What Really Pisses You Off, Bangkok?

From crappy sidewalks and unhelpful taxis to a lack of individuality, we asked you what bugs you most about their city.

Nuttaporn Srisirirungsimakul

30, senior coordinator
“Taxis that refuse to take passengers. I normally drive but sometimes have to take a taxi. During peak hours, there’s no way that they’re going to take us. My friend once got rejected by over 10 taxis in a row.”

Landry TD

30, graphic designer
“Being smashed by buses when bicycling. Buses just cut in front of you and push you onto the sidewalk whenever they pick up passengers. They don’t let you pass so you’d better make sure you get past them before a bus stop!”

Jennifer Phataminviphas

32, marketing manager
“Motorcyles! They’re like flies, flying around everywhere! If I had a bat in my car, I would use it to swipe them off!”

Khemngern Tonsakulrungruang

32, consultant
“To ease traffic please give us a bike-friendly environment. Compared to 10 years ago, Bangkok traffic is now much better, with more alternative forms of transport but it still needs improvement. Bikes are the answer.”

Brian Blanchfield

27, writer
“People with whistles who don’t drive cars telling people driving cars how to park in parking places that aren’t difficult to park in.”

Wiwat Patcharinsak

34, marketing supervisor
“Bad driving manners. People often don’t signal when they’re changing lanes. How can you know when to give way? Drivers should think about others and not just do what they want. Just because everyone does something doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. One more thing Bangkokians should learn is that if you’re in a hurry, don’t jump in the car! Head for the BTS, a motorcycle taxi or a boat!”

Prangie Songtieng

26, writer
“Footpaths. I can’t walk around the city without having to watch every step I take. Blue skies and twinkling stars? Forget it, I’m never allowed to appreciate them when walking in Bangkok. Please someone do something about it, so we can all enjoy the winter breeze by walking from one BTS station to another. It would help reduce traffic jams as well!”

Songwoot  Wattanapan

33, IT consultant
“Unwalkable sidewalks with so many light poles, phoneboxes, hawkers, fire hydrants, bus stops and food stalls. I need my sidewalks back!”

Gauri Khanna

25, project manager
“When people take up both sides of the escalator. And ‘pole-huggers’ on the BTS: people who find it necessary to press their whole body against the pole, even if your hand is already there. Also, we drive on the left hand side of the road, but when people walk on the stairs or in a corridor, why do they keep to the right?”

Chanya Jarikasem

24, freelance translator
“Riding the BTS and MRT during rush hour, there are so many people. I hate feeling like a sardine and having to touch strangers.”

Joe Sloane

34, chef
“People moaning about the BTS—the BTS at rush hour is still great compared to other major cities around the world. They should try the London underground at rush hour!”
 

Akanee Sua-Ngam

25, international coordinator
“Hi-so wannabes! Trust me, these people weren’t raised well enough, and therefore crave social acceptance. Sometimes they even carry a Shenzhen Birkin, but keep buzzing about Paris. Materialism is big in Bangkok. Certain brands are just worn to show how wealthy someone is, not how the fashion was intended.”

Paweerata Pureekul

23, fashion blogger
“Girls who follow the trends without being themselves. Everywhere I go, I try to find new or unique styles but unfortunately I find none. In my opinion, Thai girls are too obsessed with Korean stars, and let themselves become victims of fashion.”

Haikal Johari

34, Chef at Water Library Thonglor
“On the positive side, there are a lot of new restaurants opening up, but on the negative side, most of the food is quite similar. It’s like eating the same food at a different place. Bangkok needs a more dynamic culinary scene. There needs to be less repetition of food trends.”

Michael Zelum

54, IT and digital officer
“Crappy service in bars and restaurants. Waiters and waitresses should watch customers more closely to know when they are ready for more drinks and/or service. I hate having to practically yell across the room waving an empty glass or bottle.”

Cookie Kerdtongtawee

23, student
“Refrigerated red wine and how supposedly cool Bangkokians appreciate it.”

Kongdej Jaturanrasamee

40, filmmaker
“The biggest challenge for indie filmmakers at present is finding avenues of distribution. We have to accept that cinemas are businesses, so it’s only natural that they’ll choose to screen films that will guarantee bigger audiences. But that has a flow-on effect in that people aren’t aware of all the independent films out there.”

Vanviva Bhumibhanit

35, civil servant
“I saw a big family dining at a restaurant. The girl asked her grandpa to take her picture with an iPad. Despite several tries, he couldn’t manage it. Upset, the girl said “silly grandpa” and snatched her iPad back. Her mom also said she couldn’t believe he didn’t know how to use it. They all mocked him. This is worrying: rampant materialism is causing cultural demoralization.”

Matt Smith

30, musician
“Cover bands and the bar owners who continually tell them to only play covers. They’re good musicians! Why don’t they write their own songs? Why not let them? It’s all about starting from the grass roots!”

DJ Azek

31, DJ/ party organizer
“The lack of appreciation for good music in Bangkok. If it’s not ultra-commercial top 40 hits, then most people don’t dance. Such a lack of curiosity. Oh, and the very hot lady DJs popping up everywhere. Why do you have to be half-naked to get a gig? Hold on, I actually like that one.” 

Sirasa Kanchamas

33, DJ/ party organizer
“As a DJ I hate it when I’m playing rock ‘n’ roll tunes like Oasis and the Rolling Stones, and someone who randomly came to the party asks me to play Katy Perry. As a party lover, what bugs me most is that drinks are too expensive to get drunk!”