Teacher who leads a double life as urban explorer opens window into world’s most forgotten ruins

Daxton Ward/ Caters News

The Petch Siam Theater, Si Samrong District, Sukhotai, Thailand. A teacher who leads a double life as an urban explorer has opened a window into the world's most forgotten ruins that hide in plain sight.

Dayton Ward/ Caters News - Disused Pier, Thailand.

Daxton Ward, from Arkansas in the US, began his love affair with abandoned structures after moving to Thailand, where the buildings are considered haunted.

Daxton Ward/ Caters News - Thailand tower.

Now, the 38-year-old has picked up legions of online followers for his depictions of dark, mysterious, and rusty ruins that have been reclaimed by nature.

Daxton Ward/ Caters News - Abandoned Batman nightclub, Pattaya, Chonburi, Thailand.

His obsession with urban exploring first began when he visited an airplane graveyard in Bangkok, which houses several MD-82 jetliners left to rot after a failed business venture.

Daxton Ward/ Caters News - Haunted house, Thailand.

Daxton, who teaches technology in Bangkok, said: "I heard about the plane graveyard from word of mouth and I was compelled.

Daxton Ward / Caters News - The abandoned New World Mall, Bangkok, Thailand.

"Thailand can be quite superstitious and people often believe there is bad luck moving these structures, as it might upset the spirits residing there."