Floods and Thursday Rides

Every Thursday a group of teachers get together after school to go on a "little bike ride". I decided to join the group and see what it was all about. The "little" ride turns out to be 50 km long and the route is mostly over on a small island called Ko Kret. Getting over to the island involves a small water taxi - fee: "6 cents" and some back street navigation. Once you arrive, it is as if you have stepped into another world. Rice patties, palm trees, pottery cottage industries and long open stretches of traffic free-road create a fantastic break from the Bangkok hustle and bustle.

The rainy season has just ended but this year has been especially wet for the river people. Due to heavy rains in the north there has been quite alot of flooding along the Chao Phraya (main river that runs through Bangkok). It does not affect us in any way but if you were to own any river front real estate then life has been quite damp for a while (see below). People are quite used to this seasonal river elevation changes but it amazes me that they all have smiles on their faces while they are ankle deep in dirty water. During this last month of flooding the people of Ko Kret have all banded together in a massive "sand-bagging" campaign in an attempt to hold back the river. It was really quite something to witness.

Love the Thursday Rides!





















This is where you buy your river taxi ticket. "wet feet!"