[lE3l6Lgn]

As part of an article in the Bangkok Post, Oraya Sutabutr wrote a list of the noisiest places in Bangkok.

1. Skytrain

For many of us who ride the skytrain or BTS, the most favourite moment is when the sound system is out of order. It's the only time we can enjoy a degree of peace and quiet, free from the noise of televisions inside the carriages and on the stations. But this does not happen very often as BTS has already been paid by the advertisers. What they do not realise is that passengers often feel trapped in a limited space with a lot of people, all of them talking, while being forced to listen to loud, endless commercials. We also feel forced to shout most the time in order to hear one another.

When outside the train, the noise continues with televisions all around the stations just waiting to harass us. Some people even resort to listening to loud music on their MP3 players with earphones to drown out the ads instead, which means an even higher risk of hearing loss. The situation is worse when these noises are joined by the events and concerts held outside Siam Paragon. Many passengers would be grateful if BTS could turn down the volume or leave parts of the trains and the stations free from deafening noises so that we can have some refuge from the constant bombardment on our ears.

2. Cinemas

The latest fad for lobby areas at many cinemas, except Apex and House Cinemas, is to have promotional stands fitted with TV monitors showing the preview of each movie about to be released. The problem is when all of the many stands play the previews with the volume turned up high, all at the same time. You can't even tell which sound is coming from which movie preview, and so Quiet Bangkok wonders if all that is helping any movie at all. What they have successfully created is a noisy, chaotic atmosphere that is an overture to even louder noises inside the auditoriums where the previews are played, again. The thunderous sounds of explosions and other side effects are so penetrating that you feel like you might suddenly have a heart attack. Parents who do not wish their children to become deaf should not take them to cinemas. No wonder many people prefer to watch the movie on DVD at home.

3. Department stores

This category clearly has many top contenders as most store owners believe that the louder the noise, the more people will buy. But from our conversations with devoted shoppers, even they run away from noisy department stores and go to quieter ones, even when they have to pay more.

These loud noises range from ambient music to special events and announcements, all of them broadcasted at the same time at such a high volume; even the toilets and lifts are not safe. It's as if they assume that most shoppers have partially lost their hearing. Quiet Bangkok thinks that the department stores will benefit from creating quieter environments that make people feel relaxed, want to stay longer, and take the time to shop. Among the top noise makers are Big C, Siam Centre, outdoor areas of numerous department stores, including Siam Paragon, CentralWorld as well as the food centre zone of Chamchuri Square (even though many students go there to study).

On one occasion Quiet Bangkok was on the food centre floor of Siam Paragon to buy concert tickets and found the music there to be too loud so we went over to customer relations to complain. Even the staff agreed that we had a hard time hearing one another, and the music was too loud, but complaints have fallen on "deaf ears". If you ever wonder why you feel so tired after shopping, well rest assure, those loud noises are actually one of the culprits.


4. Exercise venues

Everyone knows that all public parks have set up an area for aerobics every evening, and it is probably good exercise for most parts of your body, except your ears.

This is because the mighty speakers are turned up really loud and facing the dancers and away from the instructor, who, therefore, cannot hear the music very well. That's why the volume has to be really high. Meanwhile, all the dancers and the rest of the park-goers are gradually becoming deaf. It would be nice if the sound technicians would try not to assume that all park-goers enjoy loud music. Evenings are the most popular time to go to parks and other people may want to exercise quietly by cycling, walking, yoga, etc. It's fine to have aerobics as long as the music is not too loud.

The other type of exercise venue known for its loud noises is California Wow, where members exercise to upbeat and thunderous music. California Wow should do a survey on their members' preferred noise levels. If most people prefer to keep it that way, then those who do not should avoid these places and, in doing so, avoid the stress and the risk of going deaf at the same time.

