The existential agony of a Bangkok urbanite

[webfact]

TELL IT AS IT IS
The existential agony of a Bangkok urbanite
Pornpimol Kanchanalak
Special to The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Exactly at 8 o'clock in the morning, every single day, seven days a week, she wakes up to the insufferably throbbing sound of pile-driving equipment drilling the concrete shafts into the ground. These days, she even considers the daily 8 o'clock commencement of her torment an act of mercy by the construction contractor. Some days they would start the piling earlier.

Her house, once airy, breezy, and filled with light, is now dark and unventilated as it is boxed in along one long side by six-foot steel plate retaining walls that the contractor erected about inches away from her fence. The heat generated from the steel plates drives the temperature in her house up to unbearable levels on hot days, which means every day.

From morning till night on weekdays as well as weekends, her house is filled with the fuel fumes coming out of the construction site electric generators for the two large cranes. She often painfully marvels at the knack of the contractors to direct the exhaust fumes away from the site and into the house of the neighbour.

The enormous amount of fine dirt that seeps into her house gives a heightened definition of dusting, even after she seals off all her windows and doors with industrial-grade duct tapes.

The shuddering of her home as a result of the construction piling makes her ponder how long her 50-year-old dwelling could withstand the onslaught, before its foundation and structures start to crumble. The piling of her home are about seven feet below the ground, while those of the new condominium block under construction next to her house are 21 feet. She has heard of horror stories from her friends who lived in the Sukhumvit area that there were times the wood poles and frames of their houses split into pieces right in front of their very eyes during the construction of nearby condominiums.

Twice already, she has gone to the police station to report fires and the disorderly conduct of workers at the construction site. Fire trucks were called in. A burning smell comes from the site in the middle of the night, and many nights.

She thinks about the two years of torture she will have to endure during the construction period, and more woes that will follow after people start moving into the building. She is starting to miss life as a normal human being in any society.

Her source of torture comes from the construction of an eight-storyed, 150-room condominium building that is being raised on a one-rai (1,600 sqm or 0.395 acre) plot right next to her home.

When it's all over, she would have about 300 new neighbours with their air-conditioner units spewing heat into her house. She dreads the army of cockroaches parading out of the drainpipes and trash disposal of the high-rise building into their extended playground - her home.

She thinks about the hundreds of cars that would go in and out of the new building, and park along the soi in front of her house, as Thai law only requires that a condominium provide a measly 60 per cent parking space for the number of dwellers. She has thought about moving away. But to where? She has lived there all her life. She has tried to gather the people in the community to look into all the violations of their rights under the law caused by the construction of the condominium. Together, they went to the Environment Impact Assessment Office (EIA) that had mysteriously approved the construction without scrutinising the impact issues of the construction. Under the EIA rules and regulations, a developer is required to involve the community in the EIA assessment. However, in this case, the developer had conveniently and preposterously used a nearby hospital in its community opinion sampling. The hospital is not even in the earshot of the new construction. None of the bona fide neighbours were contacted, and their responses were missing during the consideration by the EIA officials.

The community went to the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority to seek a temporary halt of the construction until they were informed of the measures that the developer had planned to redress the problems, such as drainage, traffic, water and electricity supplies, fire hazard protection, etc, that will be caused by the development. They went to the City Planning Office, the District offices, etc. They asked the EIA Office to reconsider its approval and all the relevant government agencies to withhold the construction permit until further discussions between the developer and the affected community be conducted to mutual satisfaction.

Months have gone by; there has been no action or intervention by the relevant government agencies in response to the complaints and requests of the community. The people are reaching their wits' end. They are thinking about filing a case with the Central Administrative Court. But by the time the case comes up for hearing, the construction would have proceeded enough to make it a fait accompli. The losers are the people who have lived in the neighbourhood peacefully for several decades. The developer, on the other hand, will soon be gone, laughing all the way to the bank, with not an iota of worry of what will happen to the people, both of the old neighbourhood and the newcomers, who have to suffer the subsequent direct and indirect consequences of its handy undertaking. It was never its business to care about them anyway.

The people in the community are made to realise that their livelihood, their opinion, and their grievances do not count. They want to ask about justice and the meaning of their rights under the law. They want their peace and existential harmony to be returned to them. But they know it's not going to happen.

Meanwhile, the cranes continue their pounding, the dust and the fume continue to spread about. The nearby houses continue to shake. The traffic in the surrounding sois come to a standstill when the concrete trucks and large vehicles carrying construction workers go in and out of the site, seven days a week.

And it's only just begun.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/The-existential-agony-of-a-Bangkok-urbanite-30239840.html

[thenation]2014-07-31[/thenation]

[ukrules]

Maybe she should sell her land at a massive profit to another developer who will build something similar just as all those new apartments next door are being viewed by potential purchasers.

Edited July 31, 2014 by ukrules

[noitom]

They probably made her an offer to buy her land. She refused as is Thai custom. 

