Arrived Bangkok Nov 29

Our flight was on time and uneventful. Lance was asleep before we reached cruising altitude, and much to my surprise, I slept most of the 13hr flight, Vancouver to Taipei. Just enough time on the ground to stretch a bit, and enjoy the orchids. After a few hours and a change of plane, we were off to Bangkok.

Beautiful orchid display in the Taipei airport (TPE)

After 24hr in transit, we were in our room at the Lamphu House in the Khao San area of Bangkok, and ready for our usual routine: strip, shower and sleep! Then it was time to walk and eat, go back to sleep and within another 24hr we were acclimatized to the time and temperature, 30C+.

The Chao Phraya river is still very high, and the lower sections of the city remain flooded. The bureaucrats argue among themselves about the construction of a future floodway and which government agency was slowest to respond to the flood. Some things are the same in every country!

Near the palace close to Chao Phraya river, there is still lots of water. The traffic is moving normally in the streets, but many shops, markets and restaurants are still flooded. The piers used by the express boats on the river are submerged making it impossible for the express boats to operate, but gradually the water is receding and the clean up effort is in progress. Here are some pictures I took near the palace on Dec 1.

Street near the river.

Students going to class.

Small shop on the river - not open for business today!

This vendor doesn't let wet feet interrupt a sale.

Leaving for SE Asia

Within the week, we leave for Thailand - our 10th visit. We have returned over and over since 1997. Sometimes the visits have been short, 2 or 3 weeks, but more often we have stayed for 3 months or more. We have travelled to the North, East (Isaan), Andaman coast and islands in the Gulf of Thailand.

One week after the tsunami of Dec 26, 2004, we arrived to find the country in distress and confusion. This year, we will arrive only one week after the flood waters have started to recede in Bangkok. The flooding - the worst in 60 years - has been devastating. The country is once again in a state of distress. In addition to the significant clean up, pundits predict that the economy will decline due to lost productivity, disaster recovery costs, business interruptions and fewer tourist visits. It will be interesting to see how quickly the country recovers and how the people and businesses respond.