As you may know from the news, since I wrote last week, the situation regarding the ongoing flood threat here in Bangkok has made for a whole lot of lost tempers and badly frayed nerves, especially in the northern and western districts of the capital.
Here in central Bangkok, we’ve stayed high and dry, but with conflicting information coming out of various government agencies, most notably FROC (Flood Relief Operations Command) the The Bangkok Governor. The FROC is under the control of the central government, contolled by the party that defeated the previous government — while Bangkok is still under the control of the party that lost last summer’s national election and was unseated. So, plenty of room for political loggerheads there.
And folks are getting exasperated. Even here in still-dry central Bangkok, many shop owners along Silom Road, the heart of the business district, have piled up sandbags as high as 1.5 meters/~5 feet. Ditto in various other neighborhoods — understandably, since in some spots people have already experienced waters that deep and deeper, some of which remain as I type.
I’m still hoping my particular neighborhood will be spared, and have some reason to have some confidence. According to Google Earth, my particular apartment complex’s sub-soi out front is 14 feet/~4.3 meters above sea level, while where I enter Sukhumvit Soi 22 is 12 feet/<4 meters. I checked in every direction for a little ways out, at the average height above sea level doesn't exceed 13 feet/14 meters in any direction (including down towards the river). And my complex itself is a little higher than the subsoi, and my unit's floor a little higher still. In other words, in terms of what little advantage Bangkok's almost-but-not-quite-clat topography offers, I'm "King of the Mountain" amongst ground-floor level dwellers, LOL!
When I saw the news report this morning about the places "downtown" having sandbags piled up nearly 5 feet high, I briefly toyed with the notion of going out to try to find a few sandbags myself (and may yet, if things go south), but decided that I almost certainly can't find any. Ditto bricks and cinder blocks. At the back of my apartment, in the kitchen there is a large, open-air — no glass in it — window, covered with security bars and a screen, with the sill about waist high on me. My front door fits the door frame fairly tightly, and has strips along the sides and top, and a thinner one along the bottom, and I can fit pieces of sheets into the spaces if need be, which would slow down an already slow trickle even more if we really do get flooded here. So, unless we get really badly flooded, I should be okay.
In any case, knowing that other areas of the city are already flooded, the river running high, and the khlongs full, if water is even threatening to back up into my sub-soi, I’m getting out and going to a nearby hotel. Assuming I could locate sandbags or cinder blocks/bricks, sure, I could protect both the front and back of my apartment. I could do that clear up to, say, 2.5 meters/8+ feet — but then what? It would take WEEKS for that much water to drain, and I conceivably could be STUCK here. And even if I had enough food and water on hand to last just fine, with the threat of water-borne diseases (already present), I feel it would be plain stupid to try to stick it out here.
But moving on to more pleasant topics —
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Burma Richard and his wife Junko got back from nearly two weeks in Nagoya, Japan, where Junko’s Mother lives — vigorously lives, I might add. I’ve never met Junko’s Mom, but from what Richard says, she’s an extraordinary lady, including in terms of physical fitness — she still takes long bicycle rides. Up and down steep hills. At age 86. She and her girlfriends retreat up into the mountains regularly and frequently to a hot springs resort they all like. Richard and Junko took her Mom and her Mom’s “younger” brother out for dinner one night; “younger” brother is 83, and still lean and fit, with coal-black hair. He must be fascinating — he was a kamikaze pilot during the war. No doubt, some of you are immediately perplexed, wondering, “Huh??? How could he have been a KAMIKAZE pilot and still be around???” fair question — but in his case, he never got off the ground on a single (the most any “successful” operational kamikaze pilot logged!) actual mission. To his delight, as that was at the end of the war, and he had already figured out that Japan was going to lose. I’d love to meet him. And Junko’s Mom. And visit Nagoya. Maybe someday . . .
Still on the subject of Richard himself, yesterday was his birthday, and he came to the Square for awhile, where we met at the Silver Dollar, and Gary V.H. was there, so we all had a nice, fairly long chit-chat. Hope the rest of his birthday was as pleasant for him as the time the three of us spent together at Silver was!
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Bumped into Richard Wooten, formerly a resident of these parts, a a Squaronian and a regular at Moonshine. Haven’t seen him in what seems like forever, so was delighted to see him.
Richard, a retired U.S. military type, moved to Angeles City over in the Philippines a few years back, and loves it there. He had the same story as I’ve heard from Darrell W. and DOn Ross, i.e., that the place is building up quickly.