[ukrules]

They probably made her an offer to buy her land. She refused as is Thai custom. 

 

I hadn't thought of that. If she knew they were going to build something big there I have no doubt in my mind that the selling price for the land would have been much much more than it's actually worth.

 

This could be the developers way of 'sticking it' to her.

[ChrisY1]

Most single free standing houses in BKK, located at resonable distance to transport, would at one time have had an offer to buy...for condo developement.

Many refuse to sell in the hope of a much increased offer......the developer doesn't care and builds anyway.

Near our BKK home, there are condo blocks on both sides of many small Thai houses.....

[tomyummer]

She should get an engineer to study her own foundation. Most likely the construction of an 8 storey building built so close has affected it in a negative way. Cracks would probably appear. Compensation could be sought.

A friend faced a similar situation on soi 11 and was compensated 12mb. The family then sold their 300 sq.wah plot with two houses on it for 300mb. Cha-ching!

Sent from my SM-T705 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[farang000999]

Welcome to a lawless society of rampant corruption.

[maoro2013]

Why is it her fault?

No one should interfere with v the neighbours.

Someone suggested if the developers offered her money for her property she should have sold out. How ridiculous!!

[Robby nz]

Oh dear this lady who does nothing herself is disturbed by actual work, that dirty 4 letter work should never interfere with anyone's life.

 

Must be terrible having these uncouth sweaty smelly workers so close, something no lady should ever have to endure.

 

Look down at them lady and think how lucky you are not to be out in the sun, the dust and the heat working with them for a pittance.

 

How lucky you are to be in your air con bedroom while they go back to their temporary tin shacks and sleep on the floor.

 

 

[Johnsy]

If you are not a writer maybe you should be, this reads like a novel.

[ldnguy]

Oh dear this lady who does nothing herself is disturbed by actual work, that dirty 4 letter work should never interfere with anyone's life.

 

Must be terrible having these uncouth sweaty smelly workers so close, something no lady should ever have to endure.

 

Look down at them lady and think how lucky you are not to be out in the sun, the dust and the heat working with them for a pittance.

 

How lucky you are to be in your air con bedroom while they go back to their temporary tin shacks and sleep on the floor.

 

 

This is one of the most stupid comments I've ever seen on this forum. Complete and utter nonsense.

[skildpadden]

Well, 8 o'clock is the time is when most of us start working anyway (lots of others start working earlier). It is very common many other places that this time is appropriate to start noisy work. So no pity from me on that part.

It is  unfortunate to hear that you were not included in the EIA hearing, but I am pretty sure that the construction did not come as a surpise and started overnight. I am sure there were rumours in the neighbourhood already before the construction started (maybe even someone giving a nice offer on your land?), so you and the community could perhaps have started your inquiries to the e.g. EIA a bit sooner?

I am sorry but this is Thailand - rampant and uncontrolled construction has been going on for over a decade now - and now they have come to your part of the city. Did you e.g. voice your worry and supported the neighbourhoods when they started building all the condos in the first part of Sukhumvit? Do you voice concern of the building of all the new malls being built everywhere? Or you just didn't care as it was not your neighbourhood?

I might be a stone cold hearted person, but I cannot come up with much sympathy as I see too often that people in this city do not care unless things affect themselves directly. Tearing down old neighbourhoods, encroaching on the canals, obstruction of flood water ways happens all the time as well as garbage and littering everywhere, but I fail to hear many Thais being concerned about it - let alone do something about it.

[razer]

Seems to me the condo market is saturated but they keep building. Anyone know the occupancy rate of these higher end condos and apartments in BKK?

[fab4]

One could be forgiven for thinking that the "victim" of this story is one of Pornpimol's "ladies that lunch" set and this article is just a cynical abuse of reporting.

 

Ah, Pornpimol, aka "Pauline", CEO of the "Young Ambassadors of Virtue Foundation", ahem  , if only we could take your proselytising seriously - difficult considering your past. Any trips to the US planned?

[WitawatWatawit]

#9 Robby, have you had a brain fhart? Normally I concede the points you make as logical ad sensible, but this one is so unlike you. It's pure supposition (just like #12. It seems the woman and her neighbours did try to do something, but ran up against Thai bureaucracy, ineptitude and arrogance. Some people sneer at the woman saying she probably was offered a price for her property but held out to get it higher, implying greed. Sin, cast, stones, anyone? I can sympathise because I've had more construction around me over the past dozen years (houses, though) than just about anyone. Two houses across the road are still waiting to be finished.

[WitawatWatawit]

One could be forgiven for thinking that the "victim" of this story is one of Pornpimol's "ladies that lunch" set and this article is just a cynical abuse of reporting.
 
Ah, Pornpimol, aka "Pauline", CEO of the "Young Ambassadors of Virtue Foundation", ahem  , if only we could take your proselytising seriously - difficult considering your past. Any trips to the US planned?

