Climbing the Abandoned Ghost Skyscraper in Bangkok

Getting There

Getting there is relatively easy. You can take a BTS from any station to the BTS Saphan Taskin station. Right from the platform, you will see the abandoned building standing above all. Simply walk toward the building from the BTS platform and sneak yourself inside a metal gate.

Getting In

Again, getting in is illegal and dangerous, so before you decide to go at your own risk, please consider these facts.

We were four, and we simply walked into where the security guards were sitting. They asked us where we are from, and they gave us a number that we have to pay for each. The price ranges from 100 - 400 baht, depending on nothing but their mood, so prepare a few one hundred bills.

What you need

This place is as untamed as a city could get, so do prepare accordingly. Here is what you need:

• Sturdy shoes. You will be climbing and tip-toeing around fragile holes and rubble, so your shoes need to be sturdy enough. One misstep could mean death, since there are no fences or railings to prevent you from falling down the building.
• Flashlights (from a mobile phone is fine). The corridors and stairs are pitch black no matter what time you climb.
• Water. It doesn't matter what season it is; it will be extremely humid in there, and you will be sweating a lot to keep yourself hydrated.
• A camera. It is magical up there. You don't usually get a chance to see the skyline of Bangkok in the open air and without a fence like this.

What was it like?

We went on Monday via BTS. It was around 2 PM when we started to climb the abandoned building. There were 4 of us, and we felt pretty secure most of the time.

The first few floors were large and empty. I assume these floors were meant for shopping stores and restaurants.

After walking up the pitch-black stairways with our flashlights, we came across multiple of these corridors. I believe these were the residential suites.

We got onto one of the floors to get some fresh air. It was so humid inside that we were sweating like crazy.

Meet Olivia, my good friend from the States.

Around halfway up, the corridors no longer resemble a residential suite. They resemble more of a serial killer dungeon.

Fun fact, this building across the street was used to film the rooftop scene from the movie Hangover 2. The building I was standing on was a replica of it. Funny how one flourished, and the other did not.

After 4 months of doing nothing exciting, you bet your ass, I was ecstatic. :)

Do NOT try this at home... or anywhere, for that matter.

This is what it's like to hang your legs off a 49-story building.

We were approaching the rooftop fast. It took us only 20-30 minutes to climb to the top.

A grand view of Bangkok and the Chao Praya River.

And here we were, at the top of the infamous Bangkok Ghost Tower.

This was supposed to be a foundation for a golden dome like you see on the original building. There were more and more graffiti over the years.

Olivia, overlooking the apocalyptic world straight out of the movie District 9.

We were in the middle of a city, and yet we were able to find solitude. It was a bizarre experience.

Since we were there on Monday, we were alone up there most of the time. We only met 3 climbers, whereas everyone I knew told me that there were a lot more people when they were up there. I guess we were pretty lucky.

Again, I beg you not to try this. I did it because I didn't know it was so scary up there.

Rule #1: Always hold something solid when you are looking down.

Introducing the gang, which consisted of me, Run, Shane, and Olivia, respectively.

Vandalism! No, I am just kidding. It was there ages ago, and we were just acting all badass and cool.

Olivia and I sat up there for hours. This is one of my favorite spots in Bangkok, hands down!

"Supergirl, carrying the weight of the entire world." Guys, I beg you, please do not try this!

It was the feeling of being disconnected from the world that made me feel like I was climbing a mountain.

I was almost as high as that building, both physically and mentally (natural high, of course). :)

It felt like I was staring at 3 paintings of modern society in a museum, in a way.

Enjoying an ordinary sunset in an extraordinary setting.

One last look before we went down, as it was getting darker every minute.

It was time to say goodbye to this wonderful, scary place. This place will always hold a spot as one of my favorite spots in Bangkok.