5. Outdoor speakers in public areas

Traffic noises alone are already making pedestrians' lives a nightmare. But that is not all. There are CD vendors and some other building owners who have installed outdoor speakers right outside their buildings or on the pavement, so that street noises become even more deafening. Not to mention the enormous outdoor TV equipped with a sound system, like the one outside CentralWorld and many of the Hello Bangkok mobile TV screens that have moved from major intersections to abandoned lots around the city.

Quiet Bangkok hardly thinks that any pedestrian or driver can make sense of what the TVs are telling us, and it would be dangerously distracting if they were to pay too much attention to the TVs as opposed to where they were walking or driving. We have found that some of the CD vendors have admitted to loss of hearing by listening to their own loudspeakers day in and day out. Then why should we keep up these activities that make Bangkok a miserable place?

6. Whistles

At Winbookclub.com, Win Leowarin wrote an article (in Thai) titled The Beauty of Silence, saying: "If you walk along Silom Road from beginning to end during rush hour, you will pass 207 security guards. One third of these people, armed with this invention called 'whistles', are supposed to direct cars entering and leaving office buildings along the street. The whistles are capable of producing sounds at 120-decibel, which shriek right into your ears, high-pitched enough to make your heart skip a beat, dangerously rattling your eardrums. No wonder this street has many ear [neck and throat] clinics spread out along its entire length!"

Quiet Bangkok truly agrees with Win because the addiction to whistles is really quite rampant, a nuisance and not very useful. Most of the time, you do not understand what the different whistle sounds actually mean, and you end up looking at the guards' arms and hands as the more useful signals. There are places where the flashing batons are used and they seem to work very well, that is, at Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital. There does not seem to be any traffic problem around this area so it must mean that the whistles can immediately be replaced by signal batons. The hospital should be congratulated for not disturbing residents in the surrounding area with non-stop whistling, like say at BNH Hospital.

If any establishment is able to switch from whistles to flashing signal batons, they will have got themselves an excellent CSR programme. They can protect not only the hearing of passers-by but also the whistling security guards, most of whom must be nearly deaf by now.

7. Temples

Many people may wonder why temples are included in this list of noisy places. Quiet Bangkok cites two reasons for this seemingly unusually decision. First, some temples allow CD vendors to operate within their premises while playing CDs all the time. Second, some temple fairs and announcements can be very loud. An expat friend living in a quiet Thon Buri area says that the area is quiet except when Thais party at home and when the nearby temple holds special events at night.

Temple fairs are wonderful occasions for people in a community to get together, and announcements can be useful, but they should not be too loud. In this way, temples can continue to be the spiritual centre for communities, providing them peaceful environments in which mindfulness, a badly needed quality among Thais at the moment, can be nurtured.

8. Construction noise

It is true that constructions always come with noises, as well as other pollutions such as waste water and dust. All the gigantic construction equipment creates a tremendous amount of noise, and this kind of pollution is the hardest one to avoid. Constructions going on near your homes can drive you crazy unless residents and contractors agree to mutually acceptable work schedules.

The least that contractors could do is to avoid working and creating noises late at night and early in the morning. This is another form of CSR. If any contractor can avoid working before 8am and can stop working by 10pm - reducing their hours even more on the weekends - the company will certainly become a model contractor for the entire country and will be able to maintain a healthy relationship with the existing communities around their construction sites. In Quiet Bangkok's experience, we have more or less been able to come to an agreement on the hours during which the contractors on Soi Mahadlek Luang can work.

9. Sound systems on public transport

One of the latest trends that come with the addiction to television is the presence of a TV everywhere you go. This addiction is quite contagious since it has also infected all public transport, and not just the BTS any more. Poor Bangkokians must put up with television commercials, music videos, etc. on some bus services, long-distance buses, as well as on Chao Phraya Express boats and their piers.

