Noise Pollution Causes Stress for Tourist and Expatriates in Thailand
People who visit Thailand for only a week or two usually question why the tourist areas and shopping malls are so incredibly noisy. Blaring advertisements and music is everywhere and the occasional tourists find this perplexing but quaint. Like all good tourists they adjust. They know that the human ear can only take so much abuse before permanent damage can occur. They cover their ears and wear earplugs because it’s common knowledge that prolonged exposure to loud noise is no good for anyone. The tourists view that the adverts and loud music blaring everywhere is just part of the Thai experience however to the expat we recognize it as a threat to our long term health.
The Thai people obviously think that louder is better. When sound systems are used in a mall they are normally set to the highest volume possible. This reduces the chance that the target shopper will miss the message. I don’t have a clue what the message is because the presenter is screaming so loud it gets lost in translation. Being somewhat educated I know to flee the loudspeakers ASAP and move away. Watch the Thais and you get a different perspective. It may have something to do with that two digit IQ or just a lack of educational knowledge but they will crowd around any presenter for anything. To make matters worse they will scream at each other to communicate over the presenter they were drawn to.
Construction noise rules are ignored like most other laws in a developing country. Those laws apparently do not apply to construction companies building office towers and condominium buildings. The restriction of overnight construction is totally ignored by developers. Evidently they were written for the common man not big developers. Failing to read my condominium rule manual I had the handyman drill two holes in some marble on a Sunday to hang a butt-washer. Five minutes later security was at my door.
Ever been to a Thai bowling alley. For $3 or more per game you will be assaulted by hip-hop music at warp 6. Helen Keller would easily be able to hear the filthy mouthed rappers objectifying and advocating violence against women just for the fun of it. On the upside, the Thais don’t have any idea what the foul language means, they just know the words. If you’re lucky the Thais will add to you bowling experience by letting you do it all in almost complete darkness.
The quaint Thai lifestyle includes some Thai men acting in some sort of security/traffic control capacity blowing those whistles and often and as loud as they can. They love those whistles. Other Thai men of questionable educational background and possibly products of inter-family Saturday night love making practices are the tuk-tuk and motorcycle drivers who open up their exhaust systems to make them sound better. In a banana republic who do you call to complain about these assaults on your quality of life? No one. Get used to it or move on. The reality of urban Thai quaintness is noise, noise on top of more noise.
Noise Pollution Causes Stress for Tourist and Expatriates in Thailand
by David Barkdull
Bangkok, Thailand
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