't do anything as they just accept that the restaurant owners are paying off local officials and police to turn a blind eye!!

I really don't want to move again as I like the house and work nearby.

Any ideas????

this is what they do when a farang moves into the area, face it they dont want you there - easier to move!!

actually, i get on very well with the neighbours - the restaurant owners, staff and patrons are not locals. it would not be easier to move as i just moved into this house two months ago and that was an ordeal in itself!!!

[had enough]

Noise is right at the top of my list of things that are truly screwed up in Thailand. Thais have absolutely no respect for anyone else.

I used to live by a group of Thais who made no noise whatsoever until around 2:00AM. Then, dozens of guys on motorbikes would show up reving their engines right outside of my bedroom window. The music inside was unbelieveably loud.

My wife asked them politely several times to turn it down a bit. they ignored her. We called the police and the guys actually turned the music down, that is, until the cops left.

This went on for a few weeks.

Then one night when my wife asked them politely to turn the music down one of the Thai guys said something extremely rude to her. That was it! I grabbed a bit stick, went over to their front door and put a few holes in it. When the guy came to the door I spit in his face, then kicked his motorbike over.

I invited (not politely) everyone sitting on the floor to come outside. Funny, things got quiet. I kicked a few more motorbikes over. Nothing happened.

A couple days later, they moved.

I am ashamed of what I did, but they pushed and pushed and when they told my wife to go *&^& herself and some other nasties, I cracked.

I don't recommend the "walking tall" approach, but ######, they simply ain't got any manners and I had to do something.

well, i admire ur courage but i feel i'm up against "the system" here as the police haven't taken action despite calls from a number of residents here..........

[toptuan]

Then one night when my wife asked them politely to turn the music down one of the Thai guys said something extremely rude to her. That was it! I grabbed a bit stick, went over to their front door and put a few holes in it. When the guy came to the door I spit in his face, then kicked his motorbike over.

I invited (not politely) everyone sitting on the floor to come outside. Funny, things got quiet. I kicked a few more motorbikes over. Nothing happened.

A couple days later, they moved.

You did everything I've thought about doing over the last two years. Somehow just reading this, that someone actually carried out my internal rage, made me feel better.

I live in a group of three duplex apartments, inhabited by university engineering students. It's partying 24/7, spending mom and dad's money on cigarettes, booze and ear-splitting loudspeakers. Only one week a semester it's quiet--the week just before finals. (I wouldn't ride in a child's red wagon, engineered by any one of them; is this why buildings in Bangkok collapse?).

Every time I think of creating a scene, I remember that I'm the guest in this country, and then the advice of another contributor confirms my suspicions...

Apparently lound noise don't bother most Thais....I guess if you grow up in this kind of environment you get used to it. Of course if you complain about it they think something is wrong with you not them. Besides many times it is improper to complain cause they may lose face from their rude behaviour.

I look at it this way: put-up / shut-up / or go back home. Probably the culturally correct thing to do. It still doesn't satisfy that inner urge to go completely bezerk on 'em. Thanks for the story!

[KhunMarco]

Just for the record it is 4 am and I'm awake because:, on my floor there's a girl who's been screaming and kicking a door for 20 minutes " Benny, Benny open the door" OPEN THE FARKING DOOR BENNY! , in the appartment next to mine a girl seems to enjoy LOUDLY the attentions of his partner... man I love this place

[somchai jones]

Go party with them, get real pissed and start throwing there speakers around the room. Kikc holes in the walls then burn the place to the ground.

They wont be noisey for awhile after that

Don't you think this might be a trifle drastic, Donz?

[OneeyedJohn]

The thais are testing you . It is a wierd kind of thai logic. Be it in the country or town if u come up against this blatant noise in whatever form u have to rise above it , tolerate it and show that it doesn't bother u. If you dont then they will have won, beaten the stupid farang in this mental battle. There are loads of things that are illogical where i live but i know for sure what response i ill get should i ever dare to mention them. Win the mental battle and u won't have to resort to violence.

