Bangkok: City of Stress
Bangkok residents’ daily struggle for transportation, personal space and quality of life has prompted the emergence of a sarcastic hashtag among netizens.
Photo by...Rachanon Intharaksa
“Krunthep Cheevit Dee Dee Thee Long Tua” (Bangkok: living the good life where everything falls into place) mocks the Thai capital’s motto – “Bangkok … City of Life”.
Photo by...Rachanon Intharaksa
Commuters wake each morning to the stress of getting around the teeming metropolis in crowded rush-hour buses and trains. Many join snaking queues that can spill from footpaths onto the road, peering through traffic fumes for their ride to work. The daily scene at Mo Chit Skytrain Station’s bus stop is enough to trigger nightmares for even the hardened Bangkok commuter.
Photo by...Rachanon Intharaksa
Already a difficult task in the sunshine, conditions worsen in the rain when a few moments of torrential downpour can leave you drenched from head to toe. Lately, city commuters have had their misery compounded by malfunctions in the Skytrain and subway systems.
Interference with signal frequencies has seen trains delayed and a door opening while train is in motion, while someday water also leaked into carriages. Passengers have been left waiting on crowded platforms as operators seek a fix.
Photo by...Rachanon Intharaksa
Thailand is now home to about 66 million people but Bangkok is by far the most densely populated corner of the Kingdom, cramming in 5.6 million residents. With that figure still growing, the crush is unlikely to ease anytime soon.
Photo by...Rachanon Intharaksa
Photo by...Rachanon Intharaksa
Photo by...Rachanon Intharaksa
Photo by...Rachanon Intharaksa