Covid in Thailand
….impact on the homeless
Every country has its share of homeless people - sometimes self-driven by alcoholism or gambling, other times by genuine economic distress. Accustomed to a high degree of poverty in my travels living in such locations as Brazil and India, in my time in Thailand although there was hardship I had not seen a large amount of homelessness in Thailand until this year with the impact of covid. It is saddening to have witnessed the steady increase in the number of people who settle for a bus shelter, a shopfront, beneath the skytrain or other form of crude protection usually sleeping on pure concrete or some form of improvised bedding. It is a sure reminder to be grateful for the privileges many of us enjoy and to help out our fellow brethren where possible.
Warning to us all – the privileged take advantage and eat at the expense of others less privileged – Phrom Pong
Eat the country, eat the city, eat the house – eat the billboard – not the example for the young
Sleeping in front of a tailor shop which itself has rationed the days open to every second day - Sukhumvit
Sleeping in front of covid-caused closed shop on the main street beachfront – Pattaya
Young lady taking advantage of a sheltered office entrance location in Silom
Sleeping on the street in Sukhumvit Road early evening when others are still retailing to a much reduced number of passers by with the halting of tourist arrivals
A peanuts fan provides a shade against the light
A man sleeps in front of a Jewelry store – in normal times doing robust business with Chinese tourists – now itself closed for business since covid
Sleeping in front of shop front at 8,30 am in Silom as people go to work, and set up for the night at Democracy Monument near Kao San Road 6.30 pm.
Sleeping 9 pm in the middle of the busy Sukhumvit road under the bts Skytrain – billboard proclaiming the ultimate irony - “The future is yours”