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Baffling BNE on Sukhumvit~~!!!!

Feb 17, '09 1:18 PM
for everyone

Slideshow

Just WHO or WHAT is this "BNE" that keeps popping out all over Sukhumvit~~?!?!

(*tears hair out*)

At first I thought it was just a local phenomenon, but I got curious and so I googled it...

WHOA~~~ It turned out to be a GLOBAL MYSTERY~~~~~!!!!!!!!

And I'm talking about places as diverse as Tokyo, Brisbane, San Franciso, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, New York... BNE has invaded them all~~!!!

And now BNE is HERE IN SUKHUMVIT~~~~~!!!!!!!!!!

Check out this VDO clip from YouTube of the San Francisco Mayor declaring war on BNE and offering a reward of US$ 2,500 for the capture of BNE:

He also called the stickers "large, unsightly, confusing and utterly inappropriate." It is the first time the city has offered a cash reward in a graffiti case, a move that was said to be necessary to stop the "repetitive malicious mischief."

READ more about it HERE.

There is an international BNE stickers collection in Flickr (check it out HERE).

And even a website which claims to be THE official website of BNE (click HERE to go there).

Naturally, some entrepreneurial minds would see ways to make money - by selling supposedly authentic BNE stickers on eBay~~!!! (see the proof HERE).

It took me quite some time to gather these BNE stickers from many areas in Sukhumvit (believe me, I didn't shoot 'em all - there are still COUNTLESS ~ MORE ~ MORE ~ MORE ~ all over Sukhumvit), and I've noticed some prevailing patterns:

There are several types of the BNE stickers -

Just the typical plain BNE:

"BNE WAS HERE":

"BNE 1":

Two kinds in Japanese, this one saying "BNE has come":

And "BNE is the culprit":

I've also noticed that BNE stickers are stuck only on PUBLIC property, such as telephone booths:

And street signs:

NEVER on any PRIVATE property (well, at least they have SOME standards~!!) (*giggle*)

I think these BNE stickers first emerged around three years ago, and by now BNE has grown into some sort of a legend.

Still, nobody has ANY ideas what or who is this BNE (or what those three letters mean - "breaking n' entering"?), but since BNE stickers are found everywhere (here in Sukhumvit, you can find BNE every few meters - honestly~!!), it is highly likely that whoever is doing this isn't just one person.

It's a collective effort.

But the questions remain:

- what the hell is BNE?

- is it street art~? Vandalism~?

- maybe the whole thing is just a joke~?

Somebody PLEASE give me some answers quick... Before I tear out all my precious tresses~~!!!!!!!!!

SNE = Sukhumvit Never Empties~~!!!!!!!!

streetsmartsukhumvit@gmail.com

P.S. Click HERE to check out another (still unsolved) Sukhumvit mystery~~!!!

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4 Comments

Tags: latest, thailand, art, information, blog, bne, mystery, graffiti, sukhumvit, bangkok

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70 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded

miles6k wrote on Feb 17, '09

Hehe, great. I remember when I was young I saw very often the term "Kilroy was here". You can find it now in Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilroy_was_here
Maybe we have to wait about 20 years until we get the answer. I trust in you for tracking!

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 17, '09

miles6k said

Hehe, great. I remember when I was young I saw very often the term "Kilroy was here". You can find it now in Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilroy_was_here

Ooooooh~~ thanks for the link~~!!! The Kilroy dude is actually quite cute~~!!! (*giggle*)

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 17, '09

miles6k said

Maybe we have to wait about 20 years until we get the answer. I trust in you for tracking!

HAHAHAAAAA~~ Thank you for the faith~~!!!! : D

stormlizard wrote on Feb 17, '09

Oh well, "Bulshit Never Ends"

LOL

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 17, '09

stormlizard said

Oh well, "Bulshit Never Ends"

LOL

LMAO~~~!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That actually fits well with the whole situation~~~~!!!!

JIG~~~!!!!!!! ("John Is Genius") HAHAHAHAAAAA~~~~!!!!!!!!

ullangoo wrote on Feb 17, '09

Yeah, I think this is copied from the Kilroy times. The best that came of that was an inscription I once saw in a public toilet, probably the only one in town without the Kilroy declaration. It said: "I was here before Kilroy [signed]".
Go and make a sticker of that pattern.

stormlizard wrote on Feb 17, '09

streetsmartsukhumvit said

JIG~~~!!!!!!! ("John Is Genius") HAHAHAHAAAAA~~~~!!!!!!!!

Thanks.

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 17, '09

ullangoo said

Yeah, I think this is copied from the Kilroy times.

WOW~~ everyday you learn something new. I've never heard of "Kilroy" until today.

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 17, '09

ullangoo said

It said: "I was here before Kilroy [signed]".

People will always wanna up one another.

Maybe I should start putting "SSS" all over Sukhumvit, too...

