Tuesday, August 16
MudPai
I just read an article from the Bangkok Daily Post that saddened me:
"River of mud buries scenic Pai, but town's spirit undampened
SUBIN KHEUNKAEW
Mae Hong Son - Flash floods brought on by heavy rains over the weekend buried the scenic resort town of Pai under a sea of mud. But the weather has been unable to sink the spirit of townspeople. Rainwater, mud and logs flowed down the surrounding mountainsides, knocking down trees, sweeping away homes and buildings, causing severe damage to more than 50 riverside resorts and submerging the entire town of Pai. Streets are littered with logs, broken shutters, bricks and metal debris. About 1,000 soldiers are helping with the clean-up, expected to be completed in seven days. Full rehabilitation could take more than a month. Damage was estimated at 200 million baht. Many families are homeless and tourism businesses badly hurt. But residents can take comfort they still have each other. Ket Sriboontha, 70, of Ban Na Jalong, which was flooded, did not let his own struggles stop him from helping others. Mr Ket enlisted residents in nearby Ban Na Toeng, which is on high ground, to prepare food for their ``friends'' in Pai. 'Each house can help prepare one or two boxed meals. Altogether we can have 300 boxes a day,' he said. Patcharee Rattanatham, owner of Tawan guesthouse on the Pai river, which was destroyed, said 20% of operators believed they could recover on their own. 'We want the government to help poor, homeless flood victims first,' she said. About 700-800 tourists, most of them foreigners, left town after the floods receded. But about 200 have stayed to help soldiers and townspeople with the clean-up. Ms Patcharee blamed the heavy flooding on encroachment of the Pai river, which blocked water from draining, and construction of a bypass road which flattened forests, allowing the water to carry logs from the project site to downtown Pai. She called on the government to restore order in the resort town, dredge the Pai river and take tough action against forest and river trespassers. Pai, with its scenic beauty, is a popular destination among foreign tourists."
Kirk & I spent several days in Pai; we truly enjoyed ourselves and the relaxation we found in that beautiful little town. I sincerely pray that they are able to rebuild quickly and maintain the same environment and feel that the town had when we were there 2.5 years ago.
"River of mud buries scenic Pai, but town's spirit undampened
SUBIN KHEUNKAEW
Mae Hong Son - Flash floods brought on by heavy rains over the weekend buried the scenic resort town of Pai under a sea of mud. But the weather has been unable to sink the spirit of townspeople. Rainwater, mud and logs flowed down the surrounding mountainsides, knocking down trees, sweeping away homes and buildings, causing severe damage to more than 50 riverside resorts and submerging the entire town of Pai. Streets are littered with logs, broken shutters, bricks and metal debris. About 1,000 soldiers are helping with the clean-up, expected to be completed in seven days. Full rehabilitation could take more than a month. Damage was estimated at 200 million baht. Many families are homeless and tourism businesses badly hurt. But residents can take comfort they still have each other. Ket Sriboontha, 70, of Ban Na Jalong, which was flooded, did not let his own struggles stop him from helping others. Mr Ket enlisted residents in nearby Ban Na Toeng, which is on high ground, to prepare food for their ``friends'' in Pai. 'Each house can help prepare one or two boxed meals. Altogether we can have 300 boxes a day,' he said. Patcharee Rattanatham, owner of Tawan guesthouse on the Pai river, which was destroyed, said 20% of operators believed they could recover on their own. 'We want the government to help poor, homeless flood victims first,' she said. About 700-800 tourists, most of them foreigners, left town after the floods receded. But about 200 have stayed to help soldiers and townspeople with the clean-up. Ms Patcharee blamed the heavy flooding on encroachment of the Pai river, which blocked water from draining, and construction of a bypass road which flattened forests, allowing the water to carry logs from the project site to downtown Pai. She called on the government to restore order in the resort town, dredge the Pai river and take tough action against forest and river trespassers. Pai, with its scenic beauty, is a popular destination among foreign tourists."
Kirk & I spent several days in Pai; we truly enjoyed ourselves and the relaxation we found in that beautiful little town. I sincerely pray that they are able to rebuild quickly and maintain the same environment and feel that the town had when we were there 2.5 years ago.