The story is written in anecdotal style, yet obviously is about someone Pornpimol knows. So on that basis, this story about a presumed hi-so with a problem should not have been written? That's assuming the subject is a lady that lunches, and not an average middle class woman with few resources whom Pornpimol has chosen to champion.

[BillyBobThai]

Here in Thailand, you never know what is going to be built next door.  For that reason alone, it always pays to rent not buy.  The same can be said for the ladies here.

[Zeegator]

They probably made her an offer to buy her land. She refused as is Thai custom. 

 

Pure speculation, and probably untrue, as is noitom's custom.
 

[Robby nz]

 

Oh dear this lady who does nothing herself is disturbed by actual work, that dirty 4 letter work should never interfere with anyone's life.

 

Must be terrible having these uncouth sweaty smelly workers so close, something no lady should ever have to endure.

 

Look down at them lady and think how lucky you are not to be out in the sun, the dust and the heat working with them for a pittance.

 

How lucky you are to be in your air con bedroom while they go back to their temporary tin shacks and sleep on the floor.

 

 

This is one of the most stupid comments I've ever seen on this forum. Complete and utter nonsense.

 

 

 

Is that right.

 

So you are one of those who has absolutely no respect for those who do the work.

 

Sorry but I think the other way, woken at 8 oclock, most people who actually work, in the markets, in the fields, on the sea, do the driving and work in the factories have been out of bed for hours.

 

Sorry, I have little sympathy for whingers who think they are above others and I don't mind saying so.

[american12bthai]

Most single free standing houses in BKK, located at resonable distance to transport, would at one time have had an offer to buy...for condo developement.

Many refuse to sell in the hope of a much increased offer......the developer doesn't care and builds anyway.

Near our BKK home, there are condo blocks on both sides of many small Thai houses.....

 

in salaya, 3 bedroom houses go for 12-18000 a month.  and i see many building in bbk with only 20% capacity. ..unless its a trend to have nothing on your balcony. 

[timmyp]

God, that was in the newspaper? 

Sympathy to the homeowners in her situation, and equal sympathy to the readers who wallowed through that overly dramatic piece of drivel. 

[Krataiboy]

Oh dear this lady who does nothing herself is disturbed by actual work, that dirty 4 letter work should never interfere with anyone's life.

 

Must be terrible having these uncouth sweaty smelly workers so close, something no lady should ever have to endure.

 

Look down at them lady and think how lucky you are not to be out in the sun, the dust and the heat working with them for a pittance.

 

How lucky you are to be in your air con bedroom while they go back to their temporary tin shacks and sleep on the floor.

 

 

 

What a nasty little rant. First you know nothing of this woman's circumstances. She may be retired after working all her life. Second, her discomfort has little to do with "uncouth, smelly workers" (your words, not hers) but the developers and a system which allows them to cause so much suffering to others.

 

There is no indication in the article of this woman (she didn't ask the writer to call her a lady) being a snob, but your unjustified personal attack upon her smacks of inverted snobbery.

[Malthus101]

This too shall pass.

[toybits]

My heart bleed for her. Perhaps she should move to the Northeast where life is much easier than Bangkok.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

option 1
Turn house into recycling centre with refuse, rats and smells.

option 2
Turn house into light industrial unit with paint shop and drop saws.

Either option will stop the condos ever being sold.
Until the developer buys you out for a large amount.

[SoFarAndNear]

Dont worry. If you drop out so many foreigners who are under 50 and have no thai spouse the Condo business will probably slow down a bit...

[farang000999]

in civilized countries there is 'zoning' where you can't just build anything anywhere with disregard for regulations related to noise, drainage, waste, power consumption, etc. but in thailand gov officials can always be paid off.

[Maroon Watcher]

It was explained to me that a "Hi-so" lady was an ex prostitute, who had learned

all she knew from.... the Men on Top!

 

 

One could be forgiven for thinking that the "victim" of this story is one of Pornpimol's "ladies that lunch" set and this article is just a cynical abuse of reporting.
 
Ah, Pornpimol, aka "Pauline", CEO of the "Young Ambassadors of Virtue Foundation", ahem  , if only we could take your proselytising seriously - difficult considering your past. Any trips to the US planned?

The story is written in anecdotal style, yet obviously is about someone Pornpimol knows. So on that basis, this story about a presumed hi-so with a problem should not have been written? That's assuming the subject is a lady that lunches, and not an average middle class woman with few resources whom Pornpimol has chosen to champion.

 

 

[Bpuumike]

 

If you are not a writer maybe you should be, this reads like a novel.

No, stick to the day job, he/she won't last as a writer.

[Trouble]

We all know there is NO urban planning in Bangkok.  Zoning laws?  Do they even exist?  It will only continue to grow (and sink), strangle itself in traffic and become a generally undesirable place to live and raise a family.  No much different than most major cities.  After all there is tax revenue gained from constant building.