The Build-Up

August 17, 2017

I love so much about Pattaya.  The people are true-hearted and kind, caring for one another and for the creatures that share their city.  People of all backgrounds and lifestyles are an accepted part of society.  The city enjoys an international flavor, with expats from many parts of the globe.  Restaurants of every kind of cuisine make dining out a pleasure.  Affordable public transportation makes it easy to get around the city.  Several supermarkets cater to western tastes.  Being on the Gulf of Thailand means we are usually a few degrees cooler than those inland.

One thing I don't like about the city is the constant construction happening all over the city.  You can't see any skyline without the ever-present silhouette of the construction cranes.  I don't believe there is enough people or businesses to fill all these vacancies.  Many completed projects sit empty, or appear to be at just ten- or twenty-percent occupancy.

Pattaya then

Pattaya now

The ubiquitous rooftop cranes

An unsightly, half-finished high-rise mars the view on the hill outside our condo.  Not a single minute of work has been done on it in the nearly two years we've lived in our current location.  I've heard that the construction is being held up by court cases against the builder, who defiantly built it several stories higher than was allowed.  Many Thais want it torn down, because no building is supposed to be higher than the shrine at the top of the hill.  And still it sits, an ugly reminder of greed and corruption.

On the flip side, halfhearted attempts are made to crack down on illegal buildings here and there.  According to the newspaper, business owners are served with demands to tear down their construction.  Warnings are given and ignored, deadlines come and go.  Companies are finally hired to do the demolitions, but abandon the jobs half-way through.

Building in many areas has gone unchecked for years.  Now, some residents whose families have been in homes for generations are learning those homes were built on public land.  Others, who realized they were living on borrowed land but hoped for continued apathy, are being forced to find other options for their families.  It seems those with the greatest need often suffer the most.  It has always impressed me, however, the way Thais pick themselves up and find a way to get by.

We have seen brand new construction torn down before ever being utilized.  But sometimes renovation takes place.  We have had the somewhat constant din of renovation drifting down from the condo above us for the last month or two.  When the power tools get going, it's a little hard to hear ourselves think.  Thankfully, the work ends at a reasonable hour each afternoon; they must be close to finishing by now...

A project I have personally enjoyed witnessing is the renovation of St. Nikolaus church.  One weekend, a huge backdrop suddenly appeared at the front, with a picture of the front of the church on it.  Seemed like someone went to unnecessary great lengths, but perhaps it was a donation.  The church is opened to the elements, and so the primarily wooden decor suffers from the effects of the weather.  The pews were refinished, the wooden door-walls were removed and redone, and many of the decorative elements were removed and repaired.  Even the front of the church was getting some attention.

This week, the backdrop was finally gone, and a shiny, new sanctuary was revealed.  Not everything is finished, but it was good timing to honor the queen's birthday and Thai Mother's Day.

Happy Birthday, Queen Sirikit;
Happy Mother's Day to all mothers!

All in all, there is a lot to love about my adopted home.  My heart aches to think about how little time we have left here.