Hmmmm........... (*massages chin*)

pineappleroll wrote on Feb 17, '09, edited on Feb 17, '09

streetsmartsukhumvit said

People will always wanna up one another.

Maybe I should start putting "SSS" all over Sukhumvit, too...

Hmmmm........... (*massages chin*)

SSS Was Here before BNE & Kilroy. Hahahhah!!!!

pineappleroll wrote on Feb 17, '09

streetsmartsukhumvit said

WOW~~ everyday you learn something new. I've never heard of "Kilroy" until today.

Never heard of Kilroy too.

pineappleroll wrote on Feb 17, '09

Gee...you are right Faa. This BNE thingy is all over!!!!! Work of someone lonely & screaming out for attention, I guess. Totally pointless!!!

ladyexpat wrote on Feb 17, '09

It is all over CM too. I am going to start asking around today. i am on a mission!!

iampack wrote on Feb 17, '09

BNE was here too. Around my office!!!

patranft wrote on Feb 17, '09

kin kao reyang n'Brigitte?

topchobits wrote on Feb 17, '09

I think it's a bunch of copy cat nerds who like to destroy public property. I mean look at the graphic on the sticker..oh wait..there's only black typography on a white background.
Only a bunch of dorks would come up with this _uckery!

bellamarcha wrote on Feb 17, '09

It's some alert..warning everyone BUT it's too much!!!!

monjangp wrote on Feb 18, '09

hmmm...never heard about BNE before. I should try to open my eyes around as you do. haha+

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 18, '09

pineappleroll said

SSS Was Here before BNE & Kilroy. Hahahhah!!!!

BOW DOWN TO SSS~~!!!!! Wahahahaaa~~~!!!!

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 18, '09

pineappleroll said

Gee...you are right Faa. This BNE thingy is all over!!!!! Work of someone lonely & screaming out for attention, I guess. Totally pointless!!!

Y'know, you could be right. There are lots of weird people in the world.

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 18, '09

ladyexpat said

It is all over CM too. I am going to start asking around today. i am on a mission!!

And I'm cheering for your mission~~~!!!!!

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 18, '09

iampack said

BNE was here too. Around my office!!!

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 18, '09

patranft said

kin kao reyang n'Brigitte?

Yang mai kin kha... Kin arai dii naaaaaa....

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 18, '09

topchobits said

I mean look at the graphic on the sticker..oh wait..there's only black typography on a white background.
Only a bunch of dorks would come up with this _uckery!

YEA~~!!! There's no art on the stickers; only BNE plus some letters~~!! LMAO~~!!!!!

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 18, '09

bellamarcha said

It's some alert..warning everyone BUT it's too much!!!!

Warning for what~?? "Boredom Nils Enjoyment"~??? Ho ho ho~~~!!!!

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 18, '09

monjangp said

hmmm...never heard about BNE before. I should try to open my eyes around as you do. haha+

I'm sure you won't have any difficulties finding BNE. Just go outside and you'll see they're EVERYWHERE~~!!!!

drfeelgoed wrote on Feb 18, '09

http://hypebeast.com/2008/09/bne-x-realmadhectic-3-layer-jacket/

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 18, '09

drfeelgoed said

http://hypebeast.com/2008/09/bne-x-realmadhectic-3-layer-jacket/

BWAHAHA~~!!! So now people can also wear BNE jackets~?!?! Just crazy~~!!!

jenn4u2luv wrote on Feb 18, '09

How the hell did BNE got up there? :D

jenn4u2luv wrote on Feb 18, '09

Faa, I think you made a mistake with the reward. It's only $2500 based from the link that you posted.

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 18, '09

jenn4u2luv said

How the hell did BNE got up there? :D

Beats me... Maybe he's a gigantic farang... Or a basketball player... (*giggle*)

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 18, '09

jenn4u2luv said

Faa, I think you made a mistake with the reward. It's only $2500 based from the link that you posted.

Aiyaaa~~~ too many zeros~~!!! (*slaps head*)
Thanks for alerting me~!! I'll change it.

jenn4u2luv wrote on Feb 18, '09

streetsmartsukhumvit said

Beats me... Maybe he's a gigantic farang... Or a basketball player... (*giggle*)

Or maybe he walks around in stilts. Haha.

jenn4u2luv wrote on Feb 18, '09

streetsmartsukhumvit said

Aiyaaa~~~ too many zeros~~!!! (*slaps head*)
Thanks for alerting me~!! I'll change it.

I was surprised though and you made me believe that the Mayor would actually pay that much. Almost wanted to pose as BNE so my love ones could report me, get the money and then bail me out. Har har.

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 18, '09

jenn4u2luv said

Or maybe he walks around in stilts. Haha.

