Sathorn Unique - Ghost Tower

Bangkok’s abandoned skyscraper that was supposed to be a luxury apartment building is now a playground for urban exploration. Soaring at over forty floors high and with views of the Chao Praya river, it’s presence was visible from the Taksin BTS station when I arrived on a rainy afternoon.

It’s a haunting scene for thirsty adventurers, the half-finished grey lump of concrete with advertisements dressing it’s shell and a circle of crows flying about it’s topped ruins. Eerie and enticing. I hurried through alleys and streets following the sight above to get into it’s base. It took some effort improvising off Google Maps and getting permission from a tiny restaurant to use its back entrance as way of getting inside the grounds, but eventually I found myself in what would be the lobby.

Now I read all the articles before venturing in, as is always wise to do before shifting through asbestos, electrical wires and decomposing wooden structures. Various people informed of the hauntings present in the vacant apartment building. Most prominently, in 2014 a young Swedish man hung himself from the 43rd floor on a construction beam. Since then, there are rumours of his ghost hanging around though the only apparition I ran into was a homeless man taking shelter at the base of the deserted high rise building.

He didn’t speak any English, but like most people he understand the language of money, so I gave him 100baht to look around the place at my leisure while he went inside his make-shift home (which was the only decadent home in this place adorned with a television set, cooking supplies, a couple of beds and lovely daughter).

Unfortunately, I made the error of visiting the place during the day-time and possibly a few months too late. Each staircase has been padlocked, fenced or barred from tourists trespassing. The Thai government and police didn’t want another dead body on their record to taint their image of a welcoming paradise. So as I walked around derelict pillars covered with graffiti and debris, the authorities soon arrived to tell me to leave.

My mission was a failed one as I never got a chance to take the grueling hike up 49 levels to reach the roof deck for a panoramic urban skyline view. And though I never got a chance to go back, I know many others who have reached the top even during the current controlled circumstances. The old man at the bottom was too afraid of the police to lead me into the staircases and it was my misfortune that nearby construction had police heavy on guard that day. But if you are determined, head there during sunrise or sunset or even during the night and ask for the man’s permission. The business owner himself encourages tourist exploration, provided at a generous fee, so that those breaking in are not risking legality or death.

[If you’re interested in heading up, check out other articles and postings about how to best navigate the run down building.]