bangkok, smog, and kids?

hi,

we may be moving to bangkok for a couple of years with our kids, who will be approx 5 and 2 when we move. i'm very concerned about the air quality, and its effects on their health.

i'm wondering how others have dealt with this -- do you stay mostly inside? not worry about it?

i'm also wondering if there are any suburbs in the foothills where air would be better, and there would still be some amenities (internet, schools, etc).

ANY advice/suggestions/experiences would be much appreciated.

thanks!!

The air quality has massively improved in Bangkok in the past few years - the Thai gov't, unlike the HK gov't, recognized the problem and actively dealt with it introducing various measures including LPG powered vehicles.


I lived in Bangkok for about 6 months this year having previously lived in HK for 15 yrs. and there is no comparison re: air quality - Bangkok is far, far cleaner. I had allergies to the air pollution in HK which immediately cleared up when relocating.


Once a city gets tagged as polluted it takes years to lose the tag even after the problem is solved.


FYI: http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/23/news/bangkok.php

Hi Seldred,


We also just moved to Bkk with our 2 sons. I don't find the air quality here is very bad, unless we are standing near or driving behind public buses. Public buses here usually cause pollution, lots of black smoke comes from them. Sometimes I do worry, but what to do. We still go outdoor e.g. to the park, walking at the roadside, etc.


Until now I am still not very familiar with the city, except the area that I live and also central Bkk. Amenities shouldn't be a problem whereever you will live. There is train system here (we called it BTS and MRT) that reach almost every corner of Bkk. You also can get taxi easily and the fare is not expensive. But before you decide where to live, you need to consider the traffic jammed in this city :)). Live in the place that convinience for you or your spouse to go to the office and your children to go to school.


Internet is also not a problem. You can subscribe high speed internet (or broadband - I don't know the term) through 'True Corporation'.


Hope the above info would be helpful for you...