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    A Message From Chiangmai ........

    In reply to an e-mail I sent:


    Hey, I am fine. Thanks for checking in, Colleen. I am in Thailand right now. Chiangmai had the initial flood scare. I was truly concerned then that my house would be under water. Thankfully my house was spared. Little did I know that that was just the beginning. Bangkok is now inundated with water, and 3 out of 5 relatives I contacted have had to move out of their homes.


     Ask the people of akaQA to remember the Thai people in their prayers as they anxiously await the water to recede.  This has been unprecedented and the damage done is enormous.


    Chiangmai



     

     Thailand's worst floods in half a century, triggered by months of unusually heavy monsoon rains, have left at least 562 people dead around the kingdom and damaged millions of homes and livelihoods.

    After weeks of flooding, waters in some Bangkok districts have receded significantly. An AFP photographer said the water level in the Lat Phrao and Mo Chit areas, on the northern edge of the city centre, had fallen by nearly a metre (three feet) in 48 hours and inhabitants were no longer using boats to get around.


    But elsewhere anger is growing that residential areas are being sacrificed to preserve Bangkok's commercial and tourist heart.


    In the west of the city, around 200 people blocked a section of the Rama II road, the main route linking the capital to southern Thailand, to demand extra water pumps to help drain their swamped neighbourhoods.


    "The villagers were not happy that there were not enough pumps to drain the floods," local police chief Colonel Nakarin Sukontawit said.


    "The BMA (Bangkok Metropolitan Administration) agreed to bring two more pumps today, so the villagers decided to stop their protest."


    Around 70 people also gathered at a major floodwall in northern Don Mueang district, watched by about 30 police officers, to stop the authorities repairing a gap they had opened to allow water to drain away from badly flooded areas.


    A spokesman for the Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC), the government agency charged with dealing with the floods, said a compromise had been struck to partially repair the eight-metre (26-foot) breach.


    "A meeting today between FROC and the BMA agreed that to ease residents' problems, a half-height dike will be put up in one half of the opening and the other half will be left clear," Police General Pongsapat Pongcharoen told AFP.


    People in the area -- many of whom have been living in waters waist-deep or worse for almost a month -- had threatened to step up their protest if the opening was repaired.


    The 15-kilometre (nine-mile) floodwall, mostly made up of huge sandbags weighing up to 2.5 tonnes, is a key defence preventing run-off waters from the north from swamping Bangkok's glitzy downtown area.


    "The water in my house reaches as high as my neck," said 65-year-old Wattana Klongsakon, adding that she was "satisfied" to see the brown liquid rushing through to the other side of the damaged barrier.


    "If they rebuild it, we will definitely block the toll road", she said, referring to a major nearby route linking Bangkok to the north.


    In an effort to spare Bangkok's economic and political heartland, authorities have been trying to drain the floods through waterways in the east and west of the sprawling capital and out to sea.


    Japanese motor giants Honda and Nissan said they had resumed partial production in Thailand on Monday, after work was suspended due to parts shortages caused by the floods.


    Under-pressure Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, facing the first serious test of her fledgling premiership, pleaded for patience and unity on her Facebook page on Monday.


    "People suffering in the floods please be patient, please be united as we walk through this crisis," she wrote.


    "The government will try to speed up solving the problems as best as we can."


    The premier, who only came to power three months ago and has faced criticism of her handling of the disaster, said water levels had started to recede in many areas of the city of 12 million people.


    But western districts remained badly affected. The floods have also swamped Bangkok's number two airport Don Mueang, which mostly serves domestic destinations, forcing its closure in late October.


    The kingdom's main air gateway Suvarnabhumi, east of the city centre, is operating as normal.

    +14  Views: 2041 Answers: 19 Posted: 13 years ago
    Chiangmai

    I am very touched by the members of the akaQA institution, especially Colleen, who took the time to express their feelings for the Thai people. The water is receding at the slow rate of one or two centimeters a day, as opposed to flooding at the rate of a couple of feet a day. Go figure.

