Like every Monday night, a long row of homeless and poor people wait outside the Giant Swing in Phra Nakhon district of inner Bangkok. Their eyes light up as the long-awaited red car rolls to a stop on the curb. Many breathe a sigh of relief. They won't have to sleep on an empty stomach tonight.
Oon Haeymsathan, 56, was among the big crowd. She sat alone, waiting for the arrival of "Rod Moo Daeng" ("The Red Pig Car") -- the iconic vehicle of the Food for Friends project by the Mirror Foundation -- which now gives away free food to the homeless every fortnight on a Monday evening at the Giant Swing. "I've been sitting here since 3pm to reserve the spot. They start giving out food at 8pm," said Oon.
Due to impaired sight, Oon has difficulties seeing her surroundings. She also has a swollen leg from a fall. Currently, she calls the narrow street between Benjamarachalai School and Wat Suthat her home, and relies on a nearby petrol station for the toilet and showering. She is also unemployed.
"I can't get a job anywhere. I'm too old, only finished Grade 4, and I can barely see," Oon said. She used to work as a maid on the Bangkok-Chiang Mai train, but quit after her eye condition worsened.
Oon is originally from Isan. She has no living relatives. In the past, she used to stay in a homeless shelter, but felt terrorised by the people living there. She therefore decided to wander around Bangkok on her own, living each day to seek food as she has no source of income. She would ask for food at different shrines or travel to places that give away free meals.
Oon has been living near the Giant Swing for around six months. Other homeless people in the area suggested she come to the Rod Moo Daeng.
As she finds it difficult to walk around, Oon was approached by a volunteer who handed her a plastic bag containing a box with a cooked meal, stuffed bread, water, milk, soap and shampoo, as well as a small pack of paracetamol.
Some drifters seek a place to sleep at the vast square of Lan Khon Muang outside Bangkok's city hall.
"I'm thankful for this car," said Oon. "Now, I have food and water to live another day."
Rod Moo Daeng has been in operation for over a year. It runs mainly on donation money and volunteer support. The car is painted red to make it easily recognisable. Its mascot is a pink, smiling pig -- a character made to symbolise food. There are only three to four foundation staff overseeing each outing of the car. The rest are volunteers who have applied through the Mirror Foundation's Facebook page.
Among the group of volunteers was Krittiya Kumphilo, 29, a cosmetic saleswoman. She has been involved with Rod Moo Daeng since its first run. Over the year, she has witnessed an increasing number of people approaching the car.
Krittiya serves as a cook for the team. She makes easy dishes such as garlic pork, chicken with basil or green curry for the meal box that's given away to people.
"There's not too much variety, but we do rotate our menu," she said.
Oon Haeymsathan.
Each night, Rod Moo Daeng and its helping hands are capable of feeding 300-350 of society's unfortunates. The biggest crowd that the car has drawn was up to 450 people.
Despite all their efforts, Sittiphol Chuprajong -- project manager of Food for Friends -- feels that the project still hasn't come close to helping the majority of those living on the streets. There are still a lot more people living like Oon and worse. With no house of their own, the homeless crowd seeks shelter on the street and beg for food from strangers. They battle with rain, mosquitoes and bad hygiene on a daily basis.
A few weeks back, research by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation revealed that there are 1,307 homeless people in Bangkok, with 83% being male. Females make up 15% and the rest are of unspecified gender. Approximately half of the total figure are people aged 40-59 years old. The research also found that many of them suffer from physical impairments, mental illness and alcohol addiction. Ninety percent of them live in public places, the most popular being Ratchadamnoen Avenue, Sanam Luang, Mor Chit 2 and Hua Lamphong.
"These people can't access the country's basic rights and amenities. Now, they live as though they're not citizens of Thailand," said Sittiphol. "We really feel this is a problem that should be resolved. As of now, the government can't design a system to cater for these people or bring them back into society's loop."
From observing and conversing with those waiting for handouts, Bangkok's homeless people come from different areas of the city. In a week, many of them travel around to places that they can find free food and water. Some even have a list of what's on for each day of the year. Others rely on their network of fellow street drifters for the information.
Some popular spots they often travel to are Tha Chalom and Maha Chai Road, which churches, shrines and almshouses hold giveaway sessions. Other organisations such as Issarachon Foundation and the Human Settlement Foundation Thailand also help the homeless.
The Giant Swing became the foundation's chosen spot as it already served as an unofficial meeting place for the homeless. Sittiphol explained that, before, there was a businessman who would come and hand out money to the poor here. So, most of the crowd are already familiar with this place.
The Rod Moo Daeng logo.
"We don't view that, just because we have more, we're supposed to give to those who have less. We rather view this as bringing stuff to visit our friends and see how they do. That's the mindset we operate on," he said.
While giving away free food may not be the most sustainable solution to deal with the issues of homelessness, Sittiphol said there's not much else to do. Obviously, the dream answer would be for people to have a job -- so they have their own source of income to improve their lives. But, in reality, it's a farfetched ambition that comes with endless conditions.
"It's easy to put the situation that way -- teaching them skills and let them make money from it," said Sittiphol, "But, even if we're to teach them to do something, then what next should they do? Like Oon, for example, even if she knows how to sew clothes, where could she get start-up money? How could she continue to manage her small business?"
As the evening concluded, many people stuck around in the area conversing with one another. Some, like Oon, finished their meal and made their way back to their shelter for the night. Others chose to sleep right on the ground of Lan Khon Muang -- the vast square outside Bangkok's city hall. They didn't have anywhere else to go.
Sittiphol believes that, to really fix the problem, it will take a change in policy to turn things around for the homeless. Without the state's care and attention, people on the streets will continue to remain a disturbingly normal sight, fading into the background of our city.
People seek shelter under anything they can find.
Volunteers stand in line as they wait to hand out food to homeless people.
Rod Moo Daeng attracts people from different parts of Bangkok.