I asked him what status he has there, and it sure sounds nice, though you have to be willing to keep US$20,000 tied up as a sort of bond in a bank, with which you can do what Richard did, and apply for resident status. No annual (or any other) renewals, no 90-day check-in, nada beyond the initial application and getting that approved. (Forgot to ask how much the application fee is, but since Richard’s going to be around until mid-month, I expect to see him again and will try to remember to do so.) He also is old enough — you have to be at least 60, I think — to qualify for another government-issued card certifying him as a senior citizen, which affords him, most notably, and instant 20% discount of anything medical — doctor visits, hospital stays, medical tests, medicines — the works. And if I understood correctly, that was FREE. (Of course, as a retired military guy, plus a post-military career as a civilian with the U.S. government, Richard’s already covered three ways from sundown for medical stuff. Or I think he had a post-military career with the feds, that is.)
Richard also said he rents a nice three-bedroom house, with a beautiful yard, a maid, and a driver for the car he bought. His monthly outlay for the works? — under US$700 a month. And yes, that includes the salaries for the maid and driver.
Pretty sweet all around, huh?
Overall, sounds as if Richard has The Life of Riley. Well, that’s okay — he’s a helluva nice guy, and I sure was pleased to see him.
Don’t be such a stranger, Richard!
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Bumped into Kiwi Lance and Aussie Alistar last night, and they reminded me that next Friday, November 11th, is Remembrance Day throughout the Commonwealth nations.
Rememberance Day honors all Commonwealth military forces who have died since World War I, including those who perished in that war.
November 11th marked the end of WWI, with the moment of the actual surrender of the German forces taking place at 11:00 A.M., November 11, 1919.
Traditionally, a red poppy is worn, a practice reflecting the well-known poem “In Flanders Fields.” Bright red poppies bloom thickly across many WWI battlefields, so are considered an appropriate symbol of the vast seas of blood spilled during that terrible conflict.
In the Commonwealth, there’s actually more emphasis on Rembrance Sunday, the second Sunday in November, this year November 13th, in terms of honoring the war dead. Similarly, other countries also have variations. In the U.S., Remembrance Day was known as “Armistice Day” until right after the end of the Korean War, when it was renamed “Veterans Day” to honor all veterans, not only slain warriors. However, just as Remembrance Sunday is the real focal point in the Commonwealth, Memorial Day is that point in the U.S.
We tend to forget how horrific WWI truly was after all these decades. But an example will show just how awful it was.
In the Battle of the Somme, which lasted from July 1, 1916 to November 18, 1916, on JUST the first day, the British Army alone lost upwards of 60,000 men. Wrap your head around that. A number equivalent to the population of a fair-size town — dead in a single day. And that doesn’t count the French and German losses. (The battle was an offensive by combined British and French forces.) (And yes, I had to look up the exact dates.) Put another way, that’s just about 20 times the population of Aubrey, my hometown in Texas. I mean today’s population.
Give a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine (including the ladies in the sevices) a hug come November 11th. . . .
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Business around the Square has run either hot or cold, for the most part, at least during those times I’ve knocked around there. for example, the other night, I passed 52 Bar twice, and there was no one there the first time, and a lone customer (and the ladies, of course) the second one. But I went in last night, and there was a group of four Western guys, and I overheard one of them tell a lady is was there first time in the bar, and in Thailand — so there are some tourists managing to reach “the Venice of the East.” Which reminds me to mention that the other day I was reading a discussion board over at the most excellent ThaiVisa.com and had to laugh (if rather darkly) when I read one wit’s observation that at this rate, “the Venice of the East” is well on its way to becoming “the Atlantis of the East”! Anyway, the guys seemed to be having a grand old time of it. As were the ladies, which is no surprise, since the guys were throwing drinks their way, if not with wild abandon, at least at a generous pace! 😉
The same has happened at various places around the Square and Queen’s Park Plaza: one minute, not a soul, then the next minute several, even many, guys pour in. On foot, I mean, not riding the crest of floodwaters!
Naturally, everyone sure is hoping business begins to pick up more for the rest of the tourist season, which is already underway. Except it’s not. Which reminds me that Burma Richard told me that when they walked into the Arrivals Hall about 5:00 P.M. the other day, six Immigration desks had officers at them — and that there wasn’t a SINGLE person checking in at ANY of the desks. None. Zero. And no one except airport personnel was visible beyond Passport Control. As much traffic as Suvarnabhumi normally has, that’s stunning.
