Bangkok Enters 2005, Part IV
After Part III
January 19-25, 2005
My office is a mess:
But, I can't complain about the neighborhood restaurants:
Reader B. Spasky from Samarkand in Uzbekistan (formerly a part of the U.S.S.R.) writes:
"Do you have any photographs of the soon to be completed skywalk that will ever so conveniently connect the Sala Daeng Skytrain station with the Silom Subway station? Though I have never left my native Samarkand, I have read much about 'train spotters' and 'plane spotters'; but, my interest is in spotting skywalk connections that link various forms of public mass-transportation at the station level. While you are at it, do you have a picture of the Silom Subway station?"
Yes, Mr. Spasky, we can accommodate you.
The two photographs of the skywalk connection show the Sala Daeng station in the semi-near distance. One of the photographs was taken from the Central Department Store side of Silom Road while the other one shows the skywalk from the Robinson's Department Store side of Silom Road. The camera was aimed in a largely western direction.
The single photograph of the Si Lom (*) Subway station was captured at ground level. Note that the entrance is barred to the public because of a recent rail accident that brought into question the integrity of the system. The tiny sign on the lowered gate says: "This station is temporarily closed. We regret any inconvenience this might have caused." (**)
(*) Conventional spelling leans toward "Silom"; but, the builders of the Subway apparently liked "Si Lom" ... though, a sign painter's 'typo' can not be ruled out.
(**) A rough translation from the Thai.
What is the acronym for the government department in the US that sets safety standards for businesses? In particular, for construction companies? You know ... they are the people who put up the signs that read "HARD HAT AREA", or something like that. And you always see their charges being protected by either safety nets or harnesses. The acronym sounds like something that you would find in a Sushi Bar. Is it OSHA?
Well, not in Bangkok!
Today I watched this rig being readied (*). From the photos you can see that the guys are climbing to the top of this 50 meter (150 foot) high erection using only its cross beams as a ladder ... and, without any safety gear at all. One kid is seen hauling up a cable to be looped over the pulley at the top ... then, acting as a counter-weight he semi-free-falls to the barge below.
(*) The Shangri-La Hotel is in the immediate background ... further off you can see the upper floors of River Garden. These photos were taken from the Taksin bridge over the Chao Phraya River.
PS: Reader Tobias Wentfield from Morgantown, Pennsylvania writes:
"Don't you have anything more exciting than Bangkok construction site photos?"
How's this, Tobias?
Reader P. M. from Leipzig, Germany writes:
"Bangkok ist soposed to give the best food on the road. Ist that so?"
THOCBDC assumes that you are asking about the food that is available from street vendors. If that is the case, the answer is 'Yes, for sure'. The following dishes cost a total of 100 baht (less than $3).
A strange haze in Bangkok:
One of my readers (D******@BellSouth) suggested that yesterday's Bangkok sky was somehow influenced by the green mussels that I had for dinner the preceding night.
If so, what will last night's selection of Tandoori meats do to today's sky?
PS: I didn't leave the house today so I have nothing else to show you. I know I could have left a blank page ... but that would have made me feel guilty.
Construction continues ... meanwhile Watcharee ducks out to get us some dinner.
PS: Tsunami rescue?
Next: Part V
