"Khaosan" translates as 'milled rice', an indication that in former times the street was a major Bangkok rice market.[1] However, according to historical documentary evidence from the time the road was first completed in the reign of Rama V, it was found that no one living here worked in the rice trade. Therefore, it is assumed that the rice trade probably began in the early Rattanakosin period, which is during the reigns of Rama I to Rama III.[2] In the last 40 years, however, Khaosan Road has developed into a world-famous "backpacker ghetto".[3][4] It offers cheap accommodation, ranging from "mattress in a box"-style hotels to reasonably priced three-star hotels. In an essay on the backpacker culture of Khaosan Road, Susan Orlean called it "the place to disappear."[5] According to the Khao San Business Association, the road sees 40,000–50,000 tourists per day in the high season, and 20,000 per day in the low season.[6]
In this small area one can observe the interactions and groupings of disparate characters such as un-educated young Westerners on extended leave from affluent society, high school graduates on gap year travels, Israelis fresh out of military service, university students on holiday or sabbatical leave, young Japanese in rite-of-passage attire, ordinary holidaymakers, (ex-) volunteers from various organizations, and the like.
Khaosan shops sell handicrafts, paintings, clothes, local fruits, unlicensed CDs, DVDs, a wide range of fake IDs, used books, and other useful backpacker items.[8] After dark, bars open, music is played, food hawkers sell barbecued insects and other exotic snacks for tourists,[9] and touts promote ping pong shows.[10]
The area is internationally known as a center of dancing, partying, and just prior to the traditional Thai New Year (Songkran festival) of 13–15 April, water splashing that usually turns into a huge water fight.[11] One Thai writer has described Khaosan as "...a short road that has the longest dream in the world".[12]
A Buddhist temple under royal patronage, the centuries-old Wat Chana Songkram, is directly opposite Khaosan Road to the west, while the area to the northwest contains an Islamic community and several small mosques.[13]
History
According to those who have lived in Bang Lamphu for a long time, the first guest house on Khaosan Road opened around 1982 in a narrow trok (alley) connecting to Ratchadamnoen Avenue.
Back then, Khaosan Road was very quiet. Both sides of the street were small shophouses, consisting of beef noodle shop, some were grocery stores, Thai fabric shops, 3–4 illegal snooker clubs where the clientele was mostly teens. In terms of housing, some were old houses of the gentry.[14]
In July 2018, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), in an attempt to clean up Khaosan Road, announced that street vendors would be removed from the thoroughfare from 1 August 2018. The BMA intends to move them to a nearby area and restrict their trading hours to 18:00 to midnight.[15] The Khaosan Street Vendors Association, representing some 300 vendors, rejected the move, citing financial ruin for vendors.[16] Last-minute negotiations between the BMA and vendors proved fruitless as neither side has been willing to compromise.[17] Khaosan vendors announced that, in defiance of BMA order, they will open as usual on 1 August.[18] On the first day of the ban on stalls, roughly 70 percent of the vendors opened as usual in defiance of the police.[19][20]
2019 facelift
This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: date given for completion of the project is in the past, so the actual facelift should be available for description. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(May 2022)
Before redevelopment in 2018
The BMA announced in 2019 that it will commit 48.8 million baht to transform Khaosan Road into an "international walking street".[6] The US$1.6 million project, the first makeover of the road since its creation in 1892, will commence in October 2019, continue through the tourist high-season, and be completed by February 2020.[21] The project will repave footpaths and create designated 1.5 m x 2 m spaces for 240–360 licensed Thai vendors drawn by lot.[22] Vehicles will be prohibited on Khaosan Road from 09:00–21:00 daily.[6]
^ abSørensen, Anders (2003-10-01). "Backpacker ethnography". Annals of Tourism Research. 30 (4): 847–867. doi:10.1016/S0160-7383(03)00063-X.
^Richards, Greg; Wilson, Julie (2004-01-01). "15". The Global Nomad: Backpacker Travel in Theory and Practice. Channel View Publications. ISBN9781873150764.
^Susan Orlean, "The Place to Disappear", in The Best American Travel Writing 2001, Jason Wilson and Paul Theroux, eds. (Mariner Books, 2001), pp. 228–237.
^ abcPongsupradit, Chayanit; Kasemsuk, Narumon; Wancharoen, Supoj (4 August 2019). "Cleaning up Khao San". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
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