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Almost forgot: the most beautiful traditional holiday (IMHO), Loy Krathong, falls on November 10th, i.e., next Thursday, this year. Sadly, due to the flooding situation, the government has cancelled all official activities in Bangkok this year. which makes sense, of course, since in normal times, tens of thousands throng to the Chao Phraya River for a jubilant celebration. Doing so this year is flat impossible on some sections of the river’s banks, and dangerous along others, so there’s little else the government could do. I expect there will be some private activities, though on a greatly reduced scale, here and there around town. Barring flooding or rain, I’ll go to the park between the Square and The Emporium, where there is a fountain out by Sukhumvit Road and a larger artificail lake inside the park itself, where in years past I’ve gone to watch people floating their krathongs and enjoying themselves. It really is a nice holiday.
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Well, guess I’ll close for this week by saying I hope those of you have been flooded already recover as soon as possible, and that those of you (us!) who’ve escaped thusfar continue to do so thoughout the duration.
Whichever group you’re in — stay safe. And the rest of you too, wherever in the world you are. . . .
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Enough for one go
Mekhong Kurt
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Submitting your materials:
Please remember that if you have any materials you would like considered for inclusion in an edition of “The Rounds,” just send them to me at this e-mail address:
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Thanks!
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Property Available
(1.) Townhouse-style condo for sale in Samut Phrakan, about 15 minutes from the Bearing BTS (Skytrain) Station and just 30 minutes from Suvarnabhuni (Bangkok International) Airport.
The condo has two floors, with 90 square meters (about 969 square feet) living area plus a small garden and parking place. It has 3 bedrooms, 1-1/2 bathrooms,,,,, living room, dining area and kitchen with an electric stove, hood, and cabinets. It also comes with 4 air conditioners, aluminum windows with curtains, walk-in closet, and many extras.
Priced to sell at 1.9 million baht (about US$63,300).
Contact Alan or Raviwan
Phone: 02-191-9116/7
Fax: 02-191-9115
E-mail: alan@paramountww.com
(2.) Supalai City Home located on Sukhumvit Road between Sukhumvit 101/2 and Sukhumvit 103 (Udomsuk). Only 100 meters from the new Udomsuk BTS station. The unit is located in the second low-rise building on the back side of the building which makes it quiet. The unit is on the 5th floor of an 8 story building. The condo location is Building A-2, unit 501. The unit is a two bedroom, one bathroom unit with living room / dining room and separate kitchen area.
The unit is almost 69 square meters (about 742 square feet) in size. PRICE: 3.5 Million Baht (about US$112,900)
The condo offers a small convenience store and a laundry service if required. The 27-story condo building at the mouth of the entrance also has a beauty salon, two food vendors and a Laundromat.
Original Features:
1. Three A/C units (Serviced every 6 months for cleaning outside compressors and inside units)
2. Fire sprinkler system
3. Smoke alarms
4. Hot water heater in bathroom shower
5. Shower equipped with glass door
6. Kitchen cabinets and sink installed in the kitchen
7. Biometric Finger reader on main entrance to lobby
8. 24 / 7 guard service
Renovations Added to the Condo:
1. Additional heavy duty circuit breakers in main breaker box
2. Three heavy-duty outlets in kitchen for washer, dryer and electric stove (no gas stoves allowed in condo buildings)
3. New paint in all rooms
4. Curtain Rods installed in the two bedrooms
5. New bathroom door (plastic) and bathroom shelf unit
6. Deadbolt for main door
7. Door bell
8. Cable TV cable installed in the unit
9. One phone line (TOT) installed in the unit
10. Extra electric outlets (one in small bedroom, one in living room)
11. Water cut-off valves installed for bathroom toilet, hose, bathroom sink and kitchen sink
12. Water shut-off valve for washer and drain pipe
13. The below appliances are available to the new buyer if wanted:
a. Electric Stove (4 burners with oven)
b. Washer – 9.5 Kilogram capacity
c. Refrigerator
Contact: (see note below contact info)
Wallace Gowin
089-923-2615
wgowin@yahoo.com
(The info about this condo came from a mutual friend of mine and Mr. Gowin’s, but since there’s no other contact info in the e-mail, contact Mr. Gowin if you’re interested in this condo.)
Mekhong Kurt's "The Rounds" 