Quiet Bangkok has noticed that most people who are going from one place to another on the public transport already have something to do - whether reading, talking to their friends, on their mobile phones or listening to music using their earphones. It seems TVs or music on the public transport is really for the drivers. If this is the case then the volume can certainly be turned down, just enough for the drivers to hear. In this way, the driver can still enjoy the music while passengers can do their own thing without having to shout at one another or at their mobile phone that can be irritating if we all do it at the same time.

10. Neighbours

Apart from all the other places mentioned earlier, a source of noise pollution that is hard to avoid is your neighbours, especially when they decide to throw a party or sing karaoke outdoors, using powerful loudspeakers.

Some people might solve this problem by using earplugs or simply move away. But we are hearing more and more about people resorting to violent solutions. Some noisy neighbours in Bangkok and other places such as Had Yai were shot dead for having disturbed their neighbours for so long. This is because the noises deprived people of sleep and they become stressed out and vengeful. The most important thing to keep in mind is that not everyone enjoys listening to loud music late at night. Have your parties and sing your karaoke, but do try to keep the volume down and do not keep your neighbours up until very late. It doesn't hurt to have a good relationship with your neighbours, to respect their right to enjoy some peace and quiet, and your community will be a much happier one. And it is one way to keep everyone both physically and mentally healthy. What do you think?

[TOD4wDTQ]

I think that Thais are much more insenstive to noise and loud sounds then farangs are, perhaps since they been exposed to more noise then we have from early childhood.

Noone seems to think its strange when our peaceful comunity is being invaded by pickups with loudspeakers doing some kind of advertising (I'm sure you know what I mean).

Well noone but me

[Bejemoelemymn]

The two schools, next to Mom's house, continuously blast announcements and music over their PA systems, with the mandatory addition of the whistling idiots manning the parking lots.
I would imagine this does contribute to the Thai's ability to ignore noise, although I question how it aids studying.

[iNYZgxNC]

I have travelled to Thailand from Australia just twice, spending some time in BKK, Nahkon Sawon as well as other smaller surrounding city's. One must take into account many places in Thailand are extremly busy with much traffic etc, they also start their days very early, I concider a little noise to be part of the attraction of Thailand. Maybe people seeking quiet, should travel to the likes of Central Australia, there is nothing for hundred of Kilometres, no people, no cars, no buildings, nothing, is it quiet, absolutely.

[fameintatenly]

Mr X's family always stressed speaking softly. He would tell our daughter when she was little to 'walk softly'.
In Thonburi we lived in a family compound which was behind shophouses on a wide, very busy street. We were surrounded by noise, but I'm not sure anyone noticed but me. Everyone continued to talk softly, seemingly oblivious to the world of noise surrounding us.

[Aeaefee]

9. Sound systems on public transport Whilst staying in Sateuk recently there were some buses that would drive on the road maybe 10 metres in front of our place playing music so loud that I could feel the vibrations in the floor indoors...

10. Neighbours And whilst staying there the place nextdoor seemed to be a rented by a group of schoolchildren who would cause noise from around 8am to gone 10pm. Noisy motorbikes coming and going all day long, drinking and being loud, playing music at full volume.

At the weekend they were less trouble and on a Sunday two elderly ladies would come to collect their empty bottles. Taking away two sackfull's each the ladies had to make 3 or 4 visits each Sunday...

David

[BuyCheapest]

I'm so lucky with my neighbourhood.... it's 15 families in a very small soi but you can get used to things like a crazy lady screaming when something's wrong with her medication, a baby crying, a car engine notoriously not starting, roosters. what I cannot put up with is noisy aircon units and the rain hitting a tin roof very hard - constant noises going on all night. at the end of the last rainy season I was literally crying when I heard it started raining again at night. I was going crazy.

[TOD4wDTQ]

I have also noticed that while many farangs tend to cringe under the sudden sound explosions most Thais don't seem to react

[isogeople]

Noise to us might be music to the others.Nuisance to us but income to others.This is Thailand and this is Asia so face the reality.The more you think about it,the more angrier you'll become.Get use to it and it will dissapeared(hopefully).Enjoy your stay in Thailand or in any Asia cities before you will miss it once you get home.Sabai sabai....

