Homes Along the Tracks in Bangkok, Thailand

Makeshift homes are found along railroad tracks in Bangkok, Thailand, as tall apartment and office buildings tower in the background.

When we went on a “prayer walk” with Gary Ford through Bangkok, I was interested to see all the homes that were along the tracks of the commuter train that runs through the city. As you can see here, some were made from concrete blocks, and others were made from pieces of metal, along with whatever other materials people could find to use. And interestingly, one home actually has a satellite dish, which doesn’t really fit in with the rest of the home.

And while I described them as “makeshift” earlier, I have a feeling that they are really more permanent than that word makes them sound. I don’t know the situations of any of the people in those homes, but it was rather obvious that they didn’t have ideal living conditions. We saw children out walking to school, while adults sold vegetables and other goods to whoever might be walking by.

It was all quite a contrast to the large, fancy buildings that were looming behind them or the nice shopping areas that were a short distance away. As with any city of that size, there were all sorts of conditions to be found everywhere, even just a few steps from each other. We prayed for those who might be in situations that they were trying to get out of, to get to better conditions. Of course, our cities back here at home are really no different, as we face the same problems that they have. However, it is sometimes easier to ignore it at home, because you know the areas to avoid. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t here.

If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? - James 2:3-4

About the Photo

I took lots of quick photos as we were walking, including several of the homes such as these here. I liked this one in particular because of the large buildings in the background, showing a good contrast.

I also did some pseudo-HDR editing here using some different exposures from the original single Raw file, just to bring out the shadows a bit.

Photo: A single Raw exposure, processed in Photoshop. Read more about photography tips, photo software, camera gear, and more at Steve’s Photography Tips.
Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M10
Lens: Olympus M.Zukio 25mm f1.8
Date: May 19, 2015
Location: Bangkok, Thailand