[Beachbunny]

Noise is the #1 downside of Thailand in my opinion. It's really depressing for me because I have yet find a way to locate a place free of unnecessary and annoying man made noises regardless if it is an urban or rural setting. I am somewhat apalled that of all places, a Bangkok Christian school is the noisiest of them all. Blaring PA announcements throughout the day (do they really need it them THAT ear splittingly loud and THAT many speakers pointed out at residential buildings?), amplified church bells clanging away at ungodly hours (not everyone wants a wakeup call everyday at 6am), and kids beating on drums outside late into the night. It's a shame this school sets such a terrible example for the upcoming generation. I just take the mai pen rai approach and try to learn from the Thai's and try and ignore it as much as I can.

Think you found a quiet neighborhood in the country? Wait till the pickup trucks with blaring speakers mounted on them announcing their wares drive by over and over. Or the village head blabbering meaningless garbage several times every single day over the PA system gridded everywhere you have no control over.

ALL schools in Thailand use loudspeakers and make a lot of noise. Doesn't matter what kind they are. It's just the way it is here. Make as much noise as you can. The loudspeakers placed around start their propaganda at 6 a.m. or earlier every morning with bad singing. What is that!!! ????My husband (thai) says political brainwashing. Thais I know in my area don't like it either, but won't say anything.

[tc101]

This noise problem sounds awful. More and more as I read over this board I wonder why anyone from the west lives in Thailand. I read about terrible heat, noise, air polution and crime. What is the attraction? Is it just the women?

I was there 30 years ago and liked it and have recently read about the great cheap medical care and low cost of living and have thought about retiring there. Also I am attracted to Buddhism, so that is a plus.

But the more I read here, the worse it seems. Why do you live there? Tell the truth. Is it all about the women?

Edited May 26, 2006 by tc101

[Plus]

There's no noise of any kind in the mooban I live. People have these problems if they live on "public" land - anyone can do whatever he wants because he owns it. Not so in moobans. People can't just open karaoke shops or discos. The only thing you have to put up with is neighours singing. And since they all have to pay monthly installments on their houses they don't have much to sing about.

Basically, just choose a quiet neighbourhood.

[ProfessorFart]

I live in a group of three duplex apartments, inhabited by university engineering students. It's partying 24/7, spending mom and dad's money on cigarettes, booze and ear-splitting loudspeakers. Only one week a semester it's quiet--the week just before finals. (I wouldn't ride in a child's red wagon, engineered by any one of them; is this why buildings in Bangkok collapse?).

All students do that anywhere in the world!!!

tc101, the heat you get used to, the pollution is escapable for the time being, and crime is nowhere near the levels it is in the West.

The noise though.....

I was reminded of 2 similar incidents which were related to me by friends. The first was on Ko Phi Phi where they had gone to painstaking troubles to select a non party beach for some tranquility only to have long tails ripping past every 10 minutes. The other was a friend on Ko Samet who was particularly frazzled and taking a well earned break from work and was plaqued by jet skis throughout his stay. As soon as he got relaxed a jetski would come roaring by. He moved further up the Island 3 times to the more remote beaches but the jetskis followed........

[Galong]

The thais are testing you . Win the mental battle and u won't have to resort to violence.

Mental battle? In a mental battle they're unarmed. I don't have all the answers, but I feel that they really could give a darn about how anyone else thinks... this applies to other Thais and any foreigner.

As someone pointed out, this is one of the biggest drawbacks to living here.

[tc101]

There's no noise of any kind in the mooban I live. People have these problems if they live on "public" land - anyone can do whatever he wants because he owns it. Not so in moobans.

What is a mooban?

[Nam Kao]

>>>>Tell the truth. Is it all about the women?

Yes

[elkangorito]

All students do that anywhere in the world!!!

tc101, the heat you get used to, the pollution is escapable for the time being, and crime is nowhere near the levels it is in the West.

I agree Prof.