[lE3l6Lgn]

Noise to us might be music to the others.Nuisance to us but income to others.This is Thailand and this is Asia so face the reality.The more you think about it,the more angrier you'll become.Get use to it and it will dissapeared(hopefully).Enjoy your stay in Thailand or in any Asia cities before you will miss it once you get home.Sabai sabai....

I was just wondering who you are referring to. Are you talking about the writer of the article at the top of the page? The reason I ask is that this person is Thai. The reason I posted this article today is that some Thai people were talking about it on television this morning and complaining how annoyingly noisy Thailand can be.

Some sounds, even annoying ones, are distinctly Thailand to me and helps to make up the fabric of who and what it is. However, some noises are so alarmingly loud that it does do permanent damage to the eardrums. So, should we just "get used to it" like you suggest or try and do something about it before it is too late? Talking for myself, health should always come first.

[Aeaefee]

Noise to us might be music to the others.Nuisance to us but income to others.This is Thailand and this is Asia so face the reality.The more you think about it,the more angrier you'll become.Get use to it and it will dissapeared(hopefully).Enjoy your stay in Thailand or in any Asia cities before you will miss it once you get home.Sabai sabai....

My wife is Thai and complains about the noise in Thailand more that I.

David

[BuyCheapest]

> This is Thailand and this is Asia so face the reality.The more you think about it,the more angrier you'll become.Get use to it and it will dissapear

do you suggest the same attitude to all the reality in Thailand ("get used to it") - poverty, child labour, prostitution, reds vs yellows, corruption, just to say a few examples?
for me, it is always so encouraging to see when Thai people, journalists or just regular people, dare to admit that there are problems and that something should be done about them. the "maipenrai" attitude to big problems is doing a lot of damage to this country.

[isogeople]

Dear Betti...why so emo?
Please dont be misunderstood.We're discussing about the noise not the other problems.I never said that we should ignore poverty,child labor,corruption etc.In certain problem,it arise because there is always a giver and a taker.Firstly we should realise why all this problems exist here in Thailand,but dont say it never happens in other places?I think the Government is trying their best to solve this problems but there's always a lot of bereaucracy involved but we can't expect evrything to be settled in a short time.I dont wish to comment about the politics in Thailand because I'm not well versed in it.Correct me if I'm wrong,the articles about noise is from the author point of view,maybe from some quick research or observation and I agreed with Mr Barrow that health come first but what can we do?To me the best choice is to ignore and/or to avoid all the noisy places if you can.The pick-up with big noisy speakers....I dont know what to say...I agreed that they're too noisy but that is their job,it's a way of delivering message.It's very complicated!Please excuse me if I'm wrong but what I said here is only my personal opinion.Thank you.

[BuyCheapest]

> what can we do?

talking openly about problems is a very good way to start. even at home or at work, anywhere. small things. yes, start with noise in the skytrain, if every other problem seems to be too big. you may find out that everybody hates the way things are, but they are too scared to speak, too used to it being that way and they cannot even imagine it differently, or they think everybody else is ok with the situation.
"ignore it" is the worst advice we can give when many people have the same problem.

[Accor$314]

Noise to us might be music to the others.Nuisance to us but income to others.This is Thailand and this is Asia so face the reality.The more you think about it,the more angrier you'll become.Get use to it and it will dissapeared(hopefully).Enjoy your stay in Thailand or in any Asia cities before you will miss it once you get home.Sabai sabai....