HAHA~~ I think that'll draw too much attention, tho... Not a good idea for someone (or some people - who knows~??) wanting to remain anonymous... BNE better stick to platform shoes. LMAO~~!!!

noelkid wrote on Feb 18, '09

http://www.stippy.com/japan-news-and-media/bne-stickers-arrive-in-japan/

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 18, '09

jenn4u2luv said

I was surprised though and you made me believe that the Mayor would actually pay that much. Almost wanted to pose as BNE so my love ones could report me, get the money and then bail me out. Har har.

YOU ARE ONE SCHEMIN' LIL' DEVIL~~!!!!

HAHAHAAAAAA...

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 18, '09

noelkid said

http://www.stippy.com/japan-news-and-media/bne-stickers-arrive-in-japan/

Thanks for the link, hon... What do you think - BNE is Japanese, roooo~~???

noelkid wrote on Feb 18, '09

BNE is the airport code for Brisbane, Australia.

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 18, '09

noelkid said

BNE is the airport code for Brisbane, Australia.

That's right, just like "BKK" for Bangkok.

noelkid wrote on Feb 18, '09

No I don't think BNE isJapanese.

noelkid wrote on Feb 18, '09

Brisbane is well known for it’s influential graff writers, and sticker bombers.

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 18, '09

So maybe BNE is Aussie~~!!! Hee hee hee...

noelkid wrote on Feb 18, '09

maybe ;)

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 18, '09, edited on Feb 18, '09

kandaphati wrote on Feb 18, '09

LOLLL! Whatever it is it is all over your post now!

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 19, '09

kandaphati said

LOLLL! Whatever it is it is all over your post now!

BNE BNE BNE BNE BNE BNE BNE BNE BNE BNE BNE BNE BNE BNE BNE BNE BNE BNE BNE BNE BNE BNE BNE BNE

iampack wrote on Feb 19, '09

kandaphati wrote on Feb 19, '09

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

laffingal06 wrote on Feb 19, '09

wow ... bne global invasion !!!! .. i like :D

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 19, '09

kandaphati wrote on Feb 24, '09

So... what/who is this BNE?

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Feb 24, '09

kandaphati said

So... what/who is this BNE?

Everybody still has NO IDEA who/what is BNE, but guess what~~!!!

I was in Hong Kong and Macau for the weekend, and I'd found firsthand that BNE was there, too:

BNE is EVERYWHERE~~~!!!!!

rockyesp wrote on Mar 2, '09

Hmmmm... I've been hearing about this, but didn't realize how widespread it is. My thought is this is an AD for a band or a brand that's about to break into the scene... let's wait and see...

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Mar 2, '09

rockyesp said

Hmmmm... I've been hearing about this, but didn't realize how widespread it is. My thought is this is an AD for a band or a brand that's about to break into the scene... let's wait and see...

And y'know what~?? BNE is still active. This graffiti (instead of sticker) just after Sukhumvit 26 was NOT there last time I checked, therefore it was spray-painted VERY recently:

rockyesp wrote on Mar 2, '09

Gosh.. wouldn't it be the coolest to catch them in the act?

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Mar 2, '09

rockyesp said

Gosh.. wouldn't it be the coolest to catch them in the act?

That's what I'm wondering about... Aren't there CCTVs in public places~~??

noelkid wrote on Mar 6, '09

a souvenir from KL ;))

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Mar 6, '09

HAHAHAHAAAAA~~~!!!!! Thanks a bunch~~~!!!! : D

Comment deleted at the request of the author.

methere wrote on Apr 8, '09

Please check out
http://www.bneone.com/
and further
http://ugg.in/blog/2007/10/15/bne-wwwbneonecom/
Nice day

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Apr 8, '09

methere said

Please check out
http://www.bneone.com/
and further
http://ugg.in/blog/2007/10/15/bne-wwwbneonecom/
Nice day

Are you the REAL deal~~?? Or just trying to sell something by using BNE~~?? (*massages chin*)

methere wrote on Apr 10, '09

Hello streetsmartsukhumvit,...
for me I have nothing to do with BNE -- but the links posted are the result of some searching -- not much -- at least for me, BNE as a fashion (?) related commercial advertisement campaign seems realistic -- in Bangkok often there are some billboards where the real intention often is not shown to make the reader to be interested.
Nice day

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Apr 10, '09

methere said

at least for me, BNE as a fashion (?) related commercial advertisement campaign seems realistic -- in Bangkok often there are some billboards where the real intention often is not shown to make the reader to be interested.
Nice day

I like the way you think~~!!! : P

coolguyseven wrote on Apr 14, '09

BNE should try to do it in Singapore street, if they dare!!

streetsmartsukhumvit wrote on Apr 14, '09

coolguyseven said

BNE should try to do it in Singapore street, if they dare!!

Ooooooh~~~ that's right~~!!! The Singaporean government will give BNE a good whippin~!!!

How bout it, BNE~~?? That certainly sounds like a CHALLENGE~~!!!

Comment deleted at the request of the thread owner.