I lived in Thailand for 12 months. I'm already used to the heat (I come from a very hot part of Australia), the pollution is not a worry (I smoke) & you're right...the crime is nowhere near the levels it is in the West.

But I did notice that Thailand is the noisiest country in which I've lived. Previously, I have lived in Argentina & Papua New Guinea. Argentina had LOTS of traffic noise but the Argentinians were very quiet as people. PNG was VERY quiet because nobody had any money to buy any noise making device(s).

Have you noticed that Thais will purposely make their cars/trucks VERY BLOODY noisy? God knows why I've actually heard a truck from about 3 kms away. It took 10 minutes before I couldn't hear it any more...& this was in the quiet Amphur Klaeng (not far from Chonburi).

I used to live in apartments that butted up against the police headquarters at Suan Plu. Let me tell ya, those cops are real noisy bastards.

Eventually, I got used to all this noise & it hardly ever bothered me unless I had a bad day or was generally upset with something. But then, I realised that this was my problem & I couldn't blame the Thais for how I was feeling at the time.

Now, to the OP. There may be a solution to your problem. It will involve some electro-technology.

All audio equipment is susceptible to electrical interference. There is one device that heralded the advent of radio transmission...the SPARK GAP GENERATOR. Essentially, the device consists of an automotive coil, a heavy duty switch (20 amps), a DC supply (car battery), 2 terra cotta bricks, some wire & common sense.

The coil is fed by 12 volts DC, which can be switched on & off. The output of the coil is usually between 8 thousand to 10 thousand volts. The output coil wire is secured to 1 brick so that the end of the wire hangs over the edge of the brick by about 20mm. Secure a wire to the other brick so that the end of the wire hangs over the edge of the brick by about 20mm. The wire on the second brick must be at least 10 metres long & it must be arranged so that it can be an antenna. This antenna wire must be insulated from everything as it will have high voltage upon it. Bring the bricks together so that there is about a 10mm gap between the end of each overhanging wire. Turn the switch on & off. If you did not see a spark, move the bricks closer together (maybe 5mm) & try again. If you get a spark jumping across the wire gap, all is well. All you need to do now is to keep switching the switch on & off. This will cause a godawful noise on ALL televisions, radios & stereo equipment within 0.5 to 1 km radius. If all goes well, the offenders will think that there is something wrong with their equipment & maybe turn it off.

BE CAREFUL!!! THIS IS DANGEROUS. THIS DEVICE GENERATES HIGH & DANGEROUS VOLTAGE!!! DO NOT DO THIS UNLESS YOU ARE SURE OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!!!

You might like to conduct a google search on 'spark gap' or 'spark gap generators' or 'noise generators'.

Noise generators are safer & more discreet but involves some complicated electronics. This solution requires the generation of 'beat frequencies' that will interfere with the Intermediate Frequency amplifiers within the audio system.

I have some other ideas that are also complicated but they are guaranteed to interfere with only the offending audio system.

Good luck.

Edited May 27, 2006 by elkangorito

[tc101]

This is topic drift, but since you obviously know something about electronics, do you know where I can get a cell phone jammer shipped to the USA or find instructions to build my own? These are illegal in the USA now, but I would still like to have one. There are little units you can carry with you, and any time you are in a public place and don't want to listen to someone shouting into their cell phone you can discreatly turn on your unit and it jams all the cell phone signals near by. I see ads for them on the internet, but all in foreign countries that will not ship them to the USA. I can not find instructions on how to build one.

Edited May 27, 2006 by tc101

[elkangorito]

This is topic drift, but since you obviously know something about electronics, do you know where I can get a cell phone jammer shipped to the USA? These are illegal in the USA now, but I would still like to have one. There are little units you can carry with you, and any time you are in a public place and don't want to listen to someone shouting into their cell phone you can discreatly turn on your unit and it jams all the cell phone signals near by. I see ads for them on the internet, but all in foreign countries that will not ship them to the USA.

Sorry tc, can't help you with this one.