Well said. Living there the noise never bothered us except the trucks with loudspeakers were a bit annoying. And you are right, back home and living in the deadly silence of our neighborhood, we miss very much the hustle and bustle of an alive Thailand. Wished we could go back

[brraverishhh]

I was born in Bangkok and I live here as a bangkokian in Central Business District area.
when I was 1 -25 year old , I have never felt anything noisy. Maybe , I get used to it since I was born, and it just the way it always be in capital city ,Krungthep(bangkok) where more than 20 millions of population are living,working,studying,traveling and more with visitors, aliens( short-term or/and long term) within 1,500 square kilometres. Bangkok, the city where it has never slept. I have never complainted, not because I afarid of anything but I really get used to it! why I need to complaint for things that I really get used to it?

When I firstly was studying english language course in Brisbane ,Queensland Australia , I felt it was very quiet city with population no more than 2 million of population back in 2002 within 918/km² of its area .and I thought I must get used to it because it is the way this city always be. I did not complaint of anything and I did not see it necessary to complaint if I had no problem with the city.

After that I moved to Townsville ,Queensland, Australia to do more study. Townsville is a very small town for me with less than 200,000 population within 1061/km² of its area. I felt it extramely quiet place to live but I knew again I must get used to it soon and I did well.

I returned home to Bangkok again in 2006 after I finished my study. Bangkok ,the city where it has never been sleep. I start my lifestyle as bangkokian again, lived, worked and did well but I felt it is very noisy city, too crowded on my first 6 months at hometown , Bangkok. Maybe, I was away from it for a while till I did not get used to it anymore( I thought myself) but I did not complaint any!

Nowaday 2009, I am still living in Bangkok , the city where it has never been sleep. I work, live and doing well with my lifestyle as a bangkokian and I have never complainted , not because I am afriad of a thing but I am get used to it again!

I admit Thailand has got its own problems but I think it is unfair to say if those problems are happened in Thailand . there are same things happened somewhere else around on this earth.
I did complain some and did not complaint to some if we see it necessary.
We did not just face with our problems but we live with it reality on our own problems and we are seeking to (re)slove those things.

We are what we are and who we are.
It is your individual to make your own chioce such as complaining, agreed,living, moving to smaller cities or get used to it as it always used to be.

[Aeaefee]

I have never complainted, not because I afarid of anything but I really get used to it! why I need to complaint for things that I really get used to it?

My father worked for over 50 years in a noisy environment. He never complained, why should he, he got used to it.

Now he has problems with hearing because of the noise he never complained about because he got used to it...

David

[brraverishhh]

My father worked for over 50 years in a noisy environment. He never complained, why should he, he got used to it.

Now he has problems with hearing because of the noise he never complained about because he got used to it...

David

Thought he has problems with hearing because he made his own chioce to work in noisy environment.( I am sorry to hear of his problem)
My father has problems with hearing because he loves noisy nightclub and he made his own chioce to be there. ( I am not feel sorry for his problem)

I live in noisy enviornment but I know how and when to make my own chioce and get rid of noisy enviorment by going somewhere else for relaxation or change my job if it necessary and if I could not stand on those things which I get used to it.....

Noone get things without lossing things.
Win-win situation seems to be rarely but it could be

[jessyhalm]

I don't like big cities so I have never spent a whole lot of time in Bangkok, but I wonder would the noise level there be much different than say Manhattan? I have spent some time in London city centre and found it too noisy and too busy.

I think this is a city thing rather than a Thai thing.

I spent a lot of my time in the south and even in the towns there I find it relatively quite. Although the day does begin much earlier than I'm used to.

I do agree that there is no need for those feckless parking attendants with the whistles. My God they get on my nerves. The first time I ever hired a car in Thailand was in Phuket and I was trying to park in the shopping centre. There was a big open area with plenty of room, and this eejit was dancing around me blowing the whistle. I didn't know who he was or what was going on.

But like many different things that happen in Thailand, I have learned to accept it.

[pprropeciaaa]

I think it's one of those things where if enough people complain about the noise - something could be done to lessen the problem. If no one complains - it will probably get worse. In the USA many local governments have noise pollution ordinances - although they are rarely enforced unless complaints are received. I would have a difficult time adapting to the noise of a large city - no matter where in the world it is located.