We looked out of our 22nd floor offices one blazing hot afternoon and saw a couple spidermen clinging to our windows. Dangling from his rope, “Vut,” Vutti-ard Tanong, 33, told us about keeping Bangkok’s towers of glass clean.

BK: How long have you been at this job?

Vutti-ard Tanong: I was on a rice farm, back home, when a friend recommended I become a window-cleaner in Bangkok; and off I went. I’ve been doing it for three years now.

BK: Are you afraid of heights?

VT: At first, yes, you get vertigo. But I’ve gotten used to it now. My first jobs were on three to four-story buildings. My legs were shaky and I had to keep talking to my colleagues to take my mind off the height. Now, it’s kind of fun.

BK: Do you ever look down?

VT: Mostly, I focus on my work but I do look down to the ground or my surroundings from time to time; I’m not afraid anymore. I still feel dizzy now and then, but that just means I need to take a break.

BK: What is the tallest building you’ve ever climbed?

VT: The Baiyoke Tower. I was right at the top.

BK: Do you think it’s safe working as a window cleaner?

VT: Of course it’s safe. We use two ropes, not just one, and there’s a safety mechanism on them. If we work on buildings with ledges or balconies in front of the windows, it’s much easier because we can rest our legs. Otherwise, we sit on a small wooden plank to which we also attach our equipment.

BK: Any accidents?

VT: Not to me, nor my colleagues, not even a tiny one.

BK: Is your family worried about you doing this job?

VT: They are. But what can we do? There’s no other job for me, so I have to do this.

BK: If you could choose, what would you want to do?

VT: I want to have a business of my own, in my hometown, not here. I want to have a fish farm or something.

BK: Ever caught anyone in the act?

VT: No, people are usually just working. Sometimes they get startled when they see me, though.

BK: How much do you earn?

VT: B400 for a regular nine to five day.

BK: Is it hot out there?

VT: Yes! The glass reflects the light and heat right back at us. If you’re lucky, you get to work on a side of the building that’s in the shade.