The sharper edge to traveling in Asia

Top Ten Hazards to Avoid in Bangkok

Written By: herbrunbridge - Apr• 25•10

 

 

Be as observant as this policeman when you walk the streets of Bangkok

Sure you’re a veteran traveler, but even longtime expats get nailed by ten common hazards that are particular to Bangkok.  Be aware of the following, and live a long life…

1)  Being “wired” takes on a whole new meaning in Bangkok, where heap big power lines, fluorescent tubes, and incandescent bulbs are commonly strung low enough to tangle the hair and smash the foreheads of anyone over one meter in height. 

2) Khlong Saen Saep water taxisYes, they’re efficient; just keep your mouth closed and your arms covered as you glide over the waters of Bangkok’s intestines. 

3)  We’ve been to the desert floor on a summer’s day in California’s Death Valley, but never have we been in anything as hot as an enclosed Bangkok telephone booth on a scorcher.  The “hot box” was a common torture in the old Ayuttahaya era.  Live it today while dialing a call in Bangkok! 

4) Think a green “walk” signal means you can safely cross the street?  Think again.  Traffic routinely cuts through crosswalks, allowing you to practice those forgotten dance steps from finishing school… 

5)  Everyone knows that Bangkok’s sidewalks are for motorcycles, not pedestrians.  Keep your eyes peeled at all times for oncoming motored traffic while on a sidewalk.

6) A little bacteria with your piercing, ma’am?  Get a body piercing  done down on the corner curb, where airborne particulates dance the night away, with nary a water spigot nor clean towel in sight. 

7) For those who think Bangkok just isn’t noisy enough, how about the arrival of these ear-splitting mega-street blasters, bombarding your ears with commercials 24 by 7.  Nearby bus stops and shopping zones provide a constant stream of victims. 

8)  Not the doggie to pet!  Mangy soi dogs abound in Bangkok, eating late-night leftovers from food vendors, then more or less lounge around and lick, scratch, and shift position as the sun changes.  An estimated 12% of all dogs in Thailand have been exposed to rabies, including pups.  Keep your hands to yourselves, and exercise your petting fetish with the pooch you know at home.

9)  Stationary sidewalk hazards range from Bangkok’s knee-level red fireplugs, always placed squarely in the middle of a sidewalk, to the “uplifting patterns” of her sidewalks.  Stray pieces of construction rebar, ankle high and embedded in cement, provide another joy on Asia’s finest slalom course. 

10) Moving sidewalk obstructions include grazing elephants, but backpackers carrying two tons of household goods seem to be everyone’s favorite.  For additional fun, add a guitar and hand-drum to the mix, providing that extra girth that is especially welcome in narrow sidewalk stalls.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.