    This crisis will probably linger on for a few more weeks. After that, they will likely face diseases brought on by the water, and then the economic impact to the country will definitely be felt. Our house in Chiangmai was thankfully spared from this devastation. I had to hold my breath for 2-3 days in early October. Some relatives unfortunately suffered tremendous losses.

    I'll be back home in Hawaii the end of this month.

    Once again, much Aloha to all of you. Your thoughts and kind words are truly appreciated!

    pythonlover

    Moderator
    Good to hear from you,thanks for the update and take care.

    19 Answers

    I am sorry Chiang got caught in that flood. I have seen it on the news. Total Devastation.I will pray for the people of Thailand and Chiang, for him to return safely.

    Chiangmai

    Thanks, Ann. As usual, you can put a smile on any one.

    Thanks for the update Colleen.


     


    What a situation.

    How devastating for chiangmai and his family.I hope everything settles down soon so he can get back home.We are thinking of you chiangmai.

    Chiangmai

    Thank YOU!

    may the the love of god be with you chiangmia in these trying  times . i for one will keep you in my thoughts and prayers as well as all those who are also in need..

    Chiangmai

    Mahalo to you, Daren1. I am sure your prayers will be heard.
    daren1

    hope all is well, funny i was thinking of you this morning.

    Chiangmia my thoughts and wishes go with you and your people you need  help from the outside.I hope you get that. take care .

    Certainly second that Ann

    Please hurry home. You're my version of "Tiny Bubbles".


    Tiny bubbles in the wine


    Makes me feel happy


    Makes me feel fine.

    Chiangmai

    :) I will, CB..... Thanks!

    ps: Thanks too for asking about me a couple of weeks ago.
    country bumpkin

    Moderator
    Sure thing. I'm glad to see you're back. I started a new job yesterday. I have a 2 hour drive ahead of me this morning. I have to leave by 6 so not much time to catch up. I'm sorry about what happened to your family.

    Bless your heart , I am so sorry for you and your family and friends. You will be in my prayers today my  friend .May God provide everything you  need.

    hope you all get the help your needing as soon as is possible,my thoughts are with you and those of your friends and family and in fact everyone that has been effected

    Prayers for Chiangmai and his countrypeople.  

    Best of luck there, do the best to take care.

    Chiangmai

    I will. Thanks, Zorro.

    Scary times touch down all over the world. My prayers go to this devasted country.

    Glad you let us know how you are doing, Chiangmai.  Hope  you come to the U.S. soon. And we miss you .....

    Sorry, chiangmai, bet you thought it was the end of the world, may not be far off. Prayers for you and yours.

    OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU........Do what you can there...!!
    Chiangmai

    Thanks, Den. I appreciate this very much.

    My Thoughts and preyers are with you and your family I do hope the waters will recede soon I know we have some freinds who had booked a holiday and was seeing there daughter who works out there anyway they still went even though the goverment said dont go anyway there are there and fine just keep save my freind Chaing  as always love mel xxx

    Chiangmai

    Thank you so much, Mel. I hope your friends and their daughter are coping well.
    melandrupert

    Chiangmai yes they were in touch and all are fine thank you for asking and I do hope you will be back on site with you second Family as we all miss you soooooo much Aloha to you and your Family bless you all Love as alwys Mel xxx

    Please read the top of this page, Chiangmia has checked in.  :) 

    melandrupert

    Colleen I read it and just thank you for putting all that info on well done xxxx
    Chiangmai

    from the bottom of my heart, thanks, Colleen!
    Colleen

    Moderator
    Really good to see you again Chia! :D

    You are in my thoughts and prayers and I miss you, we all do.  Wishing you a speedy "recovery" and all of the best, May God's will be done...........

    Chiangmai

    Much mahalo for your prayers, jhharlan.

    our thoughts and prayers are with you all.  Yes the sun will shine on you.

    Chiangmai

    Thanks!


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