Thai Private Eye is headquartered in the heart of the sprawling metropolis that is Bangkok (Krung Thep Maha Nakon) or just Krung Thep, as it is known by its short name to the Thais. With an estimated 15 million inhabitants it is the worlds 22nd largest city although sometimes to a private investigator, it feels like the world’s largest.
The full ceremonial name of the city given by King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, and later edited by King Mongkut, is “Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit“.
This translates to the “City of Angels, the great city, the eternal jewel city, the impregnable city of God Indra the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukam“.
The sheer size of Bangkok presents a formidable challenge for any private investigator and an investigator’s skills are put to the test by the seemingly random and often none existence or confusing assignment of street names and numbers, which only serve to hinder any investigation. The unending traffic jams, and the resulting pollution. The overbearing heat and humidity, the continuous noise of people, vehicles and the piercing sound of the security guards whistles…
The smell of waste water seeping up through the broken drains next to all kinds of food being prepared and cooked in the open by a multitude of street vendors, in the same choking pollution, while rats rummage through the trash before your eyes, the broken pavements that can trip even the most observant private investigator.
The cocktail bars set up in brightly painted Volkswagen Vans parked on a side street, each one seemingly protected by the flea ridden (some times bad tempered) half starved Soi dogs and mosquitoes…
The never ending requests for money from the crippled beggars, and old ladies holding babies (who should be at home in bed) or the young but very “wise street” urchins selling anything from Apples to Zippos.
The streetwalking freelancers; male, female and she-male, who want to go home to share your bed. The fortune tellers and palm readers who can predict your future simply by the turn of a card but they don’t know next weeks lottery numbers!
The pimps and hawkers who want you to go here or there, or to buy this item or go to that massage parlor or get into this Taxi or that Tuk Tuk just so they can take you where they want you to go! Not where you want to go.
The pickpockets and the petty thieves, the confidence tricksters who try to strike up a conversation and ask all sorts of personal questions that can only lead to some scam or another, there are just too many to list here.
The city’s challenges and charms are endless like space itself… Being a private investigator in such a cosmopolitan city such as Bangkok is unique to say the least.
One could well be on the Holodeck of the Start Ship Enterprise.
Sometimes, at night when sheltering from the rain in a doorway in a certain down town area, one is reminded of the scene from Blade Runner, where you are expecting to see Harrison Ford chasing a half naked girl in a clear plastic rain coat..
That is until you see the large Elephant with a battery operated tail light walking along the road followed by a baby Elephant on their way home to the underpass to rest until the next hot and humid day, when they once again paraded around the hot sticky streets of Bangkok in front of thousands of tourists who cant resist buying overpriced bags of food and perpetuating the despicable suffering of such a beautiful and majestic animal.
Then one is jolted back into reality and it does not need a private investigator to tell you where you are. This is not some movie set; this is Bangkok the city that never sleeps…
But at least when the Elephants are taken back to be chained up under the flyover, they can at least get away from the dangers of speeding traffic, broken pavements and the ever present pollution.
It may take days, it may take months, or even years, but once you get over that first emotional overload, you either love Bangkok or you hate it… We love it!
Being a private investigator in Bangkok most certainly presents some unique and difficult challenges. TPE has been conducting investigations since 1993 and we have a proven track record of success. Our experience in the City of Angels is second to none.
We lead where others follow.
If you chose Thai Private Eye for your investigation you will not regret it.
