Bangkok floods
This morning I’ve decided to get out of the tourist area and just go for a bit of a wander before getting the train later tonight.
I headed away from Khao San Road and immediately began to see evidence of the flooding.
Flooding
Where I am staying I’m not sure of the exact extent of the flooding at its height but right now the houses immediately on the river are under water but there are also several pumps pumping water somewhere. Something that was intriguing though was the effectiveness of sandbags, I know they’re used the world over and so therefore must be good in such a situation but I think it’s the first time I’ve seen with my own eyes just how effective they are. They’re able to be used to actually channel the water away from properties and into areas for pumping. Something else that I’ve noticed in the area I’m staying in and the areas around is that a lot of properties and shops have built walls outside their front entrance to stave off the water. They’ve even built steps either side so you can still get in! I’m not sure how effective this would actually be but by all accounts they, fortunately, haven’t had the chance to try it out.
The effectiveness of sandbags
The tourist areas have remained unscathed although I think purely because of topography rather than any other reason.
It’s amazing how all the little markets are still running amongst the water and that instead of appearing sad or annoyed by the flooding the Thais are, as always, smiling broadly at everyone they see.
Many many years ago, 16 to be precise, I came here on holiday and I hated it! It was the first time I had been further than Turkey and although we had just come from Hong Kong it was a real shock to the system. Hong Kong was a culture shock but it’s a small area and you can pretty much reach everywhere on foot, after that though to then arrive in Bangkok and its traffic nightmare I thought I’d died and gone to hell! For the five days that we were there each day was spent on an organised trip, the very thing that now I hate! It’s funny how life changes isn’t it? Today I like Bangkok and I love Thailand. ;-)
So I can remember a little of my trip here before, I know we would have visited all the major temples here but I’m not sure about the Royal Palace so I thought I’d go along and take a look. Thing is everything on the way was far more interesting and by the time I got to the palace it wasn’t really worth, time wise, going in today, perhaps on my return.
I think I’ve finally realized what it really is that I like about visiting other countries. Mick has asked me before and I say it’s the sights and the history and the environment but in actual fact I think it’s being able to be a part of people going about their everyday life. I’m interested in and fascinated by local markets, not usually things that I would be able to buy (not tourist things) but they are interesting. Take today, I stumbled across a market selling everything you could ever want in the Buddhist world, it was quite incredible, this is where the monks come to shop!
I carried on walking for a while before seeing a stunning temple across the river so took the ferry across to visit. The temple was Wat Arun and was very beautiful, you could climb quite a way up the temple and reminded me a little of Angkor in the steepness of the buildings.
Wat Arun
Back on the other side of the river I continued walking for a while and stumbled across Indian Town and then China Town. China town I remember from when I was here 7 or so years ago and it never ceases to amaze me the absolute crap the Chinese consistently buy! I know that’s a bit of a stereotype but was there is a lot of utter rubbish here! ;-)
Time was ticking on a bit and I needed to get back to get to the train station so hopped on the ferry to save my legs this time.
Bangkok river
Taking a night train is supposed to save on a nights accommodation but of course that would be too easy. The train is at 7.30pm and I really didn’t want to get on it all hot and sweaty and horrid from walking around town so in the end kept my room on till 6 having to pay a half days fee. Slightly irritating but it is meant to be a holiday after all right?
Anyway I’m glad I did because it meant I could have a shower before heading out.
I’ve opted for a 2nd class a/c sleeper carriage and I’m really looking forward to it, the only other sleeper I’ve done was when I went to Sapa in Vietnam earlier this year and we arrived around 4am so not much sleeping going on, but this one is a 12 hour journey and I’m really excited.
At the station I stock up on supplies for the journey before finding my carriage and seat. The way the carriage is designed is that there are two seats either side of the aisle facing each other which are then made in to a bed with an upper bunk which is lowered down. I’d opted for a lower bunk, slightly more expensive but in the grand scheme of things…..!
We were supposed to depart at 7.30pm and with 5 minutes to go the carriage wasn’t even half full. I’d been told that these trains book out and so you have to book early but tonight it doesn’t seem to be the case. In my little area which has the potential for 4 bunks I’m the only person!
In the 4 in front are 4 Russians drinking neat vodka and behind there are a couple of tourists and a couple of Thais, certainly not busy.
Before we leave the obligatory drink sellers come through the carriages trying to get you to buy anything and then after an hour delay we headed off.
Less than half hour out of the station the steward came to make up the beds, you could tell hes been doing this for years, I even videoed him, poor guy! I was just so intrigued though! I feel like I’m on the Orient Express, this beats the buses any day.
I know it was dark when we set off and so technically we wouldn’t be able to see anything but about an hour out of Bangkok station you could definitely see evidence of the flooding. There was still so much water here. Houses were under water while cars and motorbikes were parked on the station platform out of the water and people were camped above the water in tents. We passed one area where people were camped in tents on the train platform and even managed to have their tv working. I guess you just have to adapt and get on with it huh?!
The journey to Phuket will take around 16-18 hours, by train it takes 12 hours and then another 4-6 hours by bus! I know what I’d rather do, even with the thought of the bus journey the other end.
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