Editor;
Re: Noisy Thailand (PM Mailbag Dec 20 2013) – Hi George, I too am one annoyed by needless noise. I could never understand competing with a machine to talk above it. Seems the fewer the customers the louder the music as though it will attract them. I have a fairly large group of friends; we get out early, drink during happy hour, then when they crank up the music, we leave. If we were able to converse we’d stay. That doesn’t seem to register with mgrs or owners. Seems just tuning it down a bit is not an option, it must be blasting.
The bar complex newly built behind the now dead Rehab disco is costing developers and condo owners. In 2011 we were asked to sign a petition to quiet it down. I’m talking about the Avenue, Urban, and City Gardens condo complexes, and the Mercure Hotel where there are thousands of residents and tourists.
Most of those bars have gone under, as there is not enough foot traffic to support that type of business. Those that remain must be owned by Thais with deep pockets or farangs that can afford to operate at a loss. There are never more than a few farangs there, yet 3-4 times a week there are birthday parties with a stadium size sound system that continues until after 3:00am.
I have lived in my current unit for 4 yrs. Though I am in a unit which does not face that area, I am still affected by it. Those I know who live in the above mentioned condos are moving, or ready to sell, some have gone to installing double pane windows, which doesn’t help I am told.
To think a 3.6 million THB condo is made virtually worthless by the lack of the powers to be showing some consideration for people who have invested heavily is sad. It is appalling that a 4,000 THB sound system is allowed to create such misery. I know residents who have stayed in hotels rather than their own units on such nights.
It is amazing that a building that cost maybe 30,000 THB to build, with a sound system, can ruin the lives of people who paid 100 times a much for what they thought would be a nice place to live.
I am a renter, when our lease is up we are out to buy a house. I won’t say where, but not Pattaya. I got here 34 yrs. ago and it is not the place it once was.
All I can say to prospective buyers and renters is be aware of any vacant land that may be near your unit as they will build anything on it, no amount of complaining will do any good.
